Article 23 of the Saudi Geographical Indications Law

This article gives the competent court additional powers alongside the main penalties, once any of the acts in Article 21 is established. These are: unlawful commercial use of a geographical indication, or imitating it or attempting either; imitating what a product is renowned for in shape, packaging or advertising in a way that may confuse the ordinary person; and any use of the indication that constitutes unfair competition.

The court may rule as follows:

• Confiscation of the tools and machines used to commit the violation.
• As for the products, one of two options:
  • Destroying them at the convicted person's expense.
  • Or disposing of them through non-commercial channels after removing the violation.

The wording is discretionary ("the court may"), so it is left to the court's judgment according to the circumstances of each case. The second option makes it possible to make use of the products instead of destroying them, but on two conditions: the violation must be removed first, and the disposal must be through non-commercial channels so the products do not return to the market.

It is preceded by Article 22, which defines a repeat offender, and followed by Article 24, which allows the Authority to use government bodies or the private sector in carrying out its tasks.