Any professional in any field requires a trademark to stand out against competitors. In the UAE, artists have discovered that having a trademark is one of the best things to do for their brands. This is because a trademark gives a brand that distinctive element, and for artists, this can contribute to a good source of revenue.
Difference between Trademark and Copyright
It is easy to misunderstand the difference between a trademark and copyright. Note that copyright is responsible for protecting the works of artists, and it is responsible for activities like royalty collection and keeping track of any duplicated work of the artists. According to a Boston trademark attorney, copyright is often utilized by professional artists to protect their works. On the other hand, a trademark is more focused on protecting one's brand identity from being stolen.
Trademark is a little different and is more focused on protecting the brand. This can be in the form of names, logos, slogans, images and other branding factors. There are several institutions in the UAE that you can use to trademark your brand and the process is simpler today thanks to internet technology.
The Trademark process
There are so many reasons why artists should have a trademark, especially in a region like the UAE. In the UAE, registering any trademark, including an artist’s name, must follow a strict procedure.
The steps for trademarking an artist name in the UAE are -
1. Research
Before you can register a trademark with any responsible institution you usually need to run a check. This is important because there could be another artist with the same trademark name as you. This can have your fans and clients confused and misled when searching for your work.
2. Application
Once it has been verified that the trademark name you want to register is available, you will be allowed to apply for said trademark. The application form is supposed to be submitted to the trademark register with the following documents:
• The Power of Attorney
• Trade License
• A sample of Trademark design / name and
• What the trademark will cover. This can consist of the works, images and voice of the artist.
3. Contact details
The artist will need to provide their active contact details such as phone number, email and even social media handles. This is important because trademarking companies usually have updates and other important information that they share with their clients via channels such as newsletters.
4. Identification
Identification documents are required when an artist wants to trademark their name in the UAE. Acceptable forms of documentation include passports, UAE ID cards, driving licenses and even birth certificates.
5. Application fee
It costs about AED 500 to trademark an artist name in the United Arab Emirates. The cost can, however, vary depending on the agent or registering company.
6. Publication
Your trademark registration will then be made public by getting published in at least two national newspapers in the UAE. This is one of the benefits of having a trademark in the UAE as the registrar is informing the public about your brand which is a good marketing advantage.
7. Issuance of certificate
Once an artist meets all the stated requirements they are issued with the certificate of the trademark to prove ownership of a brand name. Many artists like musicians don’t use their official names, and usually trademark their alias names. However, the identification information required here has nothing to do with the alias name and artists should only submit their legal names.
It takes about four months before an artist name trademarking process is complete.
Not all can be Trademarked
While artists can trademark their name and brand in the UAE some elements cannot be trademarked. These are usually public properties owned by the government or other brands. For example, an artist whose name includes third-party names may not be eligible for a trademark. The Red Cross symbol is an example of a sign that can never be trademarked in the UAE as an artist, even if it is your best branding choice.
Need help with your Trademark?
In the UAE it is imperative to hire a good, knowledgeable firm aware of the UAE laws to get your Trademark registered. If you use one of our registered Trademark Attorneys like Far consulting Middle East they will take you step by step through the process.