Article 12 of the Saudi Patents Law
المادة 12 من نظام براءات الاختراع · الفصل الأول: أحكام عامة
The article requires the Administration to examine recorded applications formally, gives the applicant at most 90 days to complete any missing requirements, failing which the application is treated as if it had not been filed.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تقوم الإدارة بفحص الطلبات المسجلة من الناحية الشكلية، وإذا تبين من الفحص عدم استيفاء بعض الشروط المقررة نظامًا، فلها أن تكلف مقدم الطلب باستيفائها خلال تسعين يومًا على الأكثر من تاريخ إبلاغه بذلك. وإذا لم ينفذ ما طلب منه خلال الفترة المذكورة عد طلبه كأن لم يكن.
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 12 explained in plain English
After the application is recorded comes the stage of formal examination that this article regulates.
- Examination: the Administration examines recorded applications from the formal side, that is, verifying that the conditions prescribed by law are met.
- Requirement to complete: if it appears that some conditions are not met, the Administration may require the applicant to complete them within 90 days at most of the date the applicant is notified.
- Effect of non-compliance: if the applicant does not carry out what was requested within this period, the application is treated as if it had not been filed.
Note that the period runs from the date of notification, not from the filing date, and that 90 days is the maximum, so the Administration may set a shorter period within that limit.
Treating the application "as if it had not been filed" means that it no longer remains a pending application, which is a severe consequence for the applicant. Article 11 regulates the publication of patent applications within 18 months of filing.
After the formal examination of applications for patents and plant patents is completed, the substantive examination begins under Article 13. The article does not detail the conditions that the formal examination covers, as these are for the law and its Regulations.
If you receive a notification of deficiencies in your application, make sure to follow up immediately, and you may use a lawyer specializing in intellectual property and patents.
Practical example
Sara received a notification from the Administration that her patent application lacked a required document, with a deadline to complete it. If she does not provide it within the deadline, which does not exceed 90 days from the date she was notified, her application is treated as if it had not been filed.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentCommercial & Corporate Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Commercial & Corporate Law lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Ibrahim Al Salem Law Firm
Active contributor
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Frequently asked questions about Article 12 of the Saudi Patents Law
How long do I have to complete the deficiencies in a patent application?
At most 90 days from the date the applicant is notified of them.
What happens if I do not complete the deficiencies on time?
The application is treated as if it had not been filed.
What comes after the formal examination?
For applications for patents and plant patents, the substantive examination begins under Article 13.
More articles on Patent Registration
- Article 8
The article regulates filing an application for a protection document on a prepared form, what is required if it is filed by someone other than the inventor, and recording the application once the requirements are met and the fee is paid.
يقدم طلب منح وثيقة الحماية إلى الإدارة على نموذج يعد لذلك، وتحدد اللائحة المعلومات والوثائق المطلوب إرفاقها بالطلب. وإذا كان الطلب مقدمًا من غير من توصل إلى موض
- Article 9
The article lets the applicant make whatever amendments the applicant sees fit to the application, provided they do not go beyond what was disclosed in the original application.
يجوز لمقدم الطلب أن يدخل ما يراه من تعديلات على الطلب، على ألا تتجاوز هذه التعديلات ما كشف عنه في الطلب الأصلي.
- Article 10
The article lets an applicant benefit from the priority of an earlier application within 12 months for patents and plant varieties and 6 months for industrial models, on specified conditions.
أ - يحق لمقدم الطلب الاستفادة من الأسبقية المقررة لطلب سابق، أودع خلال فترة الأسبقية المحددة لكل موضوع من موضوعات الحماية، اعتبارًا من تاريخ إيداع الطلب السابق،
- Article 11
The article requires the Administration to publish applications for patents and plant patents within 18 months of the filing date, after the prescribed fee is paid.
تقوم الإدارة بنشر طلبات براءات الاختراع، والبراءات النباتية خلال ثمانية عشر شهرًا من تاريخ إيداع الطلب، بعد دفع المقابل المالي المقرر.
- Article 13
The article provides that the substantive examination of an application for a patent or plant patent begins once it has been examined formally, as the Regulations specify.
إذا تم فحص طلب براءة الاختراع، أو البراءة النباتية من الناحية الشكلية؛ يبدأ بفحصه موضوعيًّا، طبقًا لما تبينه اللائحة.
- Article 14
The article requires the Administration to issue and publish a decision granting the protection document if the application meets the conditions, or to prepare a reasoned decision of refusal and notify the applicant.
أ - إذا تبين للإدارة أن الطلب قد استوفى الشروط المقررة فإنها تصدر قرارًا بمنح وثيقة الحماية، وينشر القرار بترتيب صدوره من الإدارة. ب - إذا تبين للإدارة عدم أحقي
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.