Article 59 of the Saudi Patents Law

This article opens the provisions on industrial designs. Under the definitions in Article 2, an industrial design is a two-dimensional combination of lines or colors, or a three-dimensional shape, that gives an industrial product or a traditional craft product a special appearance, provided it is not for a purely functional or technical purpose, and it includes textile designs.

Conditions for granting:

1. Novelty.
2. Distinguishing features: it must have features that distinguish it from known industrial designs.

When is a design new? If it was not disclosed to the public before the filing date of the registration application or the priority application, whether:

• by tangible publication anywhere;
• or by use;
• or by any other means.

Exceptions: disclosure of the design to the public is disregarded if it occurred during the priority period. The Implementing Regulations specify other cases of disclosure that are disregarded, and the provisions on provisional protection of industrial designs.

After grant, Article 60 sets out the certificate owner's right to bring a case against anyone who makes, sells or imports for commercial purposes goods embodying its copied design.

Anyone who intends to show their design before registering it would do well to consult a lawyer specializing in intellectual property and patents first.