Intellectual Property Law DIFC Law No. 4 of 2019

Part 1: GENERAL .........................................................................................................................................................3

1. Title ......................................................................................................................................................................3

2. Legislative authority..............................................................................................................................................3

3. Application of this Law..........................................................................................................................................3

4. Date of enactment and commencement...............................................................................................................3

5. Administration of the Law......................................................................................................................................3

6. Schedules..............................................................................................................................................................3

Part 2: PATENTS, UTILITY CERTIFICATES, INDUSTRIAL DRAWINGS AND DESIGNS ...........................................................4

CHAPTER 1: GENERAL RULES ON PATENTS AND UTILITY CERTIFICATES.........................................................................4

7. Recognition of Patents and Utility Certificates registered in the UAE...................................................................4

8. Rights conferred by a Patent or Utility Certificate ...............................................................................................4

9. Acts of infringement.............................................................................................................................................4

10. Acts of exploitation that would not constitute infringement .............................................................................5

11. Reversal of burden of proof.................................................................................................................................5

12. Patent ownership in employment relationship....................................................................................................5

13. Rights to an Invention ........................................................................................................................................6

CHAPTER 2: GENERAL RULES ON INDUSTRIAL DRAWINGS AND DESIGNS .......................................................................6

14. Recognition of Industrial Drawings and Industrial Designs registered in the UAE .............................................6

15. Rights conferred by an Industrial Drawing or Designs .......................................................................................7

16. Application of Articles related to Patents and Utility Certificates on Industrial Drawing or Designs .................7

Part 3: COPYRIGHT.......................................................................................................................................................8

CHAPTER 1: GENERAL RULES ON COPYRIGHT ..............................................................................................................8

17. Recognition of copyright under the Federal Copyright Law................................................................................8

18. Works protected by copyright ............................................................................................................................8

19. Works that are not protected by copyright ........................................................................................................8

20. Authorship...........................................................................................................................................................9

21. First ownership of copyright ..............................................................................................................................9

22. Copyright ownership in employment relationships.............................................................................................9

23. Work of Joint Authorship...................................................................................................................................10

24. Works of Co-Authorship ...................................................................................................................................10

25. Collective Work ................................................................................................................................................10

26. Co-Authors of Audio-Visual Work, audio Work and visual Work ......................................................................10

27. Moral Rights.......................................................................................................................................................11

28. Moral Rights of Performing Artists....................................................................................................................12

29. Economic Rights ...............................................................................................................................................12

30. Economic Rights of Producers of Sound Recording .........................................................................................12

31. Economic Rights of Broadcasting Organisations...............................................................................................12

32. Economic Rights of Performing Artists .............................................................................................................13

33. Lease of software..............................................................................................................................................13

34. Assignment of Copyright ..................................................................................................................................13

35. Licence of Copyright..........................................................................................................................................13

36. Disposal of original copy of a Work ..................................................................................................................14

37. Attachment of Economic Rights .......................................................................................................................14

38. Disposal of future Work ....................................................................................................................................14

39. Duration of Copyright .......................................................................................................................................14

40. Acts permitted in relation to copyrighted Work ...............................................................................................15

41. Collection societies...........................................................................................................................................17

CHAPTER 2: COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENTS...................................................................................................................17

42. Prohibited Acts..................................................................................................................................................17

Part 4: TRADEMARKS AND TRADE NAMES..................................................................................................................19

CHAPTER 1: GENERAL RULES ON TRADEMARKS..........................................................................................................19

43. Recognition of Trademarks Registered in the UAE ...........................................................................................19

44. Marks that cannot be protected.......................................................................................................................19

45. Well-known trademarks ...................................................................................................................................20

46. Rights of Trademark owner................................................................................................................................20

47. Licence .............................................................................................................................................................20

CHAPTER 2: TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENTS.................................................................................................................21

48. Prohibited Acts that would constitute infringement ........................................................................................21

49. Acts that are not prohibited in relation to Trademarks.....................................................................................21

CHAPTER 3: TRADE NAMES........................................................................................................................................22

50. Trade Names .....................................................................................................................................................22

51. Conflicts between Trademarks and Trade Names..............................................................................................22

Part 5: TRADE SECRETS .............................................................................................................................................23

52. General Conditions for Trade Secrets ...............................................................................................................23

53. Rights of Trade Secrets Owner...........................................................................................................................23

54. Misappropriation of Trade Secrets ....................................................................................................................23

55. Acts that are not considered misappropriation of Trade Secrets .....................................................................23

Part 6: COMMISSIONER OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY..................................................................................................25

CHAPTER 1: CONSTITUTION, POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF THE COMMISSIONER ...........................................................25

56. Appointment of the Commissioner of Intellectual Property...............................................................................25

57. Removal of the Commissioner of Intellectual Property .....................................................................................25

58. Resignation of the Commissioner of Intellectual Property................................................................................25

59. Powers, Functions and Objectives of the Commissioner of Intellectual Property.............................................25

60. Regulations.......................................................................................................................................................26

CHAPTER 2: COMMISSIONER OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY FUNDING ...........................................................................27

61. Funding..............................................................................................................................................................27

62. Annual Funding of the Commissioner of Intellectual Property..........................................................................27

63. Accounts...........................................................................................................................................................28

64. Audit..................................................................................................................................................................28

65. Annual Report ...................................................................................................................................................29

Part 7: REMEDIES AND SANCTIONS ............................................................................................................................30

66. Directions..........................................................................................................................................................30

67. Actions with the Court ......................................................................................................................................30

68. Non-Conflict with DIFC Courts...........................................................................................................................31

Schedule 1.................................................................................................................................................................32

Schedule 2................................................................................................................................................................37

Schedule 3.................................................................................................................................................................38