Intellectual Property law stands at the forefront of modern challenges in the digital era. With the explosive growth of social media and online platforms, creativity now travels faster than ever. Everything that we see on the internet can be copied in a second without our consent. This is especially concerning for artists, businesses and creators whose entire work runs on the cyberspace. Therefore, it is impossible to isolate ourselves from the digital space. In such situation, one often wonders- How can we protect our work and Intellectual property from online copying.

That is exactly the challenge the UAE aims to address through its newly launched InstaBlock mechanism. To understand how InstaBlock can help in copyright infringement cases, we need to understand the growing problem of online intellectual property theft and how it affects creators and businesses in the UAE.

What is InstaBlock?

The Ministry of Economics and Tourism in collaboration with the Telecommunication and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) launched ‘InstaBlock Lab’ as a platform to ensure instant blocking of websites that commit IP infringement in the UAE. The platform leverages AI to protect data privacy.

It is a part of UAE’s latest measures on the IP development landscape. It has become a marker of strengthened collaboration between the Government and the legal entities. The ultimate purpose is to safeguard the rights of creators and artists.

The platform has a tool within it called ‘LiveBan’ that is built to monitor, detect, and take down content that infringes intellectual property rights. It is an immediate response measure which handles complaints on copyright infringement on online live broadcasting^[1].

Why the UAE launched InstaBlock?

Now that we understand what InstaBlock and LiveBan are, let’s explore why the UAE felt the urgent need to create such advanced digital protection systems. In the recent years, we have witnessed a global surge in copyright infringement incidents. From logos, designs to creative or literary works- everything faces a danger of theft and unauthorized use. Many find it difficult to take immediate action when such situation arises. This is because traditional complaint mechanism takes a long time for redressal.

To address this, the UAE government introduced InstaBlock to close this gap between detection and action. These systems serve several key goals:

1. Supporting Innovation and Growth: The UAE launched InstaBlock as a part of its broader new IP initiatives. These initiatives are intended to foster a digitally protected space where every person’s intellectual property is secure and legally protected. This commitment provides a conducive environment for support growth and innovation in the UAE^[2].
2. At par with International Standards: The transformation of the IP landscape in the UAE from 2020-2025 has also brought it at par with international data protection regulations and standards. UAE is one of the world leaders in IP protection and enforcement consistent with the World Intellectual Property Organization’s (WIPO) principles. This has made UAE one of the most attractive destinations for commercial exploration.
3. Faster enforcement: The driving factor behind launch of InstaBlock is to ensure that immediate action is taken in cases of copyrighted materials. Time is of the essence in such cases. Immediate action helps to prevent irreparable damage. More than 1,117 websites have been blocked since the launch of the platform^[3]. The platform has helped to achieve this goal by detecting and blocking copyright infringements within hours instead of week.

Use cases of InstaBlock in the UAE:

Both InstaBlock (and its new LiveBan feature) are intended to be used across all forms of online copyright and intellectual property damage. It’s most effective against content that proliferates quickly across social media, e-commerce sites and streaming platforms because it can act in real time. Here are some key use cases:

1. Blocking of illegal sports streaming platforms;
2. Counterfeit product listings on e-commerce websites;
3. Unauthorized reposting of influencer and creator’s content;
4. Pirated Software and Digital Tools;
5. Brand misuse and logo infringement and many more.

Therefore, the use of InstaBlock spreads across all copyrighted material. The purpose is to protect the rights and interests of the true owner of the property. The internet is a vast space because of which it becomes difficult to keep track of every concerning activity. However, with the help of legal initiatives and personal efforts creators and businesses can effectively safeguard their intellectual property. By combining tools like InstaBlock and LiveBan with proper documentation, timely reporting, and monitoring, rights-holders can prevent unauthorized use, reduce financial losses, and maintain control over their work in the fast-moving digital environment.

For expert guidance on intellectual property protection in the UAE, contact Khalifa Bin Huwaidan Advocates and Legal Consultants today. Protect your work and ensure compliance with UAE IP laws with the support of experienced legal professionals.

^[1] Ministry of Economy, ‘Ministry of Economy Inaugurates ‘InstaBlock Lab’ to Accelerate Instant Blocking of Websites Violating Intellectual Property Rights in the Country’ (25 February 2025) https://www.moet.gov.ae/en/-/ministry-of-economy-inaugurates-instablock-lab-to-accelerate-instant-blocking-of-websites-violating-intellectual-property-rights-in-the-country

^[2] Ministry of Economy, ‘Ministry of Economy Introduces New Mechanism to Strengthen the Protection of IP Rights for Creative Works in Collaboration with TDRA’ (7 March 2024) https://www.moet.gov.ae/en/-/ministry-of-economy-introduces-new-mechanism-to-strengthen-the-protection-of-ip-rights-for-creative-works-in-collaboration-with-tdra

^[3] Tanya Jain, ‘UAE Launches InstaBlock IP Initiative’ (LexisNexis Middle East, 15 March 2024) https://www.lexis.ae/2024/03/15/uae-launches-instablock-ip-initiative

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