PATENT REGISTRATION PROCEDURE
IN SAUDI ARABIA
Saudi Arabia, a major oil producer and influential global player, has streamlined intellectual property enforcement under the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP), which handles patents, trademarks, and copyrights. Previously managed by multiple bodies, IP protection is now centralized under SAIP, with disputes overseen by the Commercial Courts.
SAUDI ARABIA OPERATES TWO PATENT SYSTEMS
GCC Patents
Under the 2001 GCC Patents of Inventions Regulation, patents filed in Saudi Arabia are valid across GCC countries.
National Patents
Governed by Royal Decree No M/27 and its implementing rules, which align with the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property.
These systems provide comprehensive patent protection across various sectors.
Patents are territorial; registration outside Saudi Arabia offers no protection within the kingdom. Applicants can file patents through:
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Saudi Arabian Patent Office: Protects the invention solely within Saudi Arabia.
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GCC Patent Office: Grants protection across all GCC member states without requiring designation or validation of specific states.
The Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP) oversees patent grants, with applications submitted online via its portal. Applications must be in Arabic. Foreign applicants must appoint an authorized agent within Saudi Arabia to file on their behalf.