Article 28 of the Saudi Copyright Law
المادة 28 من نظام حماية حقوق المؤلف
The article provides that the Copyright Law is published in the Official Gazette and takes effect six months after its publication.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
ينشر هذا النظام في الجريدة الرسمية، ويعمل به بعد مضي ستة أشهر من تاريخ نشره.
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 28 explained in plain English
This is a closing article that sets when the law takes effect, and contains two rules:
- Publication: the law is published in the Official Gazette, which is the official means of announcing laws to the public.
- Taking effect: the law takes effect after 6 months from the date of its publication.
Why this period? The period between publication and taking effect allows authors, publishing houses, production companies and commercial establishments that use works to learn the new provisions and adjust their positions before they become binding.
Its relationship to Article 27: Article 27 provides that this law replaces the Copyright Law issued by Royal Decree No. M/11 dated 19/5/1410 AH. The date the new law takes effect under this article is therefore the time at which it replaces that law.
The text of the article does not state the date of publication itself, so finding the exact date of taking effect requires referring to the date the law was published in the Official Gazette. If you have a matter whose ruling depends on the date the law took effect, such as a contract or a work dating from that period, 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 28 of the Saudi Copyright Law
When does the Copyright Law take effect?
It takes effect after six months from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.
Where is the Copyright Law published?
It is published in the Official Gazette.
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.