Article 15 of the Saudi Patents Law
المادة 15 من نظام براءات الاختراع · الفصل الأول: أحكام عامة
The article lets the applicant withdraw the application at any time unless it has been finally decided, with no right to a refund of the fee paid or any other expense.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يجوز لمقدم الطلب سحب طلبه في أي وقت، ما لم يبت فيه بصفة نهائية، ولا يترتب على سحب الطلب الحق في استرداد ما تم سداده من المقابل المالي، أو أي نفقة أخرى.
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 15 explained in plain English
This article regulates the withdrawal of a protection application by its applicant, and has two parts:
1. When may it be withdrawn?
- The applicant may withdraw the application at any time.
- On one condition: that it has not been finally decided. If a final decision has been issued on the application, withdrawal is no longer available according to the text.
2. What about the amounts paid?
- Withdrawal gives no right to a refund of the fee paid.
- Nor is any other expense refunded.
This provision is connected with Article 14, which regulates the decision the Administration issues to grant or to refuse with reasons; withdrawal comes before the stage of final decision on the application.
Note that withdrawal differs from abandoning a protection document after it has been issued, which is another provision in the law. It also differs from transferring the application to another person, which Article 16 regulates.
The article does not specify the form of a withdrawal request or its procedures. Before deciding to withdraw, especially if there is a possibility of selling or licensing the application, you can consult a lawyer specializing in intellectual property and patents.
Practical example
A company in Jeddah paid the fee for a patent application, then decided to stop the project before a final decision was issued on the application. It may withdraw the application, but it does not get back what it paid.
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 15 of the Saudi Patents Law
Can a patent application be withdrawn?
Yes, at any time unless it has been finally decided.
Do I get the fees back if I withdraw a patent application?
No. Withdrawing the application gives no right to a refund of the fee paid or any other expense.
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 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 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.
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.