Kuwait Removed from US Intellectual Property Watchlist, Boosting Foreign Investment Prospects

The United States Embassy in Kuwait hosted a reception on Monday to commemorate Kuwait’s removal from the US intellectual property (IP) watchlist, a status it had held since 1997. Kuwaiti and US officials emphasized the importance of this development in promoting foreign direct investment and expanding commercial opportunities.

Peter Mehravari, US IP attaché for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), stated that the removal represents a pivotal step for US companies seeking to enter the Kuwaiti market. He explained that Kuwait’s prolonged presence on the watchlist was primarily due to shortcomings in its copyright law. Over the past two years, the US worked closely with Sheikha Rasha Al-Sabah, Director of the National Library of Kuwait, and the copyright office to draft a new law aligned with Kuwait’s needs and international obligations, facilitating the country’s removal from the list.

Mehravari noted that Kuwait’s transition from the priority watchlist to the watchlist in 2020 had already sparked increased interest from US businesses. He highlighted that the Ministry of Commerce has become more proactive in addressing trademark and copyright violations through its online complaint portals.

"Intellectual property rights motivate innovators such as engineers, artists, and designers to develop new products and technologies," Mehravari said. "Protecting these rights reassures creators and foreign companies, which positively impacts Kuwait’s overall economic performance."

He also commended the Ministry of Commerce and Industry alongside the General Administration of Customs for their diligent inspection and control of imported goods through Kuwait’s ports, noting the fruitful cooperation with US authorities over recent years.

Sheikha Rasha Al-Sabah expressed pride in Kuwait’s achievement, praising Mehravari’s collaborative efforts in developing the new copyright law. She highlighted the National Library’s dedicated copyright protection section and its participation in the annual World Intellectual Property Day on April 26. The library offers free services to authors and interested individuals to educate them on copyright basics and protections lasting 50 years.

Sheikha Rasha further remarked on Kuwait’s flexible legal framework balancing authors’ rights with public access to information. She cited the library’s successful digital transition during the COVID-19 pandemic as an example of Kuwait’s adaptability in preserving intellectual property rights.

Osama Al-Shami, head of the Intellectual Property Rights Office at the General Administration of Customs, attributed the removal from the watchlist to the administration’s effective seizure of counterfeit goods before market entry. He described ongoing cooperation with US counterparts through joint control systems and capacity-building workshops. A new copyright curriculum for inspectors was introduced to enhance container inspection protocols.

"Customs serve as the first line of defense for intellectual property rights," Al-Shami said, explaining that suspicious shipments are sampled and analyzed upon arrival in Kuwait.

Eid Al-Rashidi, Assistant Undersecretary for the Commercial Control and Consumer Protection Sector at the Ministry of Commerce, underscored the ministry’s intensified efforts in market monitoring and enforcement against IP and trademark infringements. He noted that enhanced cooperation with the US, under existing trade and investment agreements, has been instrumental in achieving this milestone.

Al-Rashidi affirmed the ministry’s readiness to address emerging challenges and novel methods of copyright violations.