Article 8 of the Saudi Patents Law
المادة 8 من نظام براءات الاختراع · الفصل الأول: أحكام عامة
The article regulates filing an application for a protection document on a prepared form, what is required if it is filed by someone other than the inventor, and recording the application once the requirements are met and the fee is paid.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يقدم طلب منح وثيقة الحماية إلى الإدارة على نموذج يعد لذلك، وتحدد اللائحة المعلومات والوثائق المطلوب إرفاقها بالطلب. وإذا كان الطلب مقدمًا من غير من توصل إلى موضوع الحماية، وجب تبيان اسمه، وسند انتقال الحق في موضوع الحماية إلى مقدم الطلب.
ويجوز للإدارة في تلك الحالة إرسال صورة من هذه المستندات إلى من توصل إلى موضوع الحماية. وبعد استيفاء المتطلبات وسداد المقابل المالي المقرر يسجل الطلب.
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 8 explained in plain English
This article sets out the first step in obtaining a protection document, which is filing the application:
- Body and form: the application is filed with the Administration on a form prepared for the purpose.
- Attachments: the Implementing Regulations specify the information and documents to be attached; the article itself does not list them.
If the application is filed by someone other than the inventor: for example a company or a buyer of the right, the application must state the name of the person who arrived at the subject of protection, and the instrument by which the right passed from that person to the applicant. In this case the Administration may send a copy of these documents to the person who arrived at the subject of protection.
Recording the application: once the requirements are met and the prescribed fee is paid, the application is recorded.
Note that "applicant" in Article 2 is the person entered in the Administration's records as the one requesting the protection document, which is achieved by this recording.
This article is connected with Article 7: requiring the inventor's name and the instrument of transfer of the right helps reveal cases of filing a subject of protection that belongs to someone other than the applicant. After recording, the applicant may amend the application under Article 9, without going beyond what was disclosed in the original application.
To prepare the application and its documents correctly, you can use a lawyer specializing in intellectual property and patents.
Practical example
A company in Khobar bought the right to an invention from an independent engineer and wants to file the patent application in its own name. It must state the engineer's name in the application and attach the instrument by which the right passed to it, and the Administration may send a copy of these documents to the engineer.
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 8 of the Saudi Patents Law
Where do I file a patent application?
The application is filed with the Administration on a form prepared for the purpose.
What documents are required with a patent application?
The Implementing Regulations specify the information and documents required, and if the applicant is not the inventor the application must state the inventor's name and the instrument by which the right passed.
When is a patent application recorded?
It is recorded once the requirements are met and the prescribed fee is paid.
More articles on Patent Registration
- Article 9
The article lets the applicant make whatever amendments the applicant sees fit to the application, provided they do not go beyond what was disclosed in the original application.
يجوز لمقدم الطلب أن يدخل ما يراه من تعديلات على الطلب، على ألا تتجاوز هذه التعديلات ما كشف عنه في الطلب الأصلي.
- Article 10
The article lets an applicant benefit from the priority of an earlier application within 12 months for patents and plant varieties and 6 months for industrial models, on specified conditions.
أ - يحق لمقدم الطلب الاستفادة من الأسبقية المقررة لطلب سابق، أودع خلال فترة الأسبقية المحددة لكل موضوع من موضوعات الحماية، اعتبارًا من تاريخ إيداع الطلب السابق،
- Article 11
The article requires the Administration to publish applications for patents and plant patents within 18 months of the filing date, after the prescribed fee is paid.
تقوم الإدارة بنشر طلبات براءات الاختراع، والبراءات النباتية خلال ثمانية عشر شهرًا من تاريخ إيداع الطلب، بعد دفع المقابل المالي المقرر.
- Article 12
The article requires the Administration to examine recorded applications formally, gives the applicant at most 90 days to complete any missing requirements, failing which the application is treated as if it had not been filed.
تقوم الإدارة بفحص الطلبات المسجلة من الناحية الشكلية، وإذا تبين من الفحص عدم استيفاء بعض الشروط المقررة نظامًا، فلها أن تكلف مقدم الطلب باستيفائها خلال تسعين يو
- Article 13
The article provides that the substantive examination of an application for a patent or plant patent begins once it has been examined formally, as the Regulations specify.
إذا تم فحص طلب براءة الاختراع، أو البراءة النباتية من الناحية الشكلية؛ يبدأ بفحصه موضوعيًّا، طبقًا لما تبينه اللائحة.
- Article 14
The article requires the Administration to issue and publish a decision granting the protection document if the application meets the conditions, or to prepare a reasoned decision of refusal and notify the applicant.
أ - إذا تبين للإدارة أن الطلب قد استوفى الشروط المقررة فإنها تصدر قرارًا بمنح وثيقة الحماية، وينشر القرار بترتيب صدوره من الإدارة. ب - إذا تبين للإدارة عدم أحقي
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.