Article 27 of the Saudi Patents Law
المادة 27 من نظام براءات الاختراع · الفصل الأول: أحكام عامة
The article allows the City to amend a compulsory license decision if grounds require it; the owner or the beneficiary may request amendment, and the decision to amend or refuse must state its reasons.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يجوز للمدينة تعديل قرار منح الترخيص الإجباري إذا قامت أسباب تقتضي ذلك. ولمالك وثيقة الحماية أو المستفيد من الترخيص الإجباري أن يطلب من المدينة إجراء هذا التعديل إذا تحققت موجباته، ويتعين أن يكون قرار المدينة بتعديل الترخيص، أو برفض الطلب مسببًا.
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 27 explained in plain English
A compulsory license decision is not fixed; this article allows it to be amended when circumstances change.
1. Amendment by the City: the City may amend the decision granting the compulsory license if grounds arise that require it.
2. Request for amendment: each of the following may ask the City to make the amendment if the grounds for it exist:
- the owner of the protection document,
- and the beneficiary of the compulsory license.
3. Reasons: the City's decision must state its reasons, whether it amends the license or rejects the request. This lets the applicant know why the decision was made.
The article does not specify what counts as grounds for amendment, so that is assessed according to the circumstances and to what the City decides in a reasoned decision.
Amendment differs from cancellation of the compulsory license, which Article 28 regulates in specific cases, including the beneficiary's failure to exploit the license sufficiently within two years of its grant, failure to pay amounts due within 90 days of the due date, or breach of any condition of the license. It also differs from assignment, which Article 26 restricts.
If the circumstances in which the license was granted have changed and you want to request its amendment, or you want to object to an amendment, you can consult a lawyer specializing in intellectual property and patents.
Practical example
A company obtained a compulsory license to exploit an invention, and then market conditions changed fundamentally. The patent owner or the company may ask the City to amend the license decision, and the City's decision to amend or to refuse must state its reasons.
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 27 of the Saudi Patents Law
Can a compulsory license be amended after it is granted?
Yes. The City may amend it if grounds arise that require it.
Who can request amendment of a compulsory license?
The owner of the protection document or the beneficiary of the compulsory license, if the grounds for amendment exist.
Must a decision refusing amendment state its reasons?
Yes. The City's decision, whether to amend or to refuse the request, must state its reasons.
More articles on Compulsory Licensing
- Article 24
The article allows the City to grant a third party a compulsory license to exploit a patented invention or an integrated circuit layout design, on set conditions and with fair compensation to the owner.
أ - يجوز للمدينة أن تمنح ترخيصًا إجباريًّا للغير باستغلال الاختراع المشمول بالبراءة، أو التصميم التخطيطي للدارة المتكاملة المشمول بشهادة التصميم بناء على طلب يق
- Article 25
The article allows the City to grant a compulsory license for a plant variety covered by a plant patent on set conditions, including public interest, three years from grant and fair compensation, for two to four years.
أ - يجوز للمدينة أن تمنح ترخيصًا إجباريا للغير باستغلال الصنف النباتي المشمول ببراءة نباتية، وذلك بناء على طلب يقدمه إليها وفقًا لما يأتي : 1- أن يكون الترخيص ا
- Article 26
The article prevents the compulsory licensee from assigning the license to others except together with the enterprise, part of it or its goodwill, and with the City's approval, otherwise the assignment is void.
إذا منح ترخيص إجباري لموضوع من موضوعات الحماية، فإنه لا يجوز للمستفيد من الترخيص الإجباري أن يتنازل عنه للغير، إلا إذا كان التنازل شاملًا للمنشأة المستفيدة من ا
- Article 28
The article requires the City to cancel a compulsory license if the beneficiary has not exploited it sufficiently within two years, has not paid amounts due within 90 days, or has breached its conditions.
تقوم المدينة بإلغاء الترخيص الإجباري في الحالات الآتية: أ - إذا لم يقم المستفيد من هذا الترخيص باستغلاله على نحو كاف يفي باحتياجات المملكة خلال سنتين من منح الت
- Article 29
The article allows the beneficiary of a compulsory license to relinquish it by a written request to the City; relinquishment takes effect from the date of the City's approval.
يجوز للمستفيد من الترخيص الإجباري التخلي عن الترخيص، بناء على طلب كتابي يقدمه إلى المدينة، على أن يسري أثر التخلي من تاريخ موافقة المدينة عليه.
- Article 30
The article requires decisions granting, amending, withdrawing, transferring or relinquishing compulsory licenses to be recorded in the Administration's records, announced in the Bulletin and notified to the owner of the protection document.
تسجل في سجلات الإدارة قرارات الترخيص الإجباري وتعديلها، وسحبها، ونقلها للغير، والتخلي عنها، وتعلن في النشرة، ويبلغ مالك وثيقة الحماية بها.
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.