Dubai customs seize Dh7 million in fake goods

Dubai Customs seized Dh6.7 million worth of goods infringing Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) in the first quarter of 2014, an increase from Dh2.4 million in the same period last year.

DUBAI // Fake goods worth almost Dh7 million were seized by Dubai Customs in the first quarter of the year, well above the Dh2.4m of goods confiscated in the same period last year.

“In the first quarter of 2014, Dubai Customs made 65 seizures of intellectual property rights (IPR) infringing goods, including nearly 4.4 million items valued at Dh6.7 million, compared to 59 seizures of similar goods totalling Dh2.4 million in the first quarter of 2013,” Yousuf Ozair, Dubai Customs IPR director, said at a ceremony marking World Intellectual Property Day.

Ahmed Musabih, Dubai Customs director, said that from 2011 to 2013 inspectors had made 951 seizures worth Dh65.3m.

“Dubai Customs pays utmost attention to IPR, in keeping with its commitment to protect the society and support the national economy,” he said.

“Dubai Customs contributes effectively to creating the right environment for local trade and investment by combating piracy, counterfeiting and commercial fraud. This is an effort to ensure producers and creators’ rights are preserved as well as protecting consumers from the perils of fake and copied goods.”

Mr Ozair noted the slogan of this year’s event, “Movies: A Global Passion”, which highlights the need to protect the film industry from piracy.

“In 2013 we hosted four workshops with 110 experts and specialists. Awareness lectures were held at 11 schools, targeting 110,500 students and 10 awareness lectures on the fundamentals of customs were delivered to 226 employees.”