Copyright Registration in the UAE: Why It Matters & How to Protect Your Creative Work

Irrespective of whether you are a content creator, an artist or a musician it is important for you to safeguard your rights in this creative content generation era. In today's article we will look at why it is important for you to register your copyright in the UAE.

What is a Copyright?

A copyright is a legal right which is granted to the original creator of the work, now this work can be literary, musical, or artistic work. This is a right which is endowed to the creator, which safeguards his rights in terms of determining when, how and who can use, distribute and reproduce the work. In practice, a copyright is automatically granted to the creator the moment the work comes into existence.

Why is it important for you to register your copyright?

1. Legal Proof: A registered copyright serves as a proof of an ownership. Especially in case of legal disputes and infringement, a registered copyright is a piece of evidence that safeguards your intellectual property. 

2. Public Record: A registered copyright is a public record, it is for the public to see and more importantly it easily establishes your ownership among the general public.

3. Protection against unauthorized use: When you register your copyright you prevent any infringement. Whether it is using, distributing or even reproducing your work, your permission ought to be sought before reproduction of your material.

What works can be registered as per the UAE copyright law?

The service of registration of copyright is integrated in the official portal- https://www.moec.gov.ae/en/material-copyright-registration.

For a work to be copyrighted the following conditions should be satisfied:

1. The work should be the author's original work

2. Only works listed in the Article 2 of the Federal Decree Law no. (38) of 2021 on Copyrights and Neighbouring Rights (‘Copyrights Act’) shall be eligible for registration as copyright. This includes a wide range of works such as:
1. Books, articles and other literary pieces

2. Smart applications, computer programmes and applications, databases, and similar Works determined by a decision of the Minister.

3.  Lectures, speeches, oral and written sermons and other Works of a similar nature.

4. Theatrical Works, musical shows, and pantomime.

5. Musical Works, either with or without words.

6. Audio, visual, or audio-visual Works.

7. Architectural Works, and engineering drawings and plans.

8.  Works of drawing with lines or colours, sculpting, engraving, and printing on stone, fabrics, wood, or metals, and any other similar Works.

9.  Works of photography and similar Works.

10. Works of applied and plastic arts.

11. Illustrations, geographical maps, sketches, and three-dimensional Works related to geography, topography, architecture, and others.

12. Derivative Works, without prejudice to the protection granted to the original Works from which these Works were derived. Protection shall cover the title of the work, if innovative, as well as the written innovative broadcast program.

What are the service fees of registration?

The service fees charged for registration of copyright is AED 50 per application for natural persons and AED 200 per application for legal persons.

Any specific conditions for registration of copyright?

The applications made for copyright registration must be submitted by the author themselves or by the rights holder or agent. And if the application is made through the agent proper authorisation should be obtained.

What are the basic documents required for trademark registration?

1. Emirates ID

2. Passport of the author

3. Certificate of payment of the registration fees

4. Copy of the work

5. In case it's a artificial legal person then company identification documents

6. In case the application is made through an agent then an authorisation letter

In conclusion, registration of your copyright is a crucial element in safeguarding your work and ensuring no person infringes your right. By registering you not only gain legal proof of but also have a strong and enhanced protection against any infringement. The process for registering is straightforward but when registering you may stumble upon an error or difficulty while filing, hence it is important for you to consult IP attorneys who help you navigate the registration process.