Article 14 of the Saudi Patents Law
المادة 14 من نظام براءات الاختراع · الفصل الأول: أحكام عامة
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 أحقية مقدم الطلب في وثيقة الحماية فإنها تعد قرارًا موضحًا به أسباب الرفض، ويبلغ مقدم الطلب بذلك.
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 14 explained in plain English
This article sets the end of the examination stage, that is, what the Administration issues after studying the application, and there are two possibilities:
First: grant (paragraph A)
- If it appears to the Administration that the application met the prescribed conditions, it issues a decision to grant the protection document.
- The decision is published in the order of its issue by the Administration.
Second: refusal (paragraph B)
- If it appears to the Administration that the applicant is not entitled to the protection document, it prepares a decision stating the reasons for refusal.
- The applicant is notified of this.
The requirement to state reasons in a refusal decision is important in practice, as it lets the applicant know the reason for the refusal. This article does not state the ways of objecting to the decision or their deadlines, so nothing should be inferred about them from it.
This decision follows the substantive examination provided for in Article 13 for applications for patents and plant patents. Before the application is finally decided, the applicant may withdraw it under Article 15, with no refund of what was paid.
If a decision refusing your application is issued, read its reasons carefully and consult a lawyer specializing in intellectual property and patents to learn the options available to you.
Practical example
Majed filed a patent application for a household device, and after examination the Administration found that he was not entitled to the document. The refusal decision must include its reasons, and Majed must be notified of it.
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 14 of the Saudi Patents Law
What happens if a patent application meets the conditions?
The Administration issues a decision granting the protection document, and the decision is published in the order of its issue.
Must a decision refusing a patent be reasoned?
Yes. The Administration prepares a decision stating the reasons for refusal and the applicant is notified of it.
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 allows the applicant to amend the application as he sees fit, provided the amendments 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 patent and plant patent applications within 18 months from the filing date of the application, after payment of the prescribed fee.
تقوم الإدارة بنشر طلبات براءات الاختراع، والبراءات النباتية خلال ثمانية عشر شهرًا من تاريخ إيداع الطلب، بعد دفع المقابل المالي المقرر.
- Article 12
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.
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 يو
- Article 13
The article provides that substantive examination of a patent or plant patent application begins once it has been examined formally, as set out in the Regulations.
إذا تم فحص طلب براءة الاختراع، أو البراءة النباتية من الناحية الشكلية؛ يبدأ بفحصه موضوعيًّا، طبقًا لما تبينه اللائحة.
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.