Article 41 of the Saudi Patents Law
المادة 41 من نظام براءات الاختراع · الفصل الأول: أحكام عامة
The article requires Administration employees and Committee members to keep the technical information in protection applications confidential, even after their service, and bars them from obtaining or dealing in protection documents.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يلتزم موظفو الإدارة، وأعضاء اللجنة بالامتناع عن الإدلاء بالمعلومات الفنية المتعلقة بطلبات الحماية، التي حصلوا عليها – بصفتهم تلك – لأي شخص، ما لم يكن مرخصًا له رسميا في تلقي تلك المعلومات طبقًا للقواعد المعمول بها في المملكة، كما يلتزمون بعدم إفشاء تلك المعلومات للجمهور، أو استعمالها بأي طريقة كانت. ويستمر هذا الالتزام بعد انتهاء خدمتهم.
ولا يجوز لموظفي الإدارة وأعضاء اللجنة الحصول على أي وثيقة من وثائق الحماية، أو التعامل في أي حق من الحقوق المتعلقة بها، وذلك أثناء مدة خدمتهم، ولمدة سنتين بعد انتهاء الخدمة.
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 41 explained in plain English
This article protects the secrets of inventors who file protection applications, by imposing two obligations on Administration employees and Committee members.
First obligation: confidentiality
- Not to disclose to any person the technical information relating to protection applications that they obtained by virtue of their position, unless that person is officially authorized to receive it under the rules in force in the Kingdom.
- Not to disclose that information to the public, and not to use it in any way.
- This obligation continues after their service ends, with no time limit in the text.
Second obligation: no dealing
- They may not obtain any protection document, or deal in any right relating to one.
- This bar applies during service and for two years after it ends.
The difference between the two periods is clear: confidentiality continues with no set end, while the bar on acquiring and dealing ends two years after leaving service.
This contrasts with Article 40, which allows inspection of registered protection documents: publicity concerns registered documents, whereas the confidentiality here concerns the technical information in protection applications that these persons obtained through their work.
Anyone who suspects that information in their application has leaked would do well to consult a lawyer specializing in intellectual property and patents.
Practical example
Saad worked as an employee in the Administration and saw a patent application for an invention in the energy field, and then left his job. Saad may not disclose or use the technical information in that application even after leaving, and for two years after his service ends he may not obtain any protection document or deal in any right relating to one.
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 41 of the Saudi Patents Law
May a patent office employee disclose the information in my application?
No. Administration employees and Committee members must not disclose the technical information in protection applications except to a person officially authorized to receive it, and must not disclose or use it, and this continues after their service ends.
Can a former Administration employee own a patent?
He may not obtain any protection document or deal in its rights during service and for two years after it ends.
Who is bound by the confidentiality obligations in this article?
Administration employees and Committee members.
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.