Article 11 of the Saudi Law of Commercial Data
المادة 11 من نظام البيانات التجارية
The article allows the competent court to order confiscation of the items seized, sale of what can be sold and destruction of the rest, and publication of a summary of the conviction at the violator's expense once it becomes final.
Official text after amendments (Arabic)
Compiled from the original text and every officially published amendment; the amendments are shown in full below for comparison.
يجوز للمحكمة المختصة أن تحكم بمصادرة الأشياء المحجوزة، وبيع ما يمكن بيعه منها، وخصم قيمته من التعويضات والغرامات التي قد يحكم بها، وبإتلاف الباقي منها، أو التصرف فيه بأي طريقة تراها مناسبة.
يجوز للمحكمة المختصة تضمين الحكم - الصادر بالإدانة - النص على نشر ملخصه على نفقة المخالف في إحدى الصحف المحلية، أو في أي وسيلة أخرى مناسبة، وذلك بحسب نوع المخالفة المرتكبة وجسامتها وتأثيرها، على أن يكون النشر بعد اكتساب الحكم الصفة النهائية.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 11 explained in plain English
This article gives the competent court discretionary powers, meaning it decides them in its own judgment. They are:
First: disposing of the items seized
- Ordering confiscation of the items seized.
- Selling what can be sold of them, and deducting its value from any compensation and fines that may be awarded.
- Destroying the rest, or disposing of it in any way the court sees fit.
Second: publishing a summary of the judgment
- The court may provide in the conviction judgment for publication of its summary at the violator's expense.
- Publication is in one of the local newspapers, or by any other suitable means.
- The court decides this according to the type of violation, its gravity and its effect.
- Publication takes place only after the judgment becomes final.
Publication is therefore not automatic; it depends on a conviction judgment, on the court's judgment, and on the judgment becoming final. Article 10 provides that the Board of Grievances is responsible for adjudicating violations and disputes arising from application of the Law, and Article 12 preserves the right of interested persons to claim compensation.
Anyone facing a case that may end in confiscation of his goods or publication of the judgment against him should consult a lawyer specializing in commercial cases.
Practical example
A merchant in Jeddah has a quantity of products seized carrying statements that do not match the truth, and he is convicted. Under this article the court may order confiscation of the seized products, sale of what can be sold of them with its value deducted from fines and compensation, and destruction of the rest. It may also provide for publishing a summary of the judgment in a local newspaper at his expense after the judgment becomes final.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 11 of the Saudi Law of Commercial Data
Can goods that violate commercial data rules be confiscated?
Yes. The competent court may order confiscation of the items seized, sale of what can be sold of them, and destruction of the rest or disposal of it in any way the court sees fit.
Is the conviction judgment published against the violator?
The court may provide in the conviction judgment for publication of its summary at the violator's expense in a local newspaper or other suitable means, according to the type of violation, its gravity and its effect.
When is a summary of the judgment published?
Publication takes place after the judgment becomes final.
Amendment history
Amendment
Official amendment text (Arabic)
عُدلت المادة (الحادية عشرة) لتكون بالنص الآتي:
"يجوز للمحكمة المختصة أن تحكم بمصادرة الأشياء المحجوزة، وبيع ما يمكن بيعه منها، وخصم قيمته من التعويضات والغرامات التي قد يحكم بها، وبإتلاف الباقي منها، أو التصرف فيه بأي طريقة تراها مناسبة.
يجوز للمحكمة المختصة تضمين الحكم - الصادر بالإدانة - النص على نشر ملخصه على نفقة المخالف في إحدى الصحف المحلية، أو في أي وسيلة أخرى مناسبة، وذلك بحسب نوع المخالفة المرتكبة وجسامتها وتأثيرها، على أن يكون النشر بعد اكتساب الحكم الصفة النهائية".
Original text before the amendments (Arabic)
يجوز لديوان المظالم أن يحكم بمصادرة الأشياء المحجوزة، وبيع ما يمكن بيعه منها، وخصم قيمته من التعويضات والغرامات التي قد يحكم بها، وبإتلاف الباقي منها، أو التصرف فيه بأي طريقة يراها مناسبة. كما يجوز للديوان أن يحكم بنشر القرار الصادر بالإدانة أو المصادرة أو الإتلاف في إحدى الصحف اليومية الصادرة في منطقة إقامة المحكوم عليه وعلى نفقته.
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The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.