Article 22 of the Saudi Geographical Indications Law

This article defines a repeat offense, an important concept because Article 21 provides that in the case of a repeat offense the penalty is doubled, together with closing the shop or business or suspending the activity for a period of not less than 15 days and not more than 6 months, as the case may be.

A person is a repeat offender when two elements are met:

• They commit the violation again.
• They do so within 3 years of the date the judgment became final.

The starting point for counting the three years is not the date of the first violation or the date of the first-instance judgment, but the date the judgment became final. Someone who commits the violation again after this period has passed is not a repeat offender under this definition.

It is followed by Article 23, which allows the competent court, once any of the acts in Article 21 is established, to order confiscation of the tools and machines used and destruction of the products at the convicted person's expense, or disposal of them through non-commercial channels after the violation is removed.

Anyone with a prior judgment who faces a new charge should consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal and intellectual property cases.