Article 43 of the Saudi Patents Law
المادة 43 من نظام براءات الاختراع · الفصل الثاني: أحكام خاصة ببراءات الاختراع
The article sets the three conditions for an invention to be granted a patent: novelty, an inventive step and industrial applicability, whether it is a product or an industrial process.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يكون الاختراع قابلًا للحصول على البراءة طبقًا لأحكام هذا النظام متى كان جديدًا، ومنطويًا على خطوة ابتكارية، وقابلًا للتطبيق الصناعي. ويمكن أن يكون الاختراع منتجًا، أو عملية صناعية، أو متعلقًا بأي منهما.
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 43 explained in plain English
This article is the basic gateway for any invention whose owner seeks to protect it with a patent. Under the definition in Article 2, an invention is an idea the inventor arrives at that results in solving a particular problem in the field of technology, but not every invention deserves a patent.
An invention is patentable if three conditions are met together:
- Novelty: it must be new.
- Inventive step: it must involve an inventive step.
- Industrial applicability: it must be capable of industrial application.
Article 44 explains the meaning of each of these conditions: novelty is measured against the prior art disclosed to the public before the filing or priority date; an inventive step means that an ordinary person skilled in the art would not arrive at it in an obvious way; and industrial application means that it can be manufactured or used in an industrial or agricultural field and the like.
The article also shows the forms an invention may take: it may be a product, an industrial process, or relate to either of them. The manufacturing method itself can therefore be protected, not only the product.
To assess whether a particular invention meets these conditions, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specializing in intellectual property and patents.
Practical example
Noura developed a new method of water desalination at lower cost, and does not know whether to protect the device or the method. Under this article an invention may be a product, an industrial process, or relate to either of them, provided it is new, involves an inventive step and is capable of industrial application.
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 43 of the Saudi Patents Law
What are the conditions for obtaining a patent?
The invention must be new, involve an inventive step and be capable of industrial application.
Can a manufacturing method be patented?
Yes. An invention may be a product or an industrial process, or relate to either of them.
Is it enough for the invention to be new?
No. All three conditions must be met together: novelty, an inventive step and industrial applicability.
More articles on Conditions for a Patent
- Article 44
The article explains the meaning of an invention's novelty against the prior art, the meaning of the inventive step, and when an invention is industrially applicable.
أ - يكون الاختراع جديدًا إذا لم يكن مسبوقًا من حيث حالة التقنية السابقة، ويقصد بالتقنية السابقة في هذا المجال كل ما تحقق الكشف عنه للجمهور في أي مكان بالوصف الم
- Article 45
The article excludes from the concept of an invention discoveries, theories, mathematical methods, business methods, plants, animals, and methods of treatment and diagnosis, with specific exceptions.
لا يعد من قبيل الاختراعات في مجال تطبيق أحكام هذا النظام ما يأتي: أ - الاكتشافات، والنظريات العلمية، والطرق الرياضية. ب -مخططات مزاولة الأعمال التجارية وقواعدها
- Article 46
The article requires a patent application to relate to one invention or one inventive concept, and allows it to be divided before a decision while keeping the original filing or priority date.
يجب أن يتعلق الطلب باختراع واحد، أو مجموعة من الأجزاء المرتبطة على نحو يجعلها مفهومًا ابتكاريًّا واحدًا، ولمقدم الطلب قبل البت في منحه براءة اختراع تجزئة طلبه إ
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.