Article 14 of the Saudi Publications Law
المادة 14 من نظام المطبوعات والنشر
The article requires a printing press to keep a register of the printed materials printed there, to be shown to the competent officials on request, and lets the Ministry exempt some printed materials in the Regulations.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
على كل مطبوعة أن تحتفظ بسجل للمطبوعات التي تطبع فيها يبرز للمختصين عند الطلب، وللوزارة في اللائحة التنفيذية أن تستثني من شرط التسجيل ما تراه من مطبوعات.
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 14 explained in plain English
This article imposes a regulatory obligation concerning documenting what is printed. The wording of the article says "every printed material", and the context indicates that what is meant is the establishment where printed materials are printed, that is, the printing press, which Article 1 defines as any establishment equipped to print words, sounds, drawings or pictures for the purpose of circulating them.
The provision includes the following:
- Keeping a register of the printed materials printed there.
- Showing the register to the competent officials on request, so the register must be ready for inspection.
- The exemption: the Ministry may exempt from the registration requirement the printed materials it sees fit, and this is done in the Implementing Regulations.
The article does not specify the contents or form of the register, or how long it must be kept, or which printed materials are exempt; these are matters to be found in the Implementing Regulations.
This provision complements Article 13, which requires the Ministry's approval of a printed material before it is printed or circulated, since the register helps verify what has been printed. It is also linked to Article 15, which makes the author, publisher and printer responsible for violations in a printed material if it is printed or put into circulation without approval; under Article 1, the printer is the person responsible for the printing press. Anyone who runs a printing press and needs to know their obligations in detail can consult a lawyer who specializes in media and publishing law.
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 14 of the Saudi Publications Law
Must a printing press keep a register of what it prints?
Yes, and it must show it to the competent officials on request. Some printed materials may be exempted in the Implementing Regulations.
Who decides which printed materials are exempt from registration?
The Ministry may exempt the printed materials it sees fit, in the Implementing Regulations.
More articles on Approving Domestic Printed Materials
- Article 6
The article allows government bodies, educational and research institutions, scientific societies, literary clubs and private press institutions to issue non-periodical publications within their field and under their responsibility.
للجهات الحكومية، والمؤسسات التعليمية والبحثية، والجمعيات العلمية، والأندية الأدبية والثقافية، والمؤسسات الصحفية الأهلية إصدار مطبوعات غير دورية في مجال اختصاصها
- Article 10
The article requires the necessary details to be recorded on every printed material printed inside the Kingdom, as set by the Implementing Regulations.
يجب أن تدون على كل مطبوعة تطبع داخل المملكة البيانات الورقية الضرورية بحسب ما تقرره اللائحة التنفيذية.
- Article 13
The article requires two copies of a printed material to be submitted to the Ministry for approval before printing or circulation, and requires the Ministry to decide, with reasons, within 30 days, with a right to file a grievance.
على كل مؤلف أو ناشر أو طابع أو موزع يرغب في طباعة أي مطبوعة أو توزيعها أن يقدم نسختين منها إلى الوزارة لإجازتها قبل طبعها أو عرضها للتداول، وعلى الوزارة إجازة ا
- Article 15
The article makes the author, publisher and printer responsible for violations in a printed material printed or circulated without approval, then the distributor if they cannot be identified, then the seller.
المؤلف و الناشر و الطابع مسئولون عما يرد في المطبوعة من مخالفات إذا طبعت أو وضعت للتداول دون إجازتها، فإذا تعذرت معرفة أي منهم أصبح الموزع هو المسئول، وإلا فتقع
- Article 16
The article provides that the Ministry requires the author or publisher to submit the copies required for deposit of what is printed inside the Kingdom, according to the Deposit Law.
تكلف الوزارة المؤلف أو الناشر أن يقدم وفق نظام الإيداع، النسخ المطلوبة منه للإيداع، مما يطبع داخل المملكة.
- Article 42
The article requires the Ministry to assign qualified people with competence, specialization and familiarity with the laws to approve scientific and intellectual works, and allows it to use non-full-time people from outside.
على الوزارة أن تكلف لإجازة الأعمال العلمية والفكرية، من تتوافر فيهم الأهلية لذلك من ذوي الكفاية والتخصص، والإلمام بالأنظمة، وتعليمات النشر، ولها أن تستعين في ذل
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.