Webinar on the Design Law Treaty: Advancing Design Protection in the Region

Gulf BPG, in collaboration with AIPPI UAE, EIPA and under the patronage of the UAE Ministry of Economy, organized a high-level webinar focusing on the Design Law Treaty (DLT), a landmark international treaty adopted at the WIPO Riyadh Diplomatic Conference in November 2024.

The session opened with welcoming remarks from Malek Hannouf, Chairman of Gulf BPG, who emphasized the strategic importance of DLT in advancing harmonized, simplified design protection procedures at the international level. He highlighted the treaty’s relevance for brand owners, designers, and SMEs operating across multiple jurisdictions, particularly in light of the Gulf region’s growing innovation ecosystem and global engagement.

The webinar was moderated by Paul Muscat and featured Mr. Andres Izquierdo, IP Attorney and Policy Advisor, as the keynote speaker. Mr. Izquierdo provided an in-depth overview of DLT, explaining its procedural nature and its aim to standardize design registration requirements, reduce administrative burdens, lower legal costs, and promote electronic filing across jurisdictions.

Key discussions focused on:

• The benefits of the DLT for Gulf brands and SMEs, including faster and more cost-effective access to design protection.
• The treaty’s role in supporting creative industries such as fashion, consumer products, automotive, and packaging.
• Implementation considerations for the region, including legislative alignment, e-filing infrastructure, and WIPO-led capacity building.
• The treaty’s potential to position the Gulf as a regional and global hub for design protection, while maintaining necessary flexibilities for national systems.

The session concluded with an interactive discussion, reinforcing the importance of awareness and preparedness among rights holders and policymakers as countries move toward adoption and implementation of the Design Law Treaty.