Copyrights.
‍Overview.

Copyrights exist automatically at creation of an original work. To prove ownership, the work must be documented in a way that shows time and date of creation. This could be sending the work in an email, posting it online or anything that shows evidence of authorship. The duration of protection depends on the type of work, and as the owner, you can add the © symbol to put others on notice of your rights. This, in turn, can help deter others from copying your works or infringing on your rights.

Time to Acquire:

3 working days

Duration of Protection:

25 to 50 years

Cost:

Minimum of 50 AED, excluding professional fees.

Examples of Copyrights:

Photographic works, artistic works, literary works, code, software and more.

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What is a Copyright?

Whether you're an artist, writer, musician, or content creator, copyright empowers you by securing you exclusive rights to your creations. When you create an original work, Copyright automatically exists and you are eligible to add the © symbol to said work without obtaining a recordal. However, a Copyright recordal gives you stronger legal backing should you need to enforce this right or commercialize it through others.

Copyright recordal applications in Dubai are handled by the Ministry of Economy (MoEc) and are covered under Federal Decree-Law No. (38) of 2021 on Copyright and Cabinet Resolution Concerning the Executive Regulations of Federal Decree-Law on Copyright and Neighboring Rights. Keep in mind that applying for a Copyright protects your creation in the UAE only. If you wish to record your copyright in other countries or regions, you will need to apply through their IP offices (if recordal is an option).

To apply for Copyright you must be a UAE citizen or have residency status in the UAE. If you are applying from outside the UAE, a local IP Attorney may apply on your behalf.

Before applying, you should consider whether it is necessary to do so. Copyright is automatically granted upon the creation of your work, entitling you to apply the © symbol to your work without registering it. Find out more about the benefits of registering your IP as Copyright below.

Khattaf Raffay by Dubai Abulhoul and Kalimat Group ©. Copyright protection was granted at the time of this publication's release. This protection is recognized globally without the need for registration. Use the © symbol to signify to others that you own it and reserve all rights to the work.

Before applying, you should consider whether it is necessary to do so. Copyright is automatically granted upon the creation of your work entitling you to apply the © symbol to your work without registering. Find out more about the benefits of registering your IP as Copyright below.

Evidence of Authorship and Joint Authorship

The Copyright law recognizes authors as individuals who create Copyrightable works or are credited upon publication. This inclusive definition allows creators of all ages, including minors, to register their works and receive due recognition for their contributions. Joint authorship is also acknowledged to safeguard the rights of multiple collaborators who collectively create a work. Also, they may license the commercialization of the works to a third party, so evidence of recordal can be important in such circumstances.

Authorization for Use of the Work

Copyright owners enjoy exclusive rights over their works, including the right to authorize their use. They may delegate rights management and enforcement to specialized professional associations or entities, streamlining administrative processes.

Penalties for Infringement

The UAE's Copyright Law imposes strict penalties for infringing the moral or economic rights of authors or Copyright holders. Offenses, such as selling or distributing Copyrighted works without written permission, can lead to imprisonment and substantial fines, serving as a robust deterrent against Copyright infringement.

Supporting Creativity, Innovation, and Investment

Registering Copyrights fosters a culture of creativity and innovation by providing creators the confidence in that their works are protected. It also improves the state's Intellectual Property registration index, offers official documentation of rights, and enhances the investment environment by assuring businesses and investors that their creative assets are safeguarded.

Examples of Copyrights

Copyright covers a wide range of creations. The examples below are not exhaustive, as Copyright protection extends to a wide range of creative expressions. See the table in the next section for more applied examples of Copyrights and their relevant terms.

Examples of Copyright

Copyright covers a wide range of creations.  
For instance:

Literature

Books, booklets, articles, and other literature

Software

Plays, musicals, and pantomimes
‍

Animation

Computer software and applications, databases

Literature

Books, booklets, articles, and literature
‍

Software

Computer software, applications, and databases

Animation

Plays, musicals, and pantomimes
‍

Type of Work

Example of Work

Duration of Protection

Lifetime of
Protection

Individual Authors

A novel written by an author

Lifetime of author + 50 years

First day of the calendar year following the death of author

Collective Works

A song created by a group of musicians

Lifetime of the last surviving author +  50 years

First day of the calendar year following last death

Collective Works (legal entity)

A published corporate magazine

50 years from first publication

First day of the next calendar year of first publication

Posthumous Works

A book published in 2020 by an author who died in 2010

50 years from year of first publication

First calendar year following the year of first publication

Anonymously / Pseudonymously Published

A poem published anonymously

50 years from year of first publication

First day of the next calendar year of first publication, unless author is later identified

Applied Art Works

A design artwork for an album

25 years from year of first publication

First calendar year following the year of first publication

Performers

A live concert recorded

50 years from year of performance or fixation

First day of the next calendar year of performance or fixation

Phonogram Producers

A music album produced

50 years from year of publication or fixation

First day of the next calendar year of publication or fixation if unpublished

Broadcasting Organizations

A TV show

20 years from year of first transmission

First day of the next calendar year of first transmission

Type of Work

Individual Authors

Example of work

A novel written by an author

Duration of Protection

Lifetime of author + 50 years

Lifetime of protection

First day of the calendar year following death of author

Type of Work

Collective Works

Example of work

A song created by a group of musicians

Duration of Protection

Lifetime of the last surviving author +  50 years

Lifetime of protection

First day of the calendar year following last death

Type of Work

Collective Works (legal entity)

Example of work

A corporate magazine published

Duration of Protection

50 years from first publication

Lifetime of protection

First day of the next calendar year of first publication

Type of Work

Posthumous Works

Example of work

A book published in 2020 by an author who died in 2010

Duration of Protection

50 years from year of first publication

Lifetime of protection

First calendar year following the year of first publication

Type of Work

Anonymously/Pseudonymously published

Example of work

A poem published anonymously

Duration of Protection

50 years from year of first publication

Lifetime of protection

First day of the next calendar year of first publication, unless author is later identified

Type of Work

Applied Art Works

Example of work

A design artwork for an album

Duration of Protection

25 years from year of first publication

Lifetime of protection

First calendar year following the year of first publication

Type of Work

Performers

Example of work

A live concert recorded

Duration of Protection

50 years from year of performance or fixation

Lifetime of protection

First day of the next calendar year of performance or fixation

Type of Work

Phonogram Producers

Example of work

A music album produced

Duration of Protection

50 years from year of publication or fixation

Lifetime of protection

First day of the next calendar year of publication or fixation if unpublished

Type of Work

Performer Broadcasting Organizations

Example of work

A TV show

Duration of Protection

20 years from year of first transmission

Lifetime of protection

First day of the next calendar year of first transmission

Rights of Copyright Owners

In most cases, you as the person who created the work owns the Copyright to the work.

However, under certain agreements Copyright ownership can be subject to change. When you create work for an employer, they automatically own the work and its Copyright. Unless stated otherwise. When you are producing work for someone else, it is important to agree on the Copyright ownership of the work. Doing this will help mitigate any issues that may arise during ownership disputes.

Depending on the type of work, there are different rights assigned for control, use and exploitation:

Literary, Dramatic, and
Musical Works or Editions of Them

Reproduction (applied only on editions)

Publishing

Performance

Communication

Adaptations

Artistic Works

Reproduction

Publishing

Communication

Sound Recordings

Copying

Rental

Publishing

Communication

Film

Copy

Screening

Communication

Television
and Radio Broadcast

Recording

Rebroadcast

Communication

Cable Programmes

Recording

Communication

Screening

Performances

Performance

Recording

Distribution

This means that you as the holder reserve all rights provided by Copyright laws. Anyone looking to use your work in any way must seek your permission and provide the right attribution. Use the © symbol to signify this.

Creative Commons:

There are a range of licenses that allow you to specify which rights you want to reserve and which ones you want to waive for the benefit of others. Depending on the specific license you can let others know what type of permission or attributions they must set when they use your work. Look through creativecommons.org to find out which symbol to use.

No Right Reserved (Public Domain):

This lets others know that you waive all rights to Copyright laws and that they may use your work without any permissions, restrictions or attributions, placing it as completely as possible in the public domain. Use the CC0 symbol to signify this.

Copyrights.‍Overview.

3 working days

25 to 50 years

Minimum of 50 AED, excluding professional fees.

Photographic works, artistic works, literary works, code, software and more.

What is a Copyright?

To apply for Copyright you must be a UAE citizen or have residency status in the UAE. If you are applying from outside the UAE, a local IP Attorney may apply on your behalf.

Before applying, you should consider whether it is necessary to do so. Copyright is automatically granted upon the creation of your work, entitling you to apply the © symbol to your work without registering it. Find out more about the benefits of registering your IP as Copyright below.

Before applying, you should consider whether it is necessary to do so. Copyright is automatically granted upon the creation of your work entitling you to apply the © symbol to your work without registering. Find out more about the benefits of registering your IP as Copyright below.

Benefits of Registering Copyright

Examples of Copyrights

Copyright covers a wide range of creations. The examples below are not exhaustive, as Copyright protection extends to a wide range of creative expressions. See the table in the next section for more applied examples of Copyrights and their relevant terms.

Examples of Copyright

Copyright covers a wide range of creations. For instance:

Books, booklets, articles, and other literature

Plays, musicals, and pantomimes‍

Computer software and applications, databases

Books, booklets, articles, and literature‍

Computer software, applications, and databases

Plays, musicals, and pantomimes‍

This list is not exhaustive, as copyright protection extends to a wide range of creative expressions. See the table below for more applied examples of Copyright and their relevant terms.

Duration of Protection for Different Types of Works

Depending on the type of work, different durations of protection are applied.

Rights of Copyright Owners

In most cases, you as the person who created the work owns the Copyright to the work.

Depending on the type of work, there are different rights assigned for control, use and exploitation:

Literary, Dramatic, and Musical Works or Editions of Them

Artistic Works

Sound Recordings

Film

Television and Radio Broadcast

Cable Programmes

Performances

Types of Rights

All Rights Reserved:

Creative Commons:

No Right Reserved (Public Domain):

How the Copyright Process Unfolds

Getting a Copyright in UAE follows a clear process:

What You Will Find in the Following Pages

Next Page

Preparing Your Application

Preparing Your Application

© 2024 Dubai Future Foundation. All Rights Reserved.

Copyrights.
‍Overview.

Benefits of Registering Copyright

Copyright covers a wide range of creations.  
For instance:

Plays, musicals, and pantomimes
‍

Books, booklets, articles, and literature
‍

Plays, musicals, and pantomimes
‍

Duration of Protection for Different Types of Works

Literary, Dramatic, and
Musical Works or Editions of Them

Artistic Works

Sound Recordings

Television
and Radio Broadcast

Cable Programmes

No Right Reserved (Public Domain):

How the Copyright  Process Unfolds

Preparing
Your Application