Article 11 of the Saudi Publications Law
المادة 11 من نظام المطبوعات والنشر
The article allows a license to be assigned to others, leased or shared with others, on condition of the Ministry's approval and consistency with the Law.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يجوز التنازل عن الترخيص للغير، أو تأجيره، أو إشراك آخرين فيه بعد موافقة الوزارة وبما يتفق مع أحكام هذا النظام.
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 11 explained in plain English
This article deals with disposing of a license issued to carry out printed materials and publishing activities, and it allows three forms:
- Assigning the license to others.
- Leasing the license.
- Sharing it with others.
However, this permission is limited by two conditions that must both be met:
- The prior approval of the Ministry, which under Article 1 is the Ministry of Media. An agreement between the license holder and the other party is not enough.
- The disposition must be consistent with the provisions of this Law, so the person to whom the license is transferred, or who takes part in it, must not be in a position that violates the Law.
In practice this means: if the owner of a printing press, library or publishing house wants to sell or lease the business or bring in a partner, he must obtain the Ministry's approval before completing that. Any contract made on this matter should take this condition into account.
This article comes after Article 10 on the details to be recorded on a printed material, and before Article 12, which deals with the death of the license holder, requiring the heirs to notify the Ministry within two months of the death, and giving them the right to continue the activity after the Ministry's approval. Anyone who wants to draft an assignment or partnership contract can consult a lawyer who specializes in media and publishing law.
Practical example
The owner of a library in Medina wants to lease his library together with its license to another person. He may do so only after the approval of the Ministry of Media, and in a way consistent with the provisions of the Law of Printed Materials and Publication.
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 11 of the Saudi Publications Law
May a library license be sold or assigned?
Yes. A license may be assigned to others after the Ministry's approval and in a way consistent with the provisions of the Law.
Can a printing press license be leased?
Yes, provided the Ministry approves and this is consistent with the provisions of the Law.
Is an agreement between the two parties enough to bring a partner into a license?
No. The article requires the Ministry's approval.
More articles on Licensing Publication Activities
- Article 4
The article requires a license from the Ministry to carry out any activity in Article 2, without exempting anyone from other licenses, and refers its term and renewal to the Implementing Regulations.
1- لا يجوز مزاولة أي نشاط مما ذكر في المادة الثانية، إلا بترخيص من الوزارة، ولا يعفي هذا من الحصول على أي ترخيص توجبه الأنظمة الأخرى. 2- تحدد اللائحة التنفيذية
- Article 7
The article sets the license or renewal fee for the head office or a branch: SAR 2,000 for activities such as printing presses, publishing and advertising, and SAR 1,000 for activities such as libraries and photography.
يحدد مقدار رسم الترخيص أو تجديده، للمقر الرئيسي أو الفرع وفق الآتي : 1 - ألفا ريال (2.000) لكل من النشاطات الآتية: أ - المطابع. ب - خدمات الإعداد لما قبل الطباع
- Article 12
The article requires heirs to notify the Ministry of the license holder's death within two months, and gives them the right to continue the activity after the Ministry's approval and in line with the Law.
إذا توفي صاحب الترخيص، فإن على الورثة إشعار الوزارة بذلك خلال شهرين من تاريخ الوفاة، ولهم الحق في استمرار النشاط بعد موافقة الوزارة، وبما يتفق مع أحكام هذا النظ
- Article 47
The article requires everyone carrying on an activity governed by the Law to regularize their situation in accordance with its provisions within two years of its coming into force.
على من يمارس أي نشاط من النشاطات التي يحكمها هذا النظام أن يقوم بتصحيح أوضاعه طبقًا للأحكام الواردة فيه، وذلك خلال سنتين من تاريخ نفاذه.
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.