Article 16 of the Saudi Patents Law
المادة 16 من نظام براءات الاختراع · الفصل الأول: أحكام عامة
The article requires any assignment of an application or protection document to be in writing, signed by both parties and certified, and not effective against third parties until the change is requested, the fee paid and the change recorded.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
أي تصرف يحصل بمقتضاه التنازل عن طلب الحماية ، أو وثيقة الحماية نفسها، ينبغي أن يكون مكتوبًا وموقعًا عليه من الطرفين، ومعتمدًا من جهة تقبلها الإدارة، ولا يعتد بأي تغيير في ملكية طلب الحماية، أو وثيقة الحماية نفسها في مواجهة الغير، إلا بعد تقديم طلب التغيير، وسداد المقابل المالي المقرر، وتسجيله في سجلات الإدارة. وإذا اشترك عدة أشخاص في إيداع طلب حماية واحد، أو في ملكية وثيقة حماية واحدة، جاز لأي منهم أن يتنازل لأحد الشركاء، أو لهم جميعًا، أو للغير عما يخصه في الطلب، أو وثيقة الحماية. وعلى الإدارة أن تقوم بالإعلان عن نقل الملكية في النشرة.
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 16 explained in plain English
This article regulates the assignment of a protection application or protection document and the transfer of their ownership, whether by sale or otherwise.
Conditions of assignment: any transaction by which the assignment is made must be:
- In writing.
- Signed by both parties.
- Certified by a body the Administration accepts.
Effect toward third parties: no change in ownership of the application or document is recognized against third parties until after:
- The request for the change is submitted.
- The prescribed fee is paid.
- It is recorded in the Administration's records.
An assignment may thus take effect between the parties, but it cannot be invoked against others before these steps are complete.
Joint ownership: if several persons jointly filed one application or jointly own one protection document, any of them may assign their share to one of the partners, to all of them, or to a third party.
Announcement: the Administration must announce the transfer of ownership in the Bulletin.
After a transaction in the document, Article 17 follows, requiring the owner to inform the transferee of any legal procedure concerning the document. To draft and record an assignment contract properly, it is advisable to use a lawyer specializing in intellectual property and patents.
Practical example
Yasser sold his patent to a company in Riyadh under a written contract signed by both parties and certified by a body the Administration accepts. For the company to assert its ownership against others, the request for the change must be submitted, the fee paid and the change recorded in the Administration's records.
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 16 of the Saudi Patents Law
What are the conditions for assigning a patent?
It must be in writing, signed by both parties and certified by a body the Administration accepts.
When does a transfer of patent ownership take effect against others?
After the request for the change is submitted, the prescribed fee is paid, and it is recorded in the Administration's records.
May a co-owner of a patent sell their share?
Yes. The co-owner may assign their share to one of the partners, to all of them, or to a third party.
More articles on Patent Ownership
- Article 5
The article makes a protection document a private right of the person in whose name it is issued and transferable, and regulates joint work, priority of filing, and the inventor's right to be named.
أ - تكون وثيقة الحماية حقًّا خاصًّا لمن صدرت باسمه، وينتقل هذا الحق بالميراث، كما ينتقل بعوض أو بغير عوض. ب - إذا كان موضوع الحماية عملًا مشتركًا لعدة أشخاص كان
- Article 6
The article makes ownership of a protection document the employer's in specified cases unless the employment contract provides otherwise, while preserving the worker's right to a special reward.
أ - تكون ملكية وثيقة الحماية لصاحب العمل، ما لم ينص عقد العمل على غير ذلك، متى كان موضوعها ناتجًا عن تنفيذ عقد، أو التزام مضمونه إفراغ الجهد فيما تم التوصل إليه
- Article 7
The article lets a person whose subject of protection was taken from them ask the Committee to transfer ownership of the application or document to them; a claim is not heard after five years from grant except on proof of the applicant's bad faith.
إذا كان موضوع الحماية المدعى به في طلب الحماية، أو في وثيقة الحماية مأخوذًا من موضوع حماية يعود الحق فيه إليه شخص آخر خلاف مقدم الطلب أو مالك وثيقة الحماية؛ فإن
- Article 17
The article requires the owner of a protection document who disposes of it to another, or whose right to exploit it passes to another, to formally notify that person of any legal procedure concerning the document.
إذا تم التصرف في وثيقة الحماية للغير بأي نوع من أنواع التصرف، أو انتقل حق استغلالها للغير لأي سبب من الأسباب، فعلى مالك الوثيقة إبلاغ المتصرف إليه، أو من انتقل
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.