Article 13 of the Saudi Geographical Indications Law
المادة 13 من نظام حماية المؤشرات الجغرافية · الفصل الثاني: تسجيل المؤشر الجغرافي
The registration period of a geographical indication is ten years from the date the approval is published, and it may be renewed according to the procedures the Regulations set.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تكون مدة تسجيل المؤشر الجغرافي (عشر) سنوات من تاريخ نشر الموافقة على التسجيل، ويجوز تجديدها وفقًا للإجراءات التي تحددها اللائحة.
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 13 explained in plain English
This article sets the registration period of a geographical indication and the possibility of renewing it.
- Period: 10 years.
- Start of the period: from the date the approval of registration is published, not from the date the application is submitted or the date the decision is issued.
- Renewal: the period may be renewed according to the procedures set by the Regulations.
The article does not state the number of renewals, their duration, or the time for submitting the renewal request; these details are found in the Regulations.
Attention to the publication date matters in practice, because it is the starting point for counting the ten years, and therefore for knowing when the registration ends and when renewal is needed.
It is preceded by Article 12, which provides that registration gives the applicant no exclusive right and that all producers in the region specified in the usage guide may use the indication on a product that meets the guide. It is followed by Article 14, which regulates the cases of cancelling a geographical indication from the register by a judgment of the competent court or, for a foreign indication, by a decision of the Authority.
The bodies and producers concerned should follow the date the period ends and the renewal procedures set out in the Regulations.
Practical example
The approval of registration of a geographical indication for a handicraft product was published on 1 Muharram of a certain year. The registration period ends ten years after the publication date, and it may be renewed according to the Regulations' procedures.
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 13 of the Saudi Geographical Indications Law
How long is the registration of a geographical indication in Saudi Arabia?
Ten years from the date the approval of registration is published.
Can the registration of a geographical indication be renewed?
Yes. The period may be renewed according to the procedures set by the Regulations.
More articles on Use and Duration of Protection
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.