Article 19 of the Saudi Copyright Law

Copyright protection is not perpetual in its financial aspect, and this article sets its term:

First: works in general

1. The rule: the lifetime of the author, and 50 years after his death.
2. Joint works: the term is counted from the date of death of the last surviving author.
3. The author is a legal person or anonymous: 50 years from the date of first publication. If the author's name becomes known before the end of the fifty years, the original rule applies (his life and 50 years after his death).
4. A work made up of parts or volumes published separately or at intervals: each part is considered a separate work in calculating the term.
5. Audio and audiovisual works, films, collective works and computer software: 50 years from the date of first showing or publication, regardless of republication.
6. Works of applied art (handicraft or industrial) and photographs: 25 years from the date of first publication, regardless of republication.

Second: neighboring rights

1. Broadcasting organizations: 20 years from the date of first broadcast of the programs or broadcast material.
2. Producers of audio recordings and performers: 50 years from the date of the performance or first recording, as the case may be.

Article 18 sets which works the law applies to in the first place, and Article 20 applies these terms to works published before the law took effect, on its conditions. To calculate the term of protection for a particular work, you may consult a lawyer who specializes in intellectual property and copyright.