Article 13 of the Saudi Copyright Law
المادة 13 من نظام حماية حقوق المؤلف
The article requires right holders and production, printing, publishing, distribution and broadcasting institutions to organize their relations by documented contracts, and bars those institutions from any activity involving authors' rights before contracting.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1 - يجب على أصحاب الحقوق تنظيم علاقاتهم وحقوقهم مع مؤسسات الإنتاج والطباعة والنشر والتوزيع، وهيئات الإذاعة، وغيرها من الجهات المرخص لها بمزاولة أنشطتها، بموجب عقود موثقة تحدد جميع الحقوق والالتزامات لجميع الأطراف أصحاب العلاقة.
2 - يجب على مؤسسات الإنتاج والطباعة والنشر والتوزيع وهيئات الإذاعة وغيرها عدم ممارسة أي نشاط له علاقة بحقوق المؤلف إلا بعد إبرام عقد مع أصحاب حقوق المؤلف أو وكيلهم الشرعي تحدد فيه حقوق والتزامات كل طرف.
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 13 explained in plain English
This article moves the relationship between authors and the parties that exploit their works from unregulated arrangements to clear contracts, through two corresponding obligations:
- On right holders: they must organize their relationships and rights with production, printing, publishing and distribution institutions, broadcasting organizations and other parties licensed to carry on their activities, by documented contracts that specify all the rights and obligations of all parties.
- On the institutions themselves: they must not carry on any activity related to authors' rights except after concluding a contract with the holders of authors' rights or their legal agent, specifying the rights and obligations of each party.
The practical effect:
- A publishing house, production company, printer, distributor or channel does not begin printing, producing or broadcasting the work before the contract exists.
- The contract must specify the rights and obligations of all parties, so a general unspecific agreement is not enough.
- Article 14 completes this rule by binding the author's heirs to the contracts their predecessor concluded in his lifetime, so a concluded contract remains in place after the author's death.
The article does not state the body with which the documentation is made or how. It is advisable for both the author and the institution to review a draft contract with a lawyer who specializes in intellectual property and copyright before signing.
Practical example
A recording company in Jeddah agreed with a chanter to produce an album for him. Before the company begins recording and distributing, it must conclude a contract with him specifying the rights and obligations of each party, such as his share of the profits and the period of exploitation.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentA question about Article 13 of Copyright Law?
Describe what happened and specialist lawyers answer. You can write in English.
- Completely free
- Lawyers from the directory answer
- Your name stays hidden
Commercial & Corporate Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Commercial & Corporate Law lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
شركة امتداد النظام للمحاماة والاستشارات المهنية
- Labour & Employment Law
- Criminal Law
- Criminal Law
- Commercial & Corporate Law
Frequently asked questions about Article 13 of the Saudi Copyright Law
Must a publishing contract be documented?
Yes. The article requires right holders to organize their relations with production and publishing institutions by documented contracts that specify all rights and obligations.
May a publishing house print the book before the contract is signed?
No. Production, printing and publishing institutions must not carry on any activity related to authors' rights except after concluding a contract with the right holders or their legal agent.
Can a contract be made with the author's agent instead of the author?
Yes. The article allows the contract to be concluded with the holders of authors' rights or their legal agent.
More articles on Transfer of Copyright and Publishing Contracts
- Article 10
The article obliges the author not to obstruct the exploitation right he has authorized for another, and allows him to withdraw or modify the work by agreement with the authorized person, otherwise compensating him as the Committee determines.
يلتزم المؤلف بالامتناع عن أي عمل من شأنه تعطيل استغلال الحق المأذون به للغير، ومع ذلك يجوز للمؤلف سحب مصنفه من التداول، أو تعديله، أو الحذف منه، أو الإضافة إليه
- Article 11
The article allows the author's rights to pass in whole or in part by inheritance or by a written disposition specified in time and place, passes them to heirs except modification and deletion, and requires the author's will on publication to be carried out.
1- حقوق المؤلف المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام قابلة للانتقال كلها، أو بعضها سواء بطريق الإرث ، أو التصرف النظامي، الذي يجب إثباته بالكتابة، ويكون محددًا لنطاق الحق
- Article 12
The article declares void an author's waiver of the whole of his future intellectual output.
يعد تنازل المؤلف عن مجموع إنتاجه الفكري المستقبلي باطلًا.
- Article 14
The article binds an author's heirs to the contracts their predecessor concluded in his lifetime, with the rights and obligations they contain toward others.
يلتزم ورثة المؤلف بالعقود التي أبرمها مورثهم في حياته، بما فيها من حقوق والتزامات للغير.
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.