Copyright

Our Services Include:

• Advising on Ownership and Authorship Rights
  We counsel clients on issues of ownership, authorship, and joint creation, ensuring clarity in employer-employee and commissioned work arrangements.
• Copyright Registration and Recordal
  We handle copyright filings and recordals with the UAE Ministry of Economy, the Indian Copyright Office, and other GCC jurisdictions, ensuring that each registration reflects the nature of the work whether literary, artistic, musical, dramatic, software-based, or audiovisual.
• Agreements and Assignments
  Our team drafts, reviews, and negotiates copyright transfer, assignment, and licensing agreements, providing the contractual framework for lawful commercialization and collaboration.
• Digital Content Protection
  We assist in safeguarding software code, databases, user interfaces, audiovisual works, and online content, integrating digital rights management (DRM) and technological protection measures to minimize online infringement risks.
• Enforcement and Dispute Resolution
  We represent clients in copyright infringement, plagiarism, and unauthorized reproduction disputes before judicial authorities, as well as in customs enforcement and takedown actions for online piracy.
• Moral Rights, Fair Use, and Compliance
  Our lawyers provide practical guidance on moral rights (attribution and integrity), fair use exceptions, and compliance with digital media laws, ensuring that enforcement aligns with the creator’s intent and statutory boundaries.
• Strategic Copyright Management
  We help clients develop copyright enforcement and monitoring strategies, including issuing cease-and-desist notices, initiating civil or criminal actions, and coordinating cross-border protection with international associates.

Copyright Protection in the UAE

In the United Arab Emirates, copyright is governed primarily by Federal Decree Law No. 38 of 2021 on Copyrights and Neighbouring Rights.
Protection extends automatically upon creation of the work, provided it is original and expressed in a tangible form.
Registration, however, is strongly recommended as it provides official proof of ownership and simplifies enforcement.

The UAE Ministry of Economy’s Intellectual Property Department registers a wide range of works, including:

• Literary, artistic, and musical works
• Software, databases, and computer programs
• Architectural and engineering drawings
• Photographic, audio, and audiovisual works
• Advertising materials, corporate designs, and digital content

The UAE also enforces moral rights, ensuring that the creator is always credited and their work is not distorted, even after ownership transfer.
Infringement can lead to civil and criminal penalties, including fines and imprisonment, and authorities such as the Dubai Economic Department (DED), Police, and Customs play an active role in enforcement.

Copyright Protection in the GCC

Across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), member states have harmonized many aspects of copyright law through the GCC Unified Copyright Law, which provides consistent protection standards across the region.
However, each country maintains its own registration authority and enforcement mechanisms, requiring tailored strategies for regional coverage.

For example:

• Saudi Arabia operates under the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP).
• Qatar handles copyright under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (IP Department).
• Bahrain, Oman, and Kuwait similarly enforce copyright through national IP offices, applying international conventions like TRIPS and the Berne Convention.

Copyright Protection in India

India’s copyright regime is governed by the Copyright Act, 1957, read with the Copyright Rules, 2013, and aligns with international treaties such as the Berne Convention, TRIPS Agreement, and the WIPO Copyright Treaty (WCT).

The Indian Copyright Office, under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), handles registrations for:

• Literary and artistic works (books, blogs, scripts, illustrations)
• Musical and sound recordings
• Cinematograph films
• Software and databases
• Architectural drawings and works of applied art

India offers strong enforcement mechanisms through civil remedies, injunctions, damages, and criminal penalties for willful infringement.
Given its large digital and entertainment markets, copyright registration in India also supports international licensing, OTT content protection, and outsourced creative production agreements areas where ATB Legal provides cross-border legal assistance.

Industries We Represent

Our copyright practice serves a diverse range of creators and businesses, including:
• Gaming and Animation Studios developing interactive entertainment, metaverse content, and digital characters.
• Creative and Marketing Agencies producing brand assets, promotional campaigns, and audiovisual media.
• Technology and Software Companies creating proprietary digital tools, apps, and enterprise platforms.
• Publishing Houses and Educational Institutions producing e-learning materials and online course content.
• Architectural and Design Firms developing original blueprints, layouts, and visual concepts.