Fake goods threaten not only consumer rights but also health and safety, the Government said yesterday as it prepared to launch a campaign against piracy. The two-week campaign, which starts on Tuesday, will be the first in the Middle East aimed at protecting intellectual property rights, according to WAM, the state news agency. It will emphasise the impact of counterfeit goods on the economy and will include a conference highlighting the current laws to tackle the problem - both federal and the international conventions and treaties adopted by the UAE.
The campaign is part of a strategy to prevent unfair trade practices and protect consumer rights, said Mohammed Ahmed bin Abdul Aziz al Shehhi, the director general of the Ministry of Economy. It aimed to raise awareness and highlight the efforts made to tackle fake goods, which had a negative impact on people's health and safety, he added. A recent report by the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation and the United Nations Development Programme identified a lack of protection of intellectual property rights in the Middle East.
@Email:nsamaha@thenational.ae
