Article 23 of the Saudi Copyright Law

المادة 23 من نظام حماية حقوق المؤلف

The article gives anyone against whom the violations Committee issues a decision the right to challenge it before the Board of Grievances within 60 days of being notified of the decision.

Official text (Arabic)

This article has not been amended since the law was issued.

يحق لمن صدر ضده قرار من اللجنة التظلم منه أمام ديوان المظالم خلال ستين يومًا من تاريخ إبلاغه بهذا القرار.

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 23 explained in plain English

This article ensures that decisions of the Committee, which under Article 1 is the committee competent to consider violations arising from the application of the law, are subject to judicial oversight.

Elements of the rule:

Who has the right? Anyone against whom a decision of the Committee is issued.
Where to challenge? Before the Board of Grievances.
What is the time limit? 60 days from the date of being notified of the decision. The period starts from notification, not from the date the decision was issued.

Its relationship to Article 22: under Article 22 the Committee issues various decisions, including a warning, fine, closure, confiscation, compensation, publicity, suspension of participation in exhibitions, and interim measures such as stopping printing and precautionary seizure. These decisions are the subject of the challenge that this article allows. Article 22 also provides that interim measures continue until the complaint or grievance is finally decided.

What should a person against whom a decision is issued do? He should pay attention to the date he was notified of the decision, and file his challenge within the time limit. The article does not state the effect of missing the time limit or the procedures for filing the challenge. Because the time limit is fixed, it is wise to contact early a lawyer who specializes in administrative cases before the Board of Grievances or in intellectual property to prepare the challenge.

Practical example

The Committee issued a decision fining a printing press in Jeddah, and the press was notified of it on the 1st of Muharram. The press has the right to challenge the decision before the Board of Grievances within 60 days of the date it was notified.

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 content

A question about Article 23 of Copyright Law?

Describe what happened and specialist lawyers answer. You can write in English.