Article 30 of the Saudi Patents Law
المادة 30 من نظام براءات الاختراع · الفصل الأول: أحكام عامة
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تسجل في سجلات الإدارة قرارات الترخيص الإجباري وتعديلها، وسحبها، ونقلها للغير، والتخلي عنها، وتعلن في النشرة، ويبلغ مالك وثيقة الحماية بها.
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 30 explained in plain English
This article ensures publicity and transparency in everything relating to compulsory licenses.
What is recorded? Decisions on:
- granting the compulsory license,
- amending it,
- withdrawing it,
- transferring it to others,
- and relinquishing it.
Three steps for each decision:
- Recording in the Administration's records.
- Announcement in the Bulletin, which under Article 2 is the gazette issued on everything relating to protected subject matter.
- Notifying the owner of the protection document of it.
Why does this matter? A compulsory license gives a third party the right to exploit protected subject matter without the owner's consent, so the owner has a right to know of every decision affecting their document, and others in the market have an interest in knowing who is entitled to exploit it.
This article is linked to Article 29, which allows the beneficiary to relinquish the license by a written request effective from the date of the City's approval; that relinquishment decision is recorded, announced and notified to the owner under this article. It is also linked to Article 31, which regulates the document owner's own relinquishment of the document.
The article does not set deadlines for recording or announcement. If you own a protection document and learn of a compulsory license over it, you can review your position with a lawyer specializing in intellectual property and patents.
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 30 of the Saudi Patents Law
Is the patent owner notified of a compulsory license decision?
Yes. The article provides for notifying the owner of the protection document of decisions on compulsory licenses and their amendment, withdrawal, transfer and relinquishment.
Are compulsory license decisions published?
Yes. They are recorded in the Administration's records and announced in the Bulletin.
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 27
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.
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
- 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.
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.