OXYGY and Bird & Bird partnered with a government body in the UAE to create a dedicated Intellectual Property (IP) Unit that would serve as a single point of contact for all IP-related matters. By defining its vision, mission, and organizational structure, the project aimed to ensure a high level of IP protection and efficient management of its processes. The initiative was a cornerstone in positioning the UAE as a global innovation hub and a desirable jurisdiction for tech companies.
Challenge
The government body sought to establish an IP Unit that would align with global standards and best practices to support innovators and investors. It needed to address the specific needs of IP creators and inventors, enabling them to develop and protect their intellectual property within the jurisdiction. Additionally, the IP Unit needed to enhance the region’s appeal as a prime destination for technology companies by creating a robust framework for IP management. However, creating such a unit required navigating a complex set of challenges, including developing a globally competitive structure, designing policies, and ensuring seamless alignment with legal and organizational frameworks.
Implementation
OXYGY and Bird & Bird implemented a comprehensive approach encompassing strategic, organizational, and legal dimensions. For strategy, organization, and processes, they conducted stakeholder interviews and benchmarking against international standards to identify best practices. They developed a clear vision, mission, and service offering for the IP Unit and created a multi-generational development plan to ensure sustainable growth. The team also designed an organizational methodology and provided staff training to enable smooth operations. On the legal and compliance side, they performed an audit of existing legal arrangements impacting intellectual property and drafted policies, procedures, contracts, and templates to provide the IP Unit with a robust legal foundation.
Achievements
The collaboration resulted in the creation of a fully operational IP Unit, designed to empower innovators and safeguard intellectual property with unmatched efficiency. This project not only established a structure that met global standards but also provided the client with actionable tools, including an implementation roadmap, detailed internal policies, and a comprehensive playbook to guide processes. To ensure measurable progress, the team developed key performance indicators, enabling the client to track milestones and refine operations. By delivering this state-of-the-art IP Unit, the initiative fulfilled the government’s immediate objectives while setting a strong foundation for the UAE to emerge as a leading global hub for innovation and intellectual property excellence.
Voices from the project
From global horizon scanning to outlining mandates and related set of services, to designing processes, roles and responsibilities we enjoyed working collaboratively for the set-up of a fit for purpose IP unit that would support UAE’s innovation goals.
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