Gulf BPG

6th Training session for AD customs
2024-09-17 | Online
Participated Brands: WD-40 & Hyundai Mobis.

Meet The Authorities - Qatar Ministry of Commerce and Industry
2024-09-12 | Online via Teams
Gulf BPG hosted the 4th “Meet the Authority” session, where Chairman Malek Hannouf started the meeting by welcoming representatives from Qatar’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry, including Mrs. Amna Jabir Al Kuwari, Director of the Intellectual Property Rights Protection Department, and Mrs. Aisha Ali S A Namlan, Head of Inspection and Dispute Settlement – Intellectual Property Protection.
Mrs. Amna Al Kuwari expressed gratitude to Gulf BPG for organizing the meeting and emphasized the importance of collaboration before introducing Mrs. Aisha Al Namlan to begin her presentation.
Mrs. Aisha Al Namlan proceeded with her presentation, outlining the structure of the Intellectual Property Rights Protection Department, as well as the international treaties, laws, and regulations that govern the protection of intellectual property rights within the Ministry.
Following the presentation, a productive Q&A session took place, during which Gulf BPG members discussed their challenges and provided valuable suggestions on various topics, including:

Enforcement procedures related to infringement of intellectual property rights, including periodic inspection campaigns for facilities.
Penalties resulting from infringement of intellectual property rightsز
Cooperating with other departments in the Ministry, such as the Consumer Protection Departmentز
Sharing information regarding seizures with brand owners through a report containing information, including the quantity of seized goods.
Cooperation with Qatar Customs – notifications.
A suggestion on considering moving the sized products from the trader shop/warehouse to a facility managed by MoCI until receiving the ruling and looking for environmental friendly destruction options or recycling.

The meeting concluded with a final request from Mrs. Aisha to provide additional training sessions, whether in legal training or authentication training from Gulf BPG brands, to assist the authorities in enhancing their effectiveness. Malek Hannouf confirmed that Gulf BPG will continue to support the provision of these requested training sessions and expressed gratitude to everyone for attending and participating in the meeting.

Webinar: Introduction of the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center
2024-09-09 | Online
Gulf BPG hosted a webinar featuring the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Centre, Malek Hannouf welcomed everyone and gave the floor to Mrs. Chiara Accornero – Legal Officer, IP Disputes and Mr. Amer Abu-Sham, Legal Case Manager, IP Disputes Section.
Mrs. Chiara thanked Gulf BPG for giving this opportunity and started by introducing their services which offers time effective and cost efficient alternative dispute resolution (ADR) options, such as mediation, arbitration, expedited arbitration, and expert determination to enable private parties to settle their domestic or cross-border commercial disputes.
She highlighted that the WIPO Centre is international and specializes in IP and technology disputes and a global leader in the provision of domain name dispute resolution services under the WIPO-designed UDRP.
Mr. Amer then gave several examples on WIPO Mediation of a trademark dispute for consumer goods, distribution dispute, trademark dispute in the telecom sector and trademark dispute for luxury goods which was resolved in settlement agreements.
The attendees demonstrated a high level of engagement, and their valuable contributions were greatly appreciated. Malek Hannouf expressed his gratitude to Chiara and Amer and confirmed ongoing support and collaboration for future initiatives

Workshop No.120 for Dubai Customs
2024-08-28 | Online
Brands: FERRERO, UNILEVER, BIC, TIFFANY & CO.

AD Customs - 3rd F2F Training
2024-08-27 | AD Customs – Masdar Smart City Hall
Gulf BPG participated in a face-to-face session at AD Customs – Masdar City , several brands participated among which, LV, RIMOWA, HUAWEI, UNILEVER and KENVUE.

Gulf BPG participates in AD Customs IPR workshops for Shipping and clearance companies
2024-07-31 | Online
Gulf BPG participated in the AD Customs 2nd IPR Workshop for shipping and clearance companies. Represented by Chairman Malek Hannnouf, Gulf BPG delivered a presentation on the fundamentals of intellectual property (IP), counterfeiting, and the significant threats to brands and consumers. The presentation covered a wide range of topics, including:
Types of trademarks and the effects of intellectual property rights infringement.
Unfair competition.
Smuggling.
Parallel import and its impact on local trade and revenues.
Judicial rulings from around the world and the cooperation between countries’ authorities.
The session was well-attended, with 80 participants.

AD Customs - 4th Online Session
2024-07-24 | Online
Participated Brands: Total Energies & Bosch

Workshop No.119 for Dubai Customs
2024-07-18 | Online
Brands: PMI, GANT, Ecyclex and Lacoste.

Gulf BPG attended WIPO's Member States Assemblies
2024-07-09 - 2024-07-17 | WIPO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland
Gulf BPG represented by Chairman, Malek Hannouf attended the WIPO Sixty-Fifth Series of the Member States Assemblies Meetings, WIPO Director General Daren Tang opened the WIPO Assemblies annual meetings, urging delegates to foster consensus and build on recent diplomatic breakthroughs to transform WIPO and the global intellectual property (IP) ecosystem. With nearly 1,400 delegates, including 20 Ministers, this year’s assembly marks the largest participation ever.
Delegates reviewed the Secretariat’s work and set future activities aligned with the strategic direction approved in 2022, while also examining WIPO treaties that support global innovators and creators. In his opening address, Mr. Tang highlighted the progress being made in shaping IP standards and emphasized the need for collaboration to make IP accessible to all.
The assemblies follow a historic diplomatic conference in May, where a new treaty concerning IP and Indigenous Peoples was unanimously approved, showcasing the possibility of consensus even on contentious issues. Mr. Tang urged member states to maintain this spirit as they approach negotiations for a new Design Law Treaty in November.
During the assemblies, WIPO recognized the nine winners of the 2024 Global Awards program, celebrating those who leverage IP for positive impact. The General Assembly was chaired by Ambassador Alfredo Suescum Alfaro, Panama’s Permanent Representative to the WTO.

Gulf BPG attended DCCC's meeting
2024-06-28 | Online
Gulf BPG attended the second quarter meeting hosted by DCCC. The meeting featured several informative presentations, starting with Dr. Stephane Graber, Director General of the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA). He discussed “eFBL: Digital Bills of Lading Overview,” highlighting that the eFBL is accessible through over 30 software providers worldwide and is used daily by freight forwarders in a hybrid format.
Next, Mr. Adolphe Chaiban and Mr. Rashid Abdulla Hamad Al-Shehhi, both experts from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MOFAIC), presented on “Platform Overview EDAS 2.0 – Upgrade.” They introduced this innovative platform, designed to automate the Electronic Document Attestation process, allowing MOFA to efficiently service its customers by streamlining the request and processing of attestation requirements.
Finally, Ilkyu Park and Estefania Arias Molina from the Building Respect for IP Division at WIPO presented on the importance of IP enforcement and WIPO’s role in fostering respect for intellectual property. They emphasized the significance of IP enforcement in today’s global landscape.

Gulf BPG attends MoU signing between Ministry of Economy and the Spanish National Professional Football League ‘La Liga’
2024-06-25 | Ministry of Economy office- ​Central Park Office Tower, Dubai, UAE
Gulf BPG represented by Chairman Malek Hannouf attended MoU signing between Ministry of Economy and the Spanish National Professional Football League ‘La Liga’. The UAE Ministry of Economy, in partnership with Dubai Media City and La Liga, has launched the “Anti-Piracy Lab” project to combat intellectual property violations by blocking websites that illegally use audio and visual content. H.E. Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Saleh and La Liga President Javier Tebas signed a memorandum of understanding to establish the lab in Dubai Media City.
H.E. Abdullah Al Saleh emphasized the UAE’s commitment to enhancing its intellectual property system, while Mr Javier Tebas praised the initiative as vital in the fight against piracy. The Ministry aims to complete the project within three years, utilizing advanced technology to detect and remove infringing content. This effort is part of the Ministry’s broader strategy to strengthen the IP landscape in the UAE, which has already seen success in blocking 1,117 infringing websites during Ramadan 2024.

Workshop No.118 for Dubai Customs Inspectors
2024-06-13 | Online
Brands: Total Energies, BOSCH, BAT and HP

AD DED - 6th Online Training
2024-06-12 | Online
Brands
WD-40 & Toshiba

4th F2F Workshop for Kuwait MoCI
2024-06-11 | Kuwait MoCI, KIPCO Tower – Mezzanine floor
Gulf BPG in coordination with the Kuwait Ministry of Commerce and Industry – Trademark Dept, organized the 4th workshop at the Ministry’s premises. Representatives from the Consumer Protection Department attended this session, which focused on electronics and FMCG brands.
Brands: HUAWEI, WD-40 and UNILEVER.

Meet The Authorities - Sharjah Economic Development Department (SEDD)
2024-06-10 | Online
Gulf BPG hosted its 3rd “Meet the Authority” session, beginning with Chairman Malek Hannouf welcoming Mr. Ali Fadel Almahdi, Head of the Commercial Protection Section at the Sharjah Economic Development Department (SEDD). Mr. Almahdi thanked Gulf BPG for the opportunity and ongoing support before diving into his presentation.
Mr. Ali Fadel outlined the fully digitalized administrative procedures and explained the complaint processing and inspection protocols. Mr. Almahdi discussed how inspections are conducted, including procedures when a warehouse is open or closed, and noted their cooperation with Sharjah police if a warehouse is closed during an inspection. He also covered the essential characteristics required of inspectors, the sizing procedures, and the details documented in inspection reports, concluding with an overview of how actions are taken based on findings.
The session included a Q&A segment, where participants raised topics such as penalties for counterfeiters and strategies to enhance deterrence against repeat offenses. Discussions also touched on the recycling of seized products and the transfer of destruction procedures to Beeah for environmentally responsible disposal.
Recommendations were made regarding the storage of seized products, suggesting secure storage options at third-party premises, or expanded storage solutions through additional fees at SHJ DED facilities.
The discussion covered proactive and random seizures, as well as urgent requests for sizing (one-day cases), highlighting the challenges encountered in these areas and best practices like simplified procedures in other countries which reduces the long storage period.
Malek Hannouf concluded the meeting by inquiring how the private sector could support the departments in achieving their full potential. Mr. Ali Fadel emphasized the importance of ongoing training programs for inspectors and suggested creating concise manuals for each brand to help distinguish between genuine and counterfeit products.
Malek Hannouf expressed his gratitude to Mr. Ali Fadel Almahdi for his thorough presentation and for the department’s efforts in protecting IP rights. He also thanked all attendees for their active participation in the session.

3rd F2F Workshop for Kuwait MoCI
2024-06-04 | Kuwait MoCI , KIPCO Tower – Mezzanine Floor
Gulf BPG in coordination with the Kuwait Ministry of Commerce and Industry – Trademark Dept, organized the 3rd workshop at the Ministry premises with attendance of the Precious Metals Department. This workshop addressed trademarks and industrial designs for jewelry and leather products.
Brands: Apple, PUMA and Luxottica

2nd F2F Workshop for Kuwait MoCI
2024-05-28 | Kuwait MoCI, KIPCO Tower – Mezzanine floor
Gulf BPG in coordination with the Kuwait Ministry of Commerce and Industry – Trademark Dept, organized the 3rd workshop at the Ministry premises with attendance of the Precious Metals Department. This workshop addressed trademarks and industrial designs for jewelry and leather products.
Brands: LV, Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels

Dubai Customs - 3rd F2F Workshop
2024-05-23 | Dubai Customs HQ, First Floor, Hall 1 & 2
Brands: KENVUE, WD-40, HUAWEI, HERMÈS, Burberry and INTERPARFUMS.

AD Customs - 2nd F2F Training
2024-05-21 | AD Customs – Khalifah Port Customs Centre
Gulf BPG participated in a face-to-face session at AD Customs premisses at Khalifah Port Customs Centre – Abu Dhabi, several brands participated among which LV, RIMOWA, P&G, KENVUE, HUAWEI and WD-40

5th Online Training Session for AD DED Inspectors
2024-05-20 | Online
Brands: Lacoste & GANT

F2F Workshops for SAIP in Riyadh
2024-05-15 - 2024-05-16 | Headquarter, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
In collaboration with the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP), Gulf BPG organized a two-day face-to-face workshop at their headquarters in Riyadh. The first day began with a warm welcome from Malek Hannouf, Gulf BPG Chairman, who thanked SAIP for their cooperation and efforts in protecting IP rights. The session included a presentation on IP fundamentals, counterfeiting, and significant threats to brands and consumers, covering topics such as counterfeit and imitation products, unfair competition, smuggling, the impact of parallel imports on local trade and revenues and judicial rulings worldwide.
Over the two days, a series of authentication presentations were delivered by various brand owners, including LV, Rimowa, Mobis Parts Middle East FZE, Adidas, Luxottica, Gucci, Apple, Puma, Tory Burch, Tiffany, Bulgari, Ferrero, Lacoste, Gant, Beiersdorf and WD-40.

Gulf BPG participated in the 3rd session of "The Moot Court Project"
2024-05-15 | The School of Research Science
Gulf BPG participated in the 3rd “Moot Court Project on Intellectual Property Rights,” organized by Saint Joseph University – Dubai, represented by Nadeen Helou, Senior Legal Consultant at Rouse and Rima El-Achkar, Intellectual Property Manager for Louis Vuitton Middle East.
The students benefited from the guidance of legal experts, including Bachelor of Law students, faculty members, and representatives from Gulf BPG. With this support, they effectively portrayed their roles and delivered strong arguments to defend their case.

1st F2F Workshop for Kuwait MoCI Inbox
2024-05-14
Gulf BPG in coordination with the Kuwait Ministry of Commerce and Industry – Trademark Dept, organized the 1st workshop at the Ministry premises with attendance of the Precious Metals Department. This workshop addressed trademarks and industrial designs for jewelry products.
Brands: Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Piaget and Richemont.

Gulf BPG participated in the 2nd session of "The Moot Court Project"
2024-05-10 | Greenwood School

Gulf BPG hosted IP Webinar on Sports & E-Sports
2024-05-09 | Online
Gulf BPG organized the 2nd IP webinar of 2024, titled “Protecting the Play: IP in Sports and e-Sports,” in cooperation with the Ministry of Economy, AIPPI-UAE, the French Embassy, INPI, and EIPA. The event also featured participation from the Emirates Esports Federation, University of Lille – France, and lululemon.
Vice Chairman Hussam Abu Hamdeh welcomed attendees and introduced H.E. Saeed Ali Al-Tahir, General Secretary of the Emirates Esports Federation. In his opening speech, Al-Tahir discussed the federation’s role in promoting e-sports among youth in the UAE, and its objectives of enhancing technical skills and representing the UAE internationally.
Bassel El Turk, Vice President of AIPPI UAE, thanked H.E. Al-Tahir and introduced Prof. Caroline Le Goffic from the University of Lille, who focused on the IP aspects of e-sports, such as video game creation and event organizers’ IP rights.
Next, Bassel introduced Danielle Prince, Legal Consultant for EMEA at lululemon, who discussed the brand’s approach to IP, emphasizing community engagement, innovation, and purpose.
The webinar concluded with a Q&A session, where the speakers highlighted the connection between IP in both the real and virtual worlds, with attendees offering suggestions to improve IP protection.
Dr. Jinane Kabbara, Regional IP Counsellor at INPI, Embassy of France, delivered the closing remarks, thanking all involved parties, including the Ministry of Economy, EIPA, Gulf BPG, and AIPPI-UAE.

F2F Workshop for Dubai Customs
2024-05-08 | Dubai Customs HQ, First Floor, Hall 1 & 2
Brands: Samsung Electronics, Mobis Parts Middle East FZE, Lacoste, Unilever, JTI and Gant

Gulf BPG participated and sponsored “the Moot Court Project on Intellectual Property Rights” by USJ-Dubai
2024-05-07 | Almawakeb School in Al Khawaneej
Gulf BPG participated in and sponsored “The Moot Court Project on Intellectual Property Rights,” organized by Saint Joseph University – Dubai, officially launched at Almawakeb School in Al Khawaneej. The event was held under the patronage of the Ministry of Economy and attended by Ms. Fatima Khalaf Al Hosani, Director of the Copyright and Related Rights Department, Dr. Jinane Kabbara, Regional IP Counselor at the French Embassy, Mr. Malek Hannouf, Chairman of Gulf BPG, and Mr. Bassel El Turk, board member of Gulf BPG.
The event began with a welcome note from Dr. Nathalie Sabbagh, Director of the Dubai campus, followed by opening speeche from Ms. Fatima Khalaf Al Hosani. Students were then divided into two groups, led by Malek Hannouf and Bassel El Turk, and coached by USJ-Dubai Bachelor of Law students. Almawakeb students had the opportunity to explore a real case scenario on IP rights and participate in a simulated court session.

AD Customs World IP Day celebration activities - 1st F2F Training Session for AD Customs Inspectors
2024-04-30 | Online
In line with the World IP Day celebration and as part of Abu Dhabi Customs celebrations activities Gulf BPG participated in a face-to-face session at AD Customs premisses at Masdar city – Abu Dhabi, several brands participated among which Mobis Parts Middle East,Unilever ,Tory Burch, and JTI.

4th Online Training Session for AD DED Inspectors
2024-04-29 08:00 - 17:00 (Asia/Dubai) | Online
Brands: Tory Burch & Tiffany

Gulf BPG Awarded at Dubai Customs IP day celebration
2024-04-29 | Intercontinental Hotel – Festival City
A delegate from Gulf BPG participated in the celebration of World Intellectual Property Day 2024 organized by Dubai Customs under the theme “Empowering a Sustainable Future through Innovation”.During the event, Malek Hannouf, Chairman of Gulf BPG, was awarded by Yousef Al-Hashimi, (Acting) Executive Director of the Customer Management Division. The department acknowledged its partners in intellectual property rights protection, collaborating law firms, and the recipients of the Schools and Universities Award. A message from Daren Tang, Director General of WIPO, was shared during the event. Yousef Ozair Mubarak, Director of the IPR Department, provided insights, highlighting that the department managed approximately 62 intellectual property disputes in the first quarter of 2024, including 13 cases involving seized counterfeit goods totaling 4.364 million pieces valued at 5.430 million dirhams.
