Article 53 of the Saudi Patents Law
المادة 53 من نظام براءات الاختراع · الفصل الثالث: أحكام خاصة بالتصميمات التخطيطية للدارات المتكاملة
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 للعلم – عند حصوله على الدارة المتكاملة، أو السلعة المتضمنة لهذه الدارة - بأنها تحتوي على تصميم منسوخ بطريقة غير مشروعة، وله أن يقوم بتلك الأعمال فيما يتعلق بالكميات التي
بحوزته، أو التي طلبها قبل تسلمه إشعارًا صريحًا بأن التصميم منسوخ بطريقة غير مشروعة، إلا أنه يجب أن يدفع لمالك شهادة التصميم تعويضات عادلة تقدرها اللجنة، مستندة في ذلك على التراخيص التي تمنح عن طريق التفاوض التعاقدي.
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 53 explained in plain English
This article deals with a person who deals in circuits or electronic goods without knowing that they contain an unlawfully copied design.
The acts concerned: those in paragraph (B) of Article 51, that is, importing, selling or distributing the design, or the integrated circuit in which it is incorporated, or goods that contain a circuit with a copied design. Copying in paragraph (A) is not covered by this provision.
Condition for the exception: that the person who did or ordered these acts did not know, and had no reasonable grounds to know, when obtaining the circuit or goods, that they contain a copied design.
What he may do: continue those acts in respect of:
- the quantities in his possession; or
- the quantities he ordered before receiving explicit notice that the design was unlawfully copied.
The corresponding obligation: he must pay the owner of the design certificate fair compensation assessed by the Committee, on the basis of licenses granted through contractual negotiation. Good faith removes the description of infringement but does not excuse him from compensation.
Anyone who has received notice that their goods contain a copied design would do well to consult a lawyer specializing in intellectual property and patents before placing any new orders.
Practical example
An electronics shop in Dammam imported a shipment of devices and then received explicit notice from a Saudi company that the circuits in them carry its copied design. If the shop did not know, and had no reasonable grounds to know, when buying, then selling the quantities in its possession or ordered before the notice is not an infringement, but it must pay the company fair compensation assessed by the Committee.
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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Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
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Frequently asked questions about Article 53 of the Saudi Patents Law
Is a merchant an infringer if he sold copied chips without knowing?
The acts in paragraph (B) of Article 51 are not an infringement if done by someone who did not know, and had no reasonable grounds to know, when obtaining the circuit or goods, that they contain a copied design.
Can the goods continue to be sold after the notice?
He may do those acts in respect of the quantities in his possession or ordered before he received explicit notice that the design was copied unlawfully.
Does a good-faith merchant pay compensation?
Yes. He must pay the owner of the design certificate fair compensation assessed by the Committee, based on licenses granted through contractual negotiation.
Articles this article refers to
More articles on Layout Designs of Integrated Circuits
- Article 24
The article allows the City to grant a third party a compulsory license to exploit a patented invention or an integrated circuit layout design, on set conditions and with fair compensation to the owner.
أ - يجوز للمدينة أن تمنح ترخيصًا إجباريًّا للغير باستغلال الاختراع المشمول بالبراءة، أو التصميم التخطيطي للدارة المتكاملة المشمول بشهادة التصميم بناء على طلب يق
- Article 49
The article allows an application to register an integrated circuit layout design if it has not yet been commercially exploited, or has been commercially exploited for no more than two years anywhere in the world.
يجوز طلب تسجيل التصميم لدارة متكاملة إذا لم يكن التصميم قد استغل استغلالًا تجاريا بعد، أو كان موضع استغلال تجاري فترة لا تتجاوز السنتين في أي مكان في العالم.
- Article 50
The article requires that a design be original for a design certificate to be granted, meaning the result of the designer's intellectual effort and not familiar when created, and addresses a design made of familiar elements.
تمنح شهادة التصميم إذا كان التصميم أصيلًا، أي كان نتيجة جهد فكري بذله المصمم بنفسه، وكان غير مألوف لمبتكري التصميمات، وصانعي الدارات المتكاملة عند ابتكاره. وأما
- 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 52
The article limits the rights of a design certificate to commercial acts, and excepts a similar design created independently and an original design resulting from analysis of the protected design.
تقتصر الحقوق التي تمنحها شهادة التصميم على الأعمال التي تتم لأغراض تجارية، ولا يحق لمالك الشهادة ممارسة حقوقه بشأن تصميم أصيل مماثل لتصميمه إذا ابتكره شخص آخر ب
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.