Copyright and Trademark Registration in the UAE: Differences and How to Get Both

Copyright and trademarks protect different things and are handled under different laws, both administered by the Ministry of Economy & Tourism (MoET). Most brands need a trademark; creative businesses often need both.

Side by side

	Trademark	Copyright
Protects	Signs that identify a business: names, logos, slogans, packaging	Original works: text, software, designs, photos, music, video, artwork
Law	Federal Decree-Law No. 36 of 2021	Federal Decree-Law No. 38 of 2021 on Copyright and Neighbouring Rights
How rights arise	Registration (first-to-file)	Automatically on creation
Registration	Mandatory for enforceable rights	Optional deposit with MoET as evidence of authorship and date
Cost	AED 6,500 per class (official)	Deposit service fee (modest)
Duration	10 years, renewable forever	Life of the author + 50 years (works); 50 years for many corporate works
Stops	Use of a confusingly similar sign in trade, even if independently created	Copying, adaptation and distribution of the work
Symbol	® (registered), ™ (unregistered)	©

When a brand needs both

• Logo: trademark for use as a brand; copyright covers the artwork itself. Make sure the designer assigned copyright to you in writing.
• Website, app, software: copyright (deposit the code and UI); trademark the app name and icon.
• Packaging and labels: trademark the name and distinctive get-up; copyright the artwork.
• Content businesses (publishers, studios, agencies): copyright for the works; trademark for the studio name and series titles.
• Slogans and short phrases: copyright generally does not protect them; use a trademark.

Copyright deposit with MoET

1. Prepare the work (file, script, source code extract, images) and details of the author and owner.
2. Apply online through MoET's copyright registration service; upload the work and proof of ownership (assignment from the creator if not the applicant).
3. Pay the fee; a certificate of deposit is issued.

The certificate is strong evidence of authorship and date in UAE courts and customs, and is useful when licensing content.

Copyright infringement in the UAE

Copying software, designs, photos or text without licence is a criminal offence with fines and possible imprisonment, and gives civil remedies. Complaints go to MoET, the DED (for physical goods) or the courts. Digital piracy is enforced through the telecom regulator's blocking system for websites.

Getting both done

We register trademarks and file copyright deposits for the same brand assets in one instruction: name and logo as trademarks in the right classes, artwork and software as copyright deposits, with the assignment documents from designers and developers in place. Trademark registration → · Contact us →

Frequently asked questions

Is my logo protected by copyright without registration? Yes, if it is original artwork – but proving ownership and date is easier with a deposit, and copyright does not stop a similar (non-copied) logo being used as a brand; only a trademark does.

Can I trademark a book or film title? A single title is usually not registrable; a series title used as a brand can be.

Does a UAE copyright deposit protect me abroad? Copyright is recognised internationally under the Berne Convention; the deposit is evidence you can use in other countries.