Article 2 of the Saudi Geographical Indications Law
المادة 2 من نظام حماية المؤشرات الجغرافية · الفصل الأول: التعريفات والأهداف ونطاق الحماية
The Law aims to protect the geographical indications set out in Article 3 and to prevent unauthorized persons from exploiting or imitating them in a way that misleads consumers about the products' source.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يهدف النظام إلى توفير الحماية للمؤشرات الجغرافية المبينة في المادة (الثالثة) من النظام، ومنع غير المصرح لهم من استغلال المؤشرات الجغرافية، أو تقليدها بطريقة تؤدي إلى تضليل المستهلكين حول المصدر الحقيقي لهذه المنتجات.
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 2 explained in plain English
This article states the purpose of the Geographical Indications Protection Law, which has two parts:
- Providing protection for the geographical indications set out in Article 3, namely: national indications entered in the register, foreign indications protected in their country of origin and entered in that country's register, and foreign indications protected under international agreements to which the Kingdom is a party.
- Preventing unauthorized persons from exploiting geographical indications or imitating them in a way that misleads consumers about the true source of the products.
It follows that the Law protects two parties: the producers in the geographical region whose product has acquired a reputation or characteristics tied to it, and the consumer, who is entitled to know the true source of what he buys.
A geographical indication, as defined in Article 1, is the statement that identifies a product by its origin, used on products whose quality, reputation or characteristics are essentially attributable to their geographical origin.
The remaining articles of the Law are understood in light of this aim: the procedures for registration, enforcement and penalties are all means of achieving it.
Practical example
A merchant in Jeddah sells a product and writes on it the name of a region whose product is known by a protected geographical indication, although the product was not produced there. This is among the acts the Law aims to prevent, because it misleads the consumer about the true source of the product.
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 2 of the Saudi Geographical Indications Law
What is the aim of the Geographical Indications Protection Law?
To provide protection for the geographical indications set out in Article 3 and to prevent unauthorized persons from exploiting or imitating them in a way that misleads consumers about the true source of the products.
Does the Law protect the consumer?
Yes. One of its aims is to prevent imitation that misleads consumers about the true source of products.
Articles this article refers to
More articles on Scope of Geographical Indications Protection
- Article 1
The article defines the key terms of the Geographical Indications Protection Law, such as geographical indication, product, producer, specification, register and committee.
يقصد بالعبارات والمصطلحات الآتية -أينما وردت في هذا النظام- المعاني المبينة أمامها ما لم يقتضِ السياق غير ذلك: النظام: نظام حماية المؤشرات الجغرافية. اللائحة: ا
- Article 3
The article sets out the indications that receive protection: national indications entered in the register, foreign indications protected and registered in their country of origin, and foreign indications protected under international agreements to which the Kingdom is a party.
يتمتع بالحماية المقررة بموجب النظام ما يأتي: 1- المؤشرات الجغرافية الوطنية المسجلة في السجل. 2- المؤشرات الجغرافية الأجنبية المحمية في بلد منشئها المسجلة في سجل
- Article 15
The Authority issues a list of geographical indications protected under the Law and Regulations or international agreements to which the Kingdom is a party, and it is available for inspection free of charge.
تصدر الهيئة قائمة تتضمن المؤشرات الجغرافية المحمية بموجب أحكام النظام واللائحة أو بموجب اتفاقيات دولية تكون المملكة طرفاً فيها، ويتاح الاطلاع عليها دون مقابل.
- Article 26
The Authority's board issues the Implementing Regulations of the Law within 180 days of the Law's publication.
يصدر المجلس اللائحة خلال (مائة وثمانين) يومًا من تاريخ نشر النظام.
- Article 27
The Geographical Indications Protection Law takes effect 180 days after its publication in the Official Gazette.
يعمل بالنظام بعد مضي (مائة وثمانين) يومًا من تاريخ نشره 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.