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UTMPS Contributes Pakistan Chapter to The Global Legal Post Anti-Counterfeiting Comparative Guide

Posted on by M. Talal Farrukh Khan

United Trademark & Patent Services (UTMPS) is pleased to announce the publication of the Pakistan chapter of The Global Legal Post Anti-Counterfeiting Comparative Guide, authored by M. Talal Farrukh Khan, Partner at UTMPS in Saudi Arabia.

The guide provides a practical overview of Pakistan’s anti-counterfeiting framework, examining the legal remedies and enforcement mechanisms available to rights holders while addressing the evolving methods through which counterfeit goods are marketed, distributed and sold.

As counterfeiting increasingly extends beyond traditional physical markets, businesses are navigating a more complex enforcement environment. Social media, e-commerce platforms, messaging applications and emerging technologies have created new channels for counterfeit activity, making the identification of infringers and enforcement of intellectual property rights increasingly challenging.

The Pakistan chapter examines key areas including civil and criminal enforcement, the role of Intellectual Property Tribunals, customs and border measures, grey market goods, online brand protection, domain name disputes, social media infringement, digital piracy and the growing impact of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies on anti-counterfeiting strategies.

It also considers some of the practical challenges facing rights holders in Pakistan, including enforcement against online sellers, platform accountability and the remedies available through the courts, law enforcement agencies and customs authorities.

Pakistan’s intellectual property enforcement landscape continues to develop alongside changes in technology, commerce and consumer behaviour. While established civil, criminal and customs mechanisms provide rights holders with avenues for enforcement, the increasing movement of counterfeit activity online is creating new challenges for businesses seeking to protect their brands.

The guide offers businesses, in-house counsel and international practitioners a practical perspective on navigating these issues and developing effective anti-counterfeiting strategies in Pakistan.

About the Author

M. Talal Farrukh Khan is a Partner at United Trademark & Patent Services in Saudi Arabia. He is admitted to practise law in Ontario and Pakistan and is a member of the Law Society of Ontario and the Pakistan Bar Council.

Talal’s practice focuses on intellectual property enforcement, data privacy and cybersecurity, competition law and emerging technologies. He also advises start-ups operating in the blockchain, fintech and emerging technology sectors on intellectual property protection and cybersecurity matters.

He holds an LL.M. in Intellectual Property Law from The George Washington University Law School and an LL.M. in Constitutional Law from the University of Toronto.

About United Trademark & Patent Services

United Trademark & Patent Services advises businesses on the protection, management and enforcement of intellectual property rights across the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia. Its practice encompasses trademarks, patents, designs, copyright, anti-counterfeiting, enforcement and broader intellectual property strategy.

Read the Pakistan chapter of The Global Legal Post Anti-Counterfeiting Comparative Guide to explore the key legal, enforcement and emerging technology considerations shaping brand protection in Pakistan.

New UAE Commercial Fraud Regulations Strengthen Brand Protection

Posted on by Fatima Rehman

The certificate has been issued. The trademark is registered. The brand is protected, right?

Not entirely.

Trademark registration gives you the legal foundation to act. But it cannot tell you when a counterfeit enters the market, where it is being sold or what customers experience when they mistake it for your product.

A counterfeit does more than imitate a name or logo. It trades on the trust your business has worked to build. If the product is of poor quality or unsafe, the counterfeiter may disappear, but the damage can remain with your brand.

That is why effective brand protection must go beyond registration.

At United Trademark & Patent Services, we help rights holders turn registered trademarks into practical protection. We monitor physical and online markets, develop product-authentication materials, investigate suspected counterfeits and coordinate enforcement action with the relevant UAE authorities. Our role is to help clients understand the available options and identify the most effective route for each situation.

The UAE already has a well-established range of anti-counterfeiting measures, including customs recordals, border seizures, market inspections, administrative complaints and court proceedings. The new Executive Regulations on Combatting Commercial Fraud, in force since 13 August 2026, provide brand owners with an additional enforcement tool.

The Regulations provide clearer procedures for inspecting, recalling, seizing, re-exporting and destroying counterfeit and fraudulent goods. They also strengthen coordination between authorities and introduce safeguards intended to prevent seized goods from returning to the market.

Importantly, the Regulations introduce clear operational timelines once counterfeit goods are identified. Upon being notified of a withdrawal decision, a supplier must immediately stop selling or displaying the affected goods and take the necessary steps to withdraw them from markets and warehouses within 24 hours.

For brand owners, this places even greater importance on early detection, reliable product-authentication materials and prompt engagement with the relevant authorities. The faster counterfeit goods can be identified and supported by reliable evidence, the more effectively rights holders can use the UAE’s available enforcement mechanisms.

For businesses with trademarks registered in the UAE, this is an opportunity to add another layer to their brand-protection strategy. Registration establishes your legal rights, while monitoring, authentication and enforcement help protect the reputation and customer trust that give your brand its value.

United Trademark & Patent Services supports brand owners at every stage, from securing rights to identifying infringements and coordinating action through the UAE’s available enforcement channels.

We are here to help you strengthen your brand-protection strategy in the UAE.

2026 IP STARS by Managing IP: New Regional Recognitions and 14 Individual Honours

Posted on by info@www.utmps.com

2026 IP STARS by Managing IP: New Regional Recognitions and 14 Individual Honours

United Trademark & Patent Services (UTMPS) is proud to announce another outstanding year in the 2026 IP STARS rankings by Managing IP, with expanded firm recognition across its regional network and 14 practitioners receiving individual honours.

The 2026 results mark an important milestone for the firm, with new firm recommendations for Intellectual Property in Egypt, Jordan and across the GCC, further strengthening UTMPS’ regional standing. In addition, the firm’s Copyright & Related Rights practice in the United Arab Emirates has been recognised for the first time, reflecting the continued growth and breadth of its intellectual property capabilities.

This year’s rankings also recognise the achievements of several practitioners across the firm’s offices, including a number receiving IP STARS recognition for the first time.

Trade Mark Stars

Patent Star

Notable Practitioners

Rising Stars

Alongside these individual achievements, UTMPS has been recommended for its Intellectual Property practice in Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan and the GCC, while also maintaining recognition for its copyright, patent and trade mark practices in the UAE.

The 2026 rankings reflect the continued growth of the firm’s intellectual property practice and the dedication of its professionals across the Middle East, Africa and South Asia. They also reinforce UTMPS’ longstanding commitment to delivering strategic, commercially focused intellectual property services to clients ranging from emerging businesses to some of the world’s leading brands.

UTMPS extends its sincere congratulations to all those recognised and thanks its clients, associates and colleagues for their continued trust and support. As the firm continues to expand its regional presence and expertise, these achievements serve as further recognition of the strength, collaboration and excellence of its teams across every jurisdiction in which it operates.

Qatar IP Office Temporarily Closed During the Official Mourning Period Following the Passing of the Father Emir

Posted on by info@www.utmps.com

We extend our sincere condolences to the Government and people of the State of Qatar following the passing of the Father Emir, His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani. Our thoughts are with the Royal Family and the nation during this time of mourning.

The Amiri Diwan has declared an official mourning period, during which work at government ministries, public institutions and authorities has been temporarily suspended.

Accordingly, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, including the Qatar Intellectual Property Office, has suspended its operations. The Office is expected to resume normal business on 19 July 2026.

In view of the temporary closure, all statutory and administrative deadlines relating to intellectual property matters that fall during the suspension period will be extended to the first official working day following the reopening of the Office, namely 19 July 2026. This includes deadlines relating to trademark applications, renewals, recordals, oppositions and other official filings.

Our team is closely monitoring the situation and reviewing all affected matters. We will attend to all filings and other pending actions as soon as the Office resumes operations to ensure that our clients’ rights remain fully protected.