Last Wednesday, May 5th, 2021 Qatar Cabinet approved a draft law on the protection of trademarks, copyrights and neighboring rights of theInternational Federation of Association Football-FIFA®, and decided to refer it to the Shura Council (the legislative body of the State of Qatar). Among the provisions contained in the draft law are provisions that stipulate the registration of FIFA® trademarks, the deposit of its copyrighted works, audio recordings, performances of performers and FIFA® radio programs with the Industrial Property Office at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, at the request of FIFA® or its authorized agent for this purpose, provided that the relevant power of attorney such an agent is duly notarized.
This draft law represents the first of many initiatives and strategies that both FIFA® and Qatar, the hosting country of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ are putting in place to protect the tournament against ambush marketing, 3rd parties direct and indirect association with the event, infringement and misuse of the tournament IP and commercial rights.
It is worth noting that 15 years ago, Qatar was the first Arab and Asian country to legislate a special law for combating unlawful ambush marketing activities that were targeting the 15th Asian Games-Doha 2006, when it issued Law No. 27 of 2004 on the Protection of Signs, Logos, Compilations and Neighboring Rights of the 15th Asian Games-Doha 2006
Source: The Peninsula Qatar Daily: May 5th, 2021