Article 27 of the Saudi Copyright Law
المادة 27 من نظام حماية حقوق المؤلف
The article provides that this law replaces the previous Copyright Law issued by Royal Decree No. M/11 dated 19/5/1410 AH.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يحل هذا النظام محل نظام حماية حقوق المؤلف الصادر بالمرسوم الملكي ذي الرقم م/11 والتاريخ 19/ 5/ 1410هـ.
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 27 explained in plain English
This is a closing article that sets the relationship of the current law to the previous law. It provides that this law replaces the Copyright Law issued by Royal Decree No. M/11 dated 19/5/1410 AH.
What does "replaces" mean?
- The previous law is no longer the reference for protecting authors' rights, and this law has become the one that regulates the subject.
- Someone reading old references or articles based on the law of 1410 AH should note that they are based on a law that another law has replaced.
When does the effect of this replacement begin? Article 28 provides that the law is published in the Official Gazette and takes effect after 6 months from the date of its publication. The new law therefore replaces the previous one from the date it takes effect.
Article 26 provides that the Minister issues the Implementing Regulations of this law within six months and they are published in the Official Gazette.
This article does not address the fate of the regulations or decisions issued to implement the previous law. On matters concerning works or contracts dating from the period of the previous law, you may consult a lawyer who specializes in intellectual property and copyright.
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 27 of the Saudi Copyright Law
Which law did the current Copyright Law replace?
It replaced the Copyright Law issued by Royal Decree No. M/11 dated 19/5/1410 AH.
Is the 1410 AH copyright law still in force?
The article provides that the current law replaces it, so the current law has become the one that regulates the subject.
More articles on Works Protected by Copyright
- Article 1
The article defines the key terms of the Copyright Law, such as work, author, publication, copying, joint work, collective work and folklore.
يقصد بالعبارات الآتية أينما وردت في هذا النظام المعاني المذكورة أمامها ما لم يقتض السياق خلاف ذلك: المصنف : أي عمل أدبي، أو علمي، أو فني. المصنف المشترك : المصن
- Article 2
The article protects every original work in literature, the arts and sciences whatever its type, form of expression, importance or purpose, giving examples such as software and the title of an original work.
يحمي هذا النظام المصنفات المبتكرة في الآداب والفنون والعلوم، أيًّا كان نوع هذه المصنفات، أو طريقة التعبير عنها، أو أهميتها، أو الغرض من تأليفها؛ مثل: 1 - المواد
- Article 3
The article protects derivative works such as translations, summaries, commentaries, encyclopedias and original databases, without prejudice to the rights of the authors of the original works.
يحمي هذا النظام أيضاً : 1 - مصنفات الترجمة. 2 - مصنفات التلخيص ، أو التعديل، أو الشرح، أو التحقيق، أو غير ذلك من أوجه التحوير. 3 - الموسوعات، والمختارات التي تع
- Article 4
The article excludes from the law's protection laws, judgments and official documents and their official translations, daily news, and mere ideas, procedures, principles and facts.
لا تشمل الحماية المقررة بمقتضى هذا النظام: 1 - الأنظمة والأحكام القضائية ، وقرارات الهيئات الإدارية ، والاتفاقيات الدولية، وسائر الوثائق الرسمية، وكذلك الترجمات
- Article 7
The article makes folklore public property of the state with the Ministry exercising the author's rights, and prohibits importing or distributing copies or translations produced outside the Kingdom without the Ministry's license.
1- يعد التراث الشعبي ملكًا عامًّا للدولة، وتمارس الوزارة حقوق المؤلف عليه. 2- يحظر استيراد أو توزيع نسخ مصنفات التراث الشعبي، أو نسخ ترجمات أو غيرها المنتجة خار
- Article 26
The article directs the Minister to issue the Implementing Regulations of the Copyright Law within six months and publish them in the Official Gazette.
يصدر الوزير اللائحة التنفيذية لهذا النظام خلال ستة أشهر، وتنشر في الجريدة الرسمية.
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.

