Tag: Trademark Protection

UAE Opens Class 33 for Trademark Filings

Posted on by Fatima Rehman

Brand owners can now seek national trademark protection in the UAE for alcoholic beverages following the opening of Class 33, which was previously unavailable for filing.

The trademark landscape in the United Arab Emirates has seen an important development with Class 33 now available for trademark filings through the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism (MOET) portal.

Class 33 covers alcoholic beverages, except beers, as well as alcoholic preparations for making beverages. Until now, the class had been restricted for trademark filings in the UAE. Its availability therefore creates a new opportunity for brand owners to seek national trademark protection for relevant goods in the country.

For businesses with established international portfolios, as well as those currently operating in or considering entering the UAE market, this is an important time to assess existing trademark protection and determine whether additional filings should be considered.

What does the opening of Class 33 mean for brand owners?

Brand owners with alcoholic beverage trademarks protected in other jurisdictions may previously have had a gap in their UAE trademark portfolios because Class 33 was unavailable for filing.

With applications now being accepted, businesses have an opportunity to review those portfolios and consider extending protection to the UAE.

This may be particularly relevant for international and regional brand owners with existing Class 33 registrations elsewhere, businesses with current interests in the UAE, and companies planning future launches or expansion into the market.

Why should portfolios be reviewed now?

The opening of a previously unavailable class creates a new filing opportunity for both existing and prospective market participants.

Brand owners should therefore consider reviewing their portfolios at an early stage to identify relevant brands and products for which UAE protection may now be appropriate.

As part of this review, businesses should consider whether they have Class 33 trademarks registered in other markets but not in the UAE, whether their current or planned UAE activities involve goods falling within Class 33, and whether there are gaps in their existing UAE trademark protection.

Where relevant, early filing should be considered now that applications in the class can be submitted.

Preparing a Class 33 filing strategy

Before proceeding with an application, brand owners should consider the scope of protection required and the appropriate specification for their relevant goods.

Clearance searches can also assist in assessing potentially conflicting rights before filing. For businesses managing portfolios across multiple jurisdictions, the UAE filing should be considered within the context of the wider trademark portfolio and the brand’s current or anticipated commercial activities.

The appropriate strategy will depend on the particular brand, products and existing portfolio.

How UTMPS can assist

United Trademark & Patent Services (UTMPS) can assist brand owners in assessing the implications of this development for their UAE trademark portfolios.

Our team can review existing portfolios to identify Class 33 protection gaps, conduct clearance searches, advise on appropriate specifications and filing strategies, and handle new applications through to registration.

We can also monitor potentially conflicting third-party applications and advise on enforcement where required.

Brand owners with relevant trademarks or products in Class 33 are encouraged to review their UAE protection and consider whether new filings should form part of their trademark strategy.

For further information or assistance with Class 33 trademark filings in the UAE, contact the UTMPS team.

Protect Early, Enforce Early: Hasan Irfan Khan Shares Pakistan IP Insights with The Legal 500

Posted on by Hasan Irfan Khan

Hasan Irfan Khan, Senior Partner at United Trademark & Patent Services, has contributed to The Legal 500’s Legal Landscapes: Pakistan – Intellectual Property guide, sharing practical perspectives on the current IP environment in Pakistan, the priorities for rights holders and the developments shaping the practice of intellectual property law.

Drawing on UTMPS’s experience advising domestic and international businesses, Hasan highlights a central principle for companies protecting intellectual property in Pakistan: act early, secure rights early and enforce them before problems escalate.

In the guide, he explains that timely registration can make enforcement considerably more straightforward and cost-effective. Delays in filing or taking action against infringement can place even established and well-known brands at risk, particularly where third parties have already begun building competing rights or commercial presence.

A broad and active IP landscape

Pakistan’s intellectual property environment encompasses a wide range of matters, from trademark clearance, filing and opposition proceedings to copyright and patent enforcement, licensing, franchising, competition law and border measures.

For businesses operating or expanding in the market, this means IP strategy cannot be viewed solely as a registration exercise. Portfolio protection increasingly requires coordination between prosecution, commercial advice and enforcement, particularly where valuable brands, technologies or other rights are exposed to infringement.

Hasan also identifies quality of legal service as an important consideration for rights holders. While price remains a factor in selecting advisers, he cautions that decisions based primarily on unusually low costs can create greater risks if work is not handled with the level of expertise required. In intellectual property matters, deficiencies in advice, filing strategy or enforcement can ultimately affect the rights themselves.

Technology is changing the way IP work is delivered

The guide also considers the growing role of artificial intelligence and other technological tools within legal practice.

Hasan notes that AI can help improve efficiency in areas such as reviewing pleadings, preparing summaries and organising evidence, particularly in litigation matters. Used effectively, these tools can reduce response times and help control costs for clients while allowing legal teams to focus resources on substantive strategy and advocacy.

The opportunity, therefore, is not simply automation. It is using technology to make sophisticated legal services faster, more efficient and commercially responsive.

Testing the boundaries of patent enforcement

Hasan also discusses a significant patent dispute recently handled by the firm involving attempts to prevent the launch of generic versions of a patented pharmaceutical product.

A central issue concerned whether Pakistan’s patent legislation could support a restraining order against health authorities responsible for granting marketing authorisation, on the basis that such authorisation could constitute an act making future infringement more likely.

The IP Tribunal accepted the argument that the relevant health authorities could be treated as proper and necessary parties to the patent infringement proceedings and that the law permitted preventive relief aimed at stopping infringement before it occurred.

The resulting restraining orders prevented the launch of a number of generic products. The matter has since proceeded before the High Court, where arguments have been heard and judgment has been reserved.

The case demonstrates the importance of looking beyond conventional enforcement approaches and considering how existing statutory provisions can be applied strategically to address emerging or complex commercial circumstances.

A practical approach to IP protection

Across the discussion, one message remains consistent: effective intellectual property protection depends on being proactive.

From securing registrations and selecting appropriate advisers to embracing technology and pursuing enforcement before infringement becomes entrenched, businesses are better positioned when IP considerations form part of their commercial planning from the outset.

Read Hasan Irfan Khan’s full contribution to The Legal 500 Legal Landscapes: Pakistan – Intellectual Property guide for further insight into Pakistan’s IP environment, client priorities, technological developments and evolving enforcement strategies.

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.

Protecting Your Brand in Saudi Arabia: Why Early Trademark Protection Matters

Posted on by Maria Khan

Protecting Your Brand in Saudi Arabia: Why Early Trademark Protection Matters

A trademark is often one of a company’s most valuable assets. It distinguishes products and services in the marketplace, builds consumer trust, and protects the reputation a business has invested years in developing.

As Saudi Arabia continues to attract local and international investment under Vision 2030, businesses face increasing competition and greater exposure to brand-related risks. In this environment, trademark protection is no longer simply a legal consideration, it is a business necessity.

Why Trademark Protection Matters

Without adequate trademark protection, businesses may face:

  • Unauthorized use of their brand by competitors or third parties
  • Counterfeit products entering the market
  • Loss of brand value and consumer confidence
  • Expensive disputes over ownership rights
  • Obstacles to expansion, franchising, licensing, or investment opportunities

The world’s most successful brands understand this well. Companies such as Nike, Apple, and Starbucks invest heavily in protecting their trademarks globally because strong brands inevitably attract imitators. Trademark registration provides the legal foundation needed to prevent others from capitalizing on a company’s reputation and goodwill.

The Golden Opportunity

Saudi Arabia’s rapidly evolving economy presents significant opportunities for businesses across a wide range of sectors. At the same time, the Kingdom has strengthened its intellectual property framework and enforcement efforts, demonstrating a clear commitment to protecting brand owners and combating trademark infringement.

For businesses entering or operating within Saudi Arabia, securing trademark rights at an early stage can provide a significant competitive advantage. It not only protects brand identity but also supports long-term commercial objectives, including market expansion, licensing arrangements, strategic partnerships, and investment transactions.

Who Should Consider Trademark Protection in Saudi Arabia?

  • Startups preparing to launch products or services 
  • SMEs expanding into the Saudi market 
  • Foreign companies entering Saudi Arabia for the first time 
  • E-commerce businesses selling to Saudi consumers 
  • Franchise operators and licensors 
  • Established companies with unregistered brands 
  • Businesses planning future investment, expansion, or acquisition activities

A Strategic Investment in Growth

Many businesses view trademark registration as a compliance exercise. In reality, it is an investment in the future value of the business. A registered trademark can become a powerful commercial asset, helping to preserve market position, enhance brand recognition, and provide a basis for enforcement when infringements occur.

The cost of securing trademark protection is often minimal compared to the financial and reputational consequences of a brand dispute.

As Saudi Arabia continues its transformation into one of the region’s leading business hubs, companies should take proactive steps to assess their trademark portfolios and ensure that their key brands are adequately protected. The question is not whether a trademark is worth protecting, but whether a business can afford the risks of leaving it unprotected.

If your trademarks are not yet protected in Saudi Arabia, now may be the ideal time to take action. Contact our expert team to discuss a protection strategy tailored to your business objectives.

To learn more about our intellectual property services and capabilities in Saudi Arabia, please visit our dedicated Saudi Arabia page.