Article 9 of the Saudi Patents Law
المادة 9 من نظام براءات الاختراع · الفصل الأول: أحكام عامة
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يجوز لمقدم الطلب أن يدخل ما يراه من تعديلات على الطلب، على ألا تتجاوز هذه التعديلات ما كشف عنه في الطلب الأصلي.
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 9 explained in plain English
This article gives the applicant flexibility to amend the application after filing it, but sets a clear limit.
The rule: the applicant may make whatever amendments to the application the applicant sees fit.
The limit: the amendments must not go beyond what was disclosed in the original application. An amendment stays within what the application contained when it was filed, such as a clarification or correction, and cannot serve as a means of introducing new information or elements that the original application did not disclose.
Its link to priority: Article 10 bases the right of priority on the filing date of the earlier application, so the filing date and what the application disclosed on that date matter in the law, which explains why the text takes care that an amendment does not go beyond what was in the original application.
This provision comes after Article 8, which regulates filing and recording the application. The article does not specify when an amendment may be made, its procedures, or its fee, as these are details the text does not mention.
If you develop your invention with a substantial new addition after filing, amending the application may not be enough to protect it; consulting a lawyer specializing in intellectual property and patents helps you choose the right route.
Practical example
Abdullah filed a patent application for a smart irrigation device, then noticed an error in the description of one of the parts mentioned in the application and corrected it, which is permitted. But he cannot, by way of amendment, add a new sensor that his original application did not disclose.
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 9 of the Saudi Patents Law
Can I amend a patent application after filing it?
Yes. The applicant may make whatever amendments to the application the applicant sees fit.
Can I add a new feature of my invention to the same application?
No. The amendments may not go beyond what was disclosed in the original application.
More articles on Patent Registration
- Article 8
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.
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 موض
- 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.