Enforcing Intellectual Property Rights Against Online infringements in the UAE

Online infringement has become a daily concern for rights holders in the UAE. More than half of all IP violations reported to the Ministry of Economy in 2023 involved digital platforms, with most relating to brand misuse, counterfeit listings, or unlicensed content uploads. The growth of ecommerce, social media and AI-generated content has made it easier than ever to replicate and misuse protected material at scale. In many cases, the harm is done before the owner even notices.

The UAE has legal and procedural tools to tackle this but knowing which ones apply and how to use them, can make all the difference.

This article looks at what rights holders can do when their intellectual property is misused online and how the UAE legal system, enforcement bodies and platforms themselves fit into the picture.

What counts as online infringement

Counterfeits are by far the most reported issue. Products using protected branding, often misspelled, mislabelled or repackaged, show up on ecommerce sites every day. But infringement isn’t just limited to physical goods. Unauthorised use of design work, music, video and written content is widespread, especially on content-sharing platforms and aggregator sites.

Social media creates its own problems. Fake accounts can copy a business’s name, logo and tone, blurring the line between parody and impersonation. Some use these accounts to scam followers, others to redirect traffic or damage reputation. In most cases, the intention is commercial, even if the activity looks casual.

The issues aren’t always obvious at first. Most people only notice once a client flags it or a search result leads to a fake version. At that point, the question is how quickly you can act and whether it clearly breaks the law.

Ecommerce sites: How trademark protection works in practice

Amazon.ae and Noon both allow rights holders to report unauthorised listings, but enforcement depends on having a UAE-registered trademark. Without it, the platforms won’t take action. If you do have local rights in place, the process is fairly direct. You submit a takedown request through the platform’s reporting system, attach proof of registration and flag the product or seller that’s infringing. If the claim checks out, the listing is usually removed without delay.

That said, sellers can appeal. Amazon lets them challenge the removal by providing their own evidence. Noon has a similar route. In either case, having clean paperwork and a registered mark makes all the difference.

The key point is that enforcement only works if your rights exist in the UAE. A trademark registered in Europe or the US doesn’t apply here. Local protection is what counts and platforms are unlikely to act without it.

Social platforms: Reporting fake accounts and copied content

Most takedowns start with the platform itself. Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube each have built-in tools for reporting impersonation, stolen content, or brand misuse. The steps are usually similar—identify the issue, flag it through the account or content settings and wait for a response.

That’s often enough to remove a fake page or stop someone re-uploading your videos or product shots. If not, and the case involves a UAE-based business or person, there may be scope to escalate.

Under Article 4 of the Cybercrime Law, impersonating a business or individual online can carry criminal penalties. So can passing off work as your own, under Article 25. These aren’t the starting point, but they do carry weight when platforms hesitate or when the damage is serious.

For local rights holders, the key is to act early, keep records and make use of the tools already available. Most platforms are slow to act unless there’s a clear complaint backed by proof.

What the law says: criminal penalties and site blocking

If platform tools fall short, UAE law steps in with sharper options. Article 45 of the Cybercrime Law makes it a criminal offence to publish or share content online that violates someone’s intellectual property rights. That covers everything from bootleg products to stolen design work.

For sites that ignore takedown requests or host repeated infringements, there’s Article 13. This gives authorities the power to block access within the UAE, either temporarily or permanently.

Both measures are typically used when infringement is serious or ongoing. They’re not for minor complaints, but they do provide backup when standard reporting channels hit a wall.

Local rights holders can file a complaint through the relevant government body, often the Ministry of Economy or Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority. If approved, site blocking or prosecution may follow. It takes time and evidence, but the tools are there if informal steps do not work.

Making enforcement work: what rights holders can do

Acting early makes a difference. Having trademarks or copyrights registered in the UAE puts you in a stronger position from the start. Without that, most platforms and local authorities will have limited grounds to act.

Ongoing monitoring helps, especially where products or content are being copied across multiple channels. Flag issues quickly and document them properly, using clear screenshots, live URLs and visible timestamps, rather than vague complaints or broken links.

In most cases, takedowns resolve things. When they don’t, it helps to know what you’re willing to pursue. Being ready to follow up, whether through the platform, a local authority or legal counsel, can speed things up.

Be clear on your priorities, keep your records clean and have a route ready when it’s time to act.