The Ministry of Economy and Commerce (MEC) yesterday organised a seminar titled ‘Intellectual Property Rights Protection for Entrepreneurs’, in co-operation with the Social Development Centre - Nama in presence of some investors and entrepreneurs.
The event aimed to raise awareness among investors about the importance of trademarks for use in services and products, and the need to protect them against infringement by registering trademarks with the department concerned at the MEC.
Several MEC intellectual property rights specialists talked at the seminar and addressed different topics, including the definition of intellectual property and its importance in terms of support for intellectual property rights in accordance with Qatar National Vision 2030, as well as its support of a strong knowledge-based economy that is based upon on research, development, innovation and excellence in entrepreneurship.
The seminar shed light on the general definition of trademarks, basic advantages for the merchant, manufacturer, service provider and consumer at the time of registration in order to protect product against infringement of property rights, ensure that consumers are not confused between products, and guarantee fair competition to market products in an efficient and low-cost manner.
The seminar also discussed the trademark registration procedures, the trademark law and some related issues in order to make investors aware of the law to protect them against infringement and protect others as well. Several illustrative examples of trademark-related issues were covered.
Through this jointly organised event, Nama Centre is “looking to protect the intellectual property rights of entrepreneurs and make the owners of small and micro businesses aware of the importance of their private businesses trademarks to protect them”, the statement adds.
It is the trademark owner’s right to submit a complaint to the Intellectual Property Rights Protection Department once a trademark is infringed upon, counterfeited, falsified or used in an unauthorised way. In such cases, the judicial inspector of the department shall confirm the incident with the minutes of the seizure and list the violations to submit them to the authorities concerned to decide on the actions needed in accordance with the law that should
penalise infringement.
Dignitaries at the seminar. PICTURE: Nasar T K
