Article 12 of the Saudi Law of Commercial Data
المادة 12 من نظام البيانات التجارية
The article allows interested persons to go to the Board of Grievances at any time, even before any case is filed, for precautionary measures, without prejudice to their right to compensation for damage from incorrect statements.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
دون إخلال بحق ذوي الشأن في المطالبة بالتعويض عن الأضرار الناشئة عن استخدام بيانات غير مطابقة للحقيقة، يجوز لهم في أي وقت، ولو كان ذلك قبل رفع أي دعوى، اللجوء إلى ديوان المظالم لاتخاذ الإجراءات التحفظية اللازمة.
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 12 explained in plain English
This article gives interested persons, meaning those with an interest who are harmed by the use of statements that do not match the truth, two rights:
- The right to compensation: the article preserves their right to claim compensation for damage arising from the use of statements that do not match the truth.
- The right to ask for precautionary measures: they may go to the Board of Grievances to take the necessary precautionary measures, at any time, even before any case is filed.
Precautionary measures aim to protect the right temporarily until the dispute is decided. The article does not list these measures or set their conditions; it only describes them as "necessary", so their assessment returns to the Board of Grievances.
The practical importance of the article is that the injured person need not wait for a full case to be filed to ask for urgent protection. It is linked to Article 11, which allows the court to deduct the value of what is sold of the items seized from compensation and fines.
Anyone harmed by incorrect commercial data who wants to claim compensation or ask for a precautionary measure should consult a lawyer specializing in commercial or compensation cases.
Practical example
A company in Riyadh discovers that a competitor is selling products carrying incorrect statements about their source, harming its sales. Under this article the company may go to the Board of Grievances to ask for the necessary precautionary measures even before filing its case, while its right to claim compensation for the damage remains.
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 12 of the Saudi Law of Commercial Data
Can precautionary measures be requested before a case is filed?
Yes. Interested persons may at any time, even before any case is filed, go to the Board of Grievances to take the necessary precautionary measures.
Am I entitled to compensation for damage from incorrect commercial data?
The article provides that this is without prejudice to the right of interested persons to claim compensation for damage arising from the use of statements that do not match the truth.
More articles on Detecting Commercial Data Violations and Litigation
- Article 8
The article assigns the competent employees of the Ministry of Commerce the task of detecting violations of the provisions of the Law of Commercial Data.
يتولى موظفو وزارة التجارة المختصون ضبط ما يقع من مخالفات لأحكام هذا النظام.
- Article 9
The Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution is responsible for investigating violations of the Law of Commercial Data and prosecuting them before the competent judicial authority.
تختص هيئة التحقيق والادعاء العام بالتحقيق فيما يقع من مخالفات لأحكام هذا النظام والادعاء فيها أمام الجهة القضائية المختصة.
- Article 10
The article makes the Board of Grievances responsible for adjudicating violations and disputes arising from application of the provisions of the Law of Commercial Data.
يختص ديوان المظالم بالفصل في المخالفات والمنازعات الناشئة عن تطبيق أحكام هذا النظام.
- Article 13
The article requires the Minister of Commerce to issue the Implementing Regulations and the decisions needed to apply the Law of Commercial Data within 180 days of its issuance.
يصدر وزيرالتجارة اللائحة التنفيذية والقرارات اللازمة لتنفيذ أحكام هذا النظام خلال مائة وثمانين يوما من تاريخ صدوره.
- Article 14
The article provides for publication of the Law of Commercial Data in the Official Gazette and for it to take effect from the date of its publication.
ينشر هذا النظام في الجريدة الرسمية، ويعمل به من تاريخ نشره.
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.