IP in Saudi Arabia
Information to help you protect, manage, and enforce your intellectual property (IP) rights in Saudi Arabia.
This page provides practical information to help you make the most of your IP when doing business in Saudi Arabia.
If you plan to do business in Saudi Arabia, or if you are already trading there, it is essential to know how to manage and enforce your IP as private property rights.
The Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP) is the body responsible for operating the patent, industrial design, trade mark and copyright system in Saudi Arabia.
British businesses seeking IP advice should contact our Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) attache, based in the British Embassy, Riyadh.
Trade marks
The Saudi Arabian trade mark system is like the UK’s. Trade marks protect symbols, colours or other devices used to identify a business’ products or services. A trade mark is valid for 10 years, then may be renewed indefinitely for further 10-year periods. Collective and certification marks can be protected.
To protect a trade mark in Saudi Arabia you can apply directly with SAIP. Saudi Arabia is not a member of Madrid system for international trade mark protection.
Good to know
Saudi Arabia recognises well-known trade marks.
Multiclass applications are not permitted, so a separate application must be made for each class of goods and services.
SAIP provides detailed guidelines and FAQs for trade mark applications on their website.
Patents
Like in the UK, patents for inventions can be protected for up to 20 years in Saudi Arabia. All patent rights in Saudi Arabia are subject to the payment of annual renewal fees, commencing 1 year after they’ve been filed. As in the UK, there is no provision for utility model patents in Saudi Arabia.
To protect your innovation with a patent in Saudi Arabia you must file an application directly to SAIP.
Saudi Arabia is a Contracting State of the Patent Cooperation Treaty.
Good to know
Like the UK, Saudi Arabia operates a ‘first to file’ principle. If more than one person applies for a patent on an identical invention, the first to file the application will be awarded the patent. As in the UK, there is no provision for utility model patents in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia does not provide for a grace period.
SAIP provides detailed guidelines and FAQs for patent filing on their website.
Designs
In Saudi Arabia, design protection initially lasts for 10 years.
To protect the appearance of your product with a design right in Saudi Arabia, you must file an application directly to SAIP.
Saudi Arabia is not party to the international Hague system for search and registration of industrial designs, so it is not possible to file a design through this route.
Good to know
Multiple design applications are not permitted in Saudi Arabia.
Registration is required for protection and enforcement purposes.
Copyright
The Saudi Arabian copyright framework provides all the basic protections required by international law. Copyright owners do get automatic protection through Saudi Arabian law.
Copyright in Saudi Arabia protects works that are original and expressed in a tangible form, for example, recorded on tape or written down.
The length of protection lasts for 50 years counted from 1 January of the year following the author’s death.
Good to know
It is recommended that copyrighted work is filed (known as ‘copyright recordal’) at SAIP for a fee. Copyright recordal is voluntary but helps to provide evidence of copyright ownership before a court or relevant enforcement authority.
SAIP provides detailed guidelines and FAQs for copyright on their website.
Enforcing your rights
IP rights are infringed when others make use of your IP rights in an unauthorised way. In case of infringement, you can enforce your IP rights through an action in the civil court or through criminal prosecution. Injunctions are civil remedies for infringement of IP. Injunctions are court orders to make an infringer stop the infringing act.
Issues with IP infringement can be dealt with directly with the alleged infringer, for example using mediation, “cease and desist letters” or through a licencing arrangement.
Administrative enforcements are filed with SAIP. There are no official fees. If counterfeit goods are seized, SAIP may refer the matter to public prosecution.
More information
Visit the Department for International Trade page for more information about exporting to Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi British Joint Business Council, provide a variety of business advice, services, and support to businesses in Saudi Arabia.