Article 37 of the Saudi Patents Law
المادة 37 من نظام براءات الاختراع · الفصل الأول: أحكام عامة
The article regulates how the Committee issues its decisions, requires it to rule even where the text is silent, and allows a grievance before the Board of Grievances within sixty days of notification.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تصدر اللجنة قراراتها بالأغلبية، على أن تكون مسببة، ويتلى منطوقها في جلسة علنية، وليس للجنة أن تمتنع عن إصدار قرار في الدعوى استنادًا إلى عدم وجود نص يحكم النزاع في النظام أو اللائحة. وعليها في تلك الحالة أن ترجع إلى القواعد العامة المرعية في المملكة، ويجوز التظلم أمام ديوان المظالم من أي قرار تصدره اللجنة خلال ستين يومًا من تاريخ التبليغ بالقرار.
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 37 explained in plain English
This article sets the rules for issuing the Committee's decisions; under Article 36 the Committee has jurisdiction over disputes on protection documents and criminal cases arising under the Law.
- Majority: decisions are issued by a majority of the members.
- Reasons: the decision must be reasoned, that is, state its grounds.
- Publicity: the operative part of the decision is read out in an open session.
- No refusal to rule: the Committee may not refuse to issue a decision on the ground that no provision in the Law or the Regulations governs the dispute; it must then refer to the general rules observed in the Kingdom.
Grievance: a grievance may be filed before the Board of Grievances against any decision the Committee issues, within 60 days of the date of notification of the decision. The period therefore starts from notification, not from the date the decision was issued.
Article 38 complements the Committee's powers by allowing it to write to the relevant government bodies and request whatever data it considers necessary.
Because the grievance period is fixed by the text, anyone against whom a decision has been issued would do well to consult a lawyer specializing in intellectual property and patents promptly, before it runs out.
Practical example
The Committee issued a decision against a company in Riyadh in a patent dispute, and the company was notified of the decision on a certain day. If it wishes to object, it may file a grievance before the Board of Grievances within 60 days, counted from the date it was notified of the decision.
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 37 of the Saudi Patents Law
What is the time limit for a grievance against a patent committee decision?
60 days from the date of notification of the decision, and the grievance is filed before the Board of Grievances.
Must the Committee's decisions state reasons?
Yes. They are issued by majority and must state their reasons, and the operative part is read out in an open session.
What does the Committee do if no provision governs the dispute?
It may not refuse to issue a decision, and must refer to the general rules observed in the Kingdom.
More articles on Patents and Appeals Committee
- 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 32
The article allows any interested party to challenge before the Committee the decision granting a protection document and ask for its invalidation in whole or in part for breach of the grant conditions.
يجوز لكل ذي مصلحة أن يطعن أمام اللجنة في قرار منح وثيقة الحماية، طالبًا الحكم بإبطاله كليا أو جزئيا، تأسيسًا على مخالفة الشروط المقررة لمنح وثيقة الحماية. وعلى
- Article 33
The article provides that a judgment invalidating the grant of a protection document makes the grant treated as if it never existed from its date of issue, with a special rule on license payments and publication of the judgment.
الحكم ببطلان قرار منح وثيقة الحماية كليا أو جزئيا يترتب عليه اعتبار هذا القرار كأن لم يكن من تاريخ صدوره، وذلك في نطاق ما قضي ببطلانه، على أنه ليس من شأن الحكم
- Article 34
The article defines infringement of protected subject matter and empowers the Committee to stop infringement and award compensation and a fine of up to SAR 100,000, doubled for repeat offenses.
يعد تعديا على موضوع الحماية القيام بأي عمل من أعمال الاستغلال المنصوص عليها في الأحكام الخاصة لكل موضوع من موضوعات الحماية، يقوم به أي شخص في المملكة دون موافقة
- Article 36
The article sets the Committee's jurisdiction over disputes and challenges to decisions on protection documents and over criminal cases arising from violations of the Law and its regulations.
أ - تختص اللجنة بما يأتي : 1 - النظر في جميع المنازعات والطعون في القرارات الصادرة بشأن وثائق الحماية . 2 - الدعاوى الجزائية الناشئة عن مخالفة أحكام هذا النظام
- Article 38
The article gives the Committee the right to write to government bodies and request clarifications, and requires the City to provide it, on request, with the documents of the protection applications or subject matter in dispute.
للجنة حق مخاطبة الجهات الحكومية المعنية، وطلب ما ترى لزومه من الإيضاحات والبيانات، وعلى المدينة موافاة اللجنة بجميع المستندات والأوراق المتعلقة بطلبات الحماية،
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.