Article 22 of the Saudi Copyright Law
المادة 22 من نظام حماية حقوق المؤلف
The article sets the penalties for violating the law, from a warning and a fine up to SAR 250,000 to closure, confiscation and imprisonment up to 6 months, with doubling for repeat offending and the Committee's powers on compensation, publicity and interim measures.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
أولاً : يعاقب كل من خالف حكمًا من أحكام هذا النظام بعقوبة أو أكثر من العقوبات الآتية :
1 - الإنذار.
2 - غرامة مالية لا تزيد على مائتين وخمسين ألف ريال.
3 - إغلاق المنشأة المتعدية أو التي ساهمت في الاعتداء على حق المؤلف مدة لا تزيد على شهرين.
4 - مصادرة جميع نسخ المصنف، وكذا المواد المخصصة أو المستخدمة في ارتكاب التعدي على حق المؤلف.
5 - السجن مدة لا تزيد على ستة أشهر.
ثانياً : في حال تكرار التعدي على المصنف نفسه أو غيره تجوز مضاعفة الحد الأعلى للعقوبة والغرامة والإغلاق.
ثالثاً : إذا رأت اللجنة أن المخالفة تستوجب عقوبة السجن أو غرامة مالية تزيد على مائة ألف ريال أو تستوجب شطب الترخيص، ترفع الموضوع للوزير لإحالته إلى ديوان المظالم.
رابعاً : يجوز للجنة أن تقرر تعويضًا ماليًّا لصاحب حق المؤلف المعتدى عليه الذي يتقدم بالشكوى، ويكون التعويض متناسبًا مع حجم الاعتداء والضرر الذي لحق به.
خامساً : يجوز للجنة أن تضمِّن قرارها عقوبة التشهير بحق المعتدي، ويكون النشر على نفقته وبالطريقة التي تراها اللجنة مناسبة.
سادساً : يجوز للجنة أن تُضمِّن قرارها تعليق مشاركة المنشأة المعتدية في الأنشطة أو المناسبات أو المعارض إذا ضبطت المخالفة في مناسبة تجارية، على ألا تزيد مدة التعليق على عامين.
سابعاً: يجوز للجنة أن تصدر قرارًا مؤقتًا بوقف طبع المصنف المعتدى عليه، أو إنتاجه، أو نشره، أو توزيعه، وإجراء الحجز التحفظي على النسخ والمواد والصور التي استخرجت منه، أو القيام بأي إجراء مؤقت تراه ضروريًّا لحماية حق المؤلف، وذلك إلى حين الفصل النهائي في الشكوى أو التظلم.
وتحدد اللائحة التنفيذية إجراءات الحجز التحفظي.
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 22 explained in plain English
After Article 21 listed the forms of infringement of authors' rights, this article sets the sanctions for violating the provisions of the law:
First: penalties (one or more):
- A warning.
- A fine not exceeding SAR 250,000.
- Closure of the infringing establishment, or one that contributed to the infringement, for a period not exceeding two months.
- Confiscation of all copies of the work and the materials designated or used in the infringement.
- Imprisonment for a period not exceeding 6 months.
Second: repetition: if the infringement is repeated on the same work or another, the maximum penalty, fine and closure may be doubled.
Third: referral: if the Committee considers that the violation calls for imprisonment, a fine exceeding SAR 100,000, or striking off the license, it submits the matter to the Minister to refer it to the Board of Grievances.
Fourth: compensation: the Committee may decide on financial compensation for the injured right holder who files the complaint, proportionate to the extent of the infringement and the harm.
Fifth: publicity: the Committee may include in its decision publicizing the infringer at his expense and in the manner it considers appropriate.
Sixth: suspension of participation: if the violation is caught at a commercial event, the Committee may suspend the infringing establishment's participation in activities, events or exhibitions for a period not exceeding two years.
Seventh: interim measures: the Committee may issue an interim decision to stop the printing, production, publication or distribution of the infringed work, to place a precautionary seizure on copies and materials, or any interim measure it considers necessary, until the complaint or grievance is finally decided. The Implementing Regulations set the procedures for precautionary seizure.
A person against whom the Committee issues a decision has the right to challenge it before the Board of Grievances within 60 days of being notified, under Article 23. In any dispute of this kind, it is advisable to consult a lawyer who specializes in intellectual property and copyright.
Practical example
The Ministry catches a bookshop in Madinah selling photocopies of university books without their owners' permission. It may be punished with one or more penalties, such as a fine, confiscation of the copies and closure of the bookshop for a period not exceeding two months, and the Committee may decide on compensation for the author who filed the complaint. If the infringement is repeated, the maximum penalty, fine and closure may be doubled.
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 22 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
Criminal Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Criminal 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 22 of the Saudi Copyright Law
What is the penalty for infringing copyright in Saudi Arabia?
One or more of: a warning, a fine not exceeding SAR 250,000, closure of the establishment for a period not exceeding two months, confiscation of copies and materials, and imprisonment for a period not exceeding 6 months.
Is the penalty doubled for repeated violation?
Yes. If the infringement is repeated on the same work or another, the maximum penalty, fine and closure may be doubled.
Does the author receive compensation for infringement?
The Committee may decide on financial compensation for the right holder who files the complaint, proportionate to the extent of the infringement and the harm.
When is a copyright case referred to the Board of Grievances?
If the Committee considers that the violation calls for imprisonment, a fine exceeding SAR 100,000, or striking off the license, it submits the matter to the Minister to refer it to the Board of Grievances.
More articles on Copyright Infringement and Penalties
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.