Article 44 of the Saudi Patents Law
المادة 44 من نظام براءات الاختراع · الفصل الثاني: أحكام خاصة ببراءات الاختراع
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 المكتوب، أو الشفوي، أو بطريق الاستعمال، أو بأي وسيلة أخرى من الوسائل التي يتحقق بها العلم بالاختراع، وذلك قبل تاريخ إيداع طلب منح البراءة أو طلب الأسبقية، ولا يعتد بالكشف عن الاختراع للجمهور إذا حدث ذلك خلال فترة الأسبقية، وتحدد اللائحة حالات كشف الاختراع الأخرى التي لا تدخل في مدلول التقنية السابقة، وأحكام الحماية المؤقتة للاختراعات.
ب - يكون الاختراع منطويًا على خطوة ابتكارية إذا لم يتيسر لرجل المهنة العادي التوصل إليه بصورة بديهية نتيجة التقنية السابقة المتصلة بطلب البراءة.
ج - يعد الاختراع قابلًا للتطبيق الصناعي إذا أمكن تصنيعه، أو استعماله في أي مجال صناعي، أو زراعي، بما في ذلك الحرف اليدوية، وصيد الأسماك والخدمات.
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 44 explained in plain English
This article details the three conditions that Article 43 sets for an invention to be patentable.
First: novelty (paragraph A)
- An invention is new if it is not anticipated in the prior art.
- The prior art is everything disclosed to the public anywhere, by written or oral description, by use or by any other means, before the date of filing the patent application or the priority application.
- Disclosure of the invention to the public is disregarded if it occurred during the priority period.
- The Implementing Regulations specify other cases of disclosure that do not form part of the prior art, and the provisions on provisional protection of inventions.
Second: inventive step (paragraph B)
This condition is met if an ordinary person skilled in the art could not arrive at the invention in an obvious way from the prior art relating to the application. An obvious modification of what is known is not enough.
Third: industrial applicability (paragraph C)
This is met if the invention can be manufactured or used in any industrial or agricultural field, including handicrafts, fishing and services.
Article 45 completes the picture by stating what is not considered an invention at all, such as discoveries and scientific theories.
Anyone who disclosed their invention before filing and fears the consequences would do well to consult a lawyer specializing in intellectual property and patents.
Practical example
Faisal showed his invention of an agricultural tool at a public exhibition, and filed the patent application afterwards. The public showing disclosed the invention to the public before filing, so it falls within the prior art and may cost him the novelty condition, unless the disclosure occurred during the priority period or was one of the cases of disclosure that the Implementing Regulations exclude.
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 44 of the Saudi Patents Law
Does publishing an invention before filing a patent application harm novelty?
Everything disclosed to the public anywhere before the filing or priority date forms part of the prior art, unless the disclosure occurred during the priority period or is one of the cases the Implementing Regulations specify.
What is meant by an inventive step?
That an ordinary person skilled in the art could not arrive at the invention in an obvious way from the prior art relating to the patent application.
Does industrial applicability include services?
Yes. An invention is industrially applicable if it can be manufactured or used in any industrial or agricultural field, including handicrafts, fishing and services.
More articles on Conditions for a Patent
- Article 43
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.
يكون الاختراع قابلًا للحصول على البراءة طبقًا لأحكام هذا النظام متى كان جديدًا، ومنطويًا على خطوة ابتكارية، وقابلًا للتطبيق الصناعي. ويمكن أن يكون الاختراع منتج
- Article 45
The article excludes from the concept of invention discoveries, theories, mathematical methods, business methods, plants and animals, and methods of treatment and diagnosis, with specified 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.