Article 48 of the Saudi Patents Law
المادة 48 من نظام براءات الاختراع · الفصل الثاني: أحكام خاصة ببراءات الاختراع
The article shifts to the defendant the burden of proving that its product was not made by the patented process, when one of two conditions is met, while taking account of its industrial and commercial secrets.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
مع مراعاة المصالح المشروعة للمدعى عليه من حيث حماية أسراره الصناعية والتجارية، إذا كان موضوع براءة الاختراع المدعى بالتعدي عليها عملية صناعية لصنع منتج ما؛ فعلى المدعى عليه إثبات أن المنتج المطابق له لم يصنع بهذه العملية دون موافقة مالك البراءة، إذا تحقق أحد الشرطين الآتيين:
أ - أن يكون المنتج الذي تم الحصول عليه وفق العملية الصناعية المشمولة ببراءة اختراع منتجًا جديدًا.
ب - أن يوجد احتمال كبير بأن يكون المنتج المطابق قد صنع وفق العملية الصناعية المشمولة بالبراءة، ولم يتمكن مالك البراءة من تحديد الطريقة التي استخدمت فعلًا، من خلال بذل جهود معقولة بهذا الشأن.
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 48 explained in plain English
Proving that a competitor is using a protected industrial process is usually difficult, because the method of manufacture takes place inside its factory. This article therefore sets a special rule on the burden of proof.
The rule: if the patent alleged to be infringed protects an industrial process for making a product, the defendant must prove that the identical product it has was not made by this process without the patent owner's consent, where either of the following two conditions is met:
- the product obtained by the protected process is a new product; or
- there is a substantial likelihood that the identical product was made by the protected process, and the patent owner has been unable, despite reasonable efforts, to determine the process actually used.
The limit: this applies with regard to the defendant's legitimate interests in protecting its industrial and commercial secrets, so shifting the burden of proof does not mean requiring it to disclose all its secrets without regard to them.
The article is linked to Article 47, under which the forms of exploiting an industrial process include doing the acts mentioned there in respect of the product obtained directly by using it.
Because whether the two conditions are met depends on the facts, both parties to the dispute would do well to consult a lawyer specializing in intellectual property and patents.
Practical example
A company in Jubail owns a patent for an industrial process that produces a new plastic material that was not previously known. An identical material then appeared on the market, made by another factory. Because the product is new, the other factory must prove that its material was not made by the protected process without the company's consent, with its industrial secrets protected.
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 48 of the Saudi Patents Law
Who bears the burden of proof when an industrial process patent is infringed?
The defendant must prove that its identical product was not made by the protected process without the owner's consent, if the product is new or there is a substantial likelihood it was made by it and the owner could not determine the method despite reasonable efforts.
Is the defendant required to disclose its industrial secrets?
The rule applies with regard to the defendant's legitimate interests in protecting its industrial and commercial secrets.
Is one condition enough to shift the burden of proof?
Yes. It is enough that either of the two stated conditions is met.
Articles this article refers to
More articles on Patent Infringement
- Article 20
The article protects a person who in good faith made a product, used a process or exploited a plant variety before the filing date, by allowing that person to continue the same activities without expanding them.
إذا قام شخص – بحسن نية – بتصنيع منتج، أو باستعمال عملية صناعية، أو بتصنيع دارة متكاملة مدمج فيها التصميم، أو سلعة تتضمن هذه الدارة، أو باستغلال صنف نباتي، أو با
- 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 47
The article gives the patent owner the right to sue before the Committee anyone who exploits the invention in the Kingdom without consent, and defines the forms of exploitation and the non-commercial scientific research exception.
لمالك البراءة الحق في رفع دعوى أمام اللجنة ضد أي شخص يتعدى على اختراعه، باستغلاله دون موافقته داخل المملكة، ويعد استغلالا للاختراع: أ - إذا كان منتجًا: صناعته،
- Article 51
The article gives the owner of a design certificate the right to sue anyone who copies, imports, sells or distributes its design in the Kingdom without consent, with an exception for personal and scientific copying.
لمالك شهادة التصميم الحق في رفع دعوى أمام اللجنة ضد أي شخص يتعدى على تصميمه باستغلاله دون موافقته داخل المملكة، ويعد استغلالًا للتصميم القيام بأي عمل من الأعمال
- Article 53
The article excepts from infringement the acts in paragraph (B) of Article 51 when done by someone who did not know the circuit contains a copied design, and requires him to pay fair compensation.
لا تعد الأعمال المذكورة في الفقرة (ب) من المادة الحادية والخمسين من هذا النظام تعديًا، إذا باشرها، أو أمر بالقيام بها من لم يكن يعلم أو ليس لديه أسباب معقولة لل
- Article 56
The article gives the plant patent owner the right to sue anyone who exploits the protected variety's propagating material in the Kingdom without consent, and extends the rights to harvested material and derived varieties, with exceptions.
أ - لمالك البراءة النباتية الحق في رفع دعوى أمام اللجنة ضد أي شخص يتعدى على الصنف المحمي باستغلال مادة تكاثر الصنف المحمي دون موافقته داخل المملكة، ويعد استغلال
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.