Article 15 of the Saudi Publications Law
المادة 15 من نظام المطبوعات والنشر
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 المسئولية على البائع.
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 15 explained in plain English
This article determines who bears responsibility for violations in a printed material that was printed or put into circulation without its approval. It sets a tiered order:
- The author, publisher and printer are responsible for violations in the printed material.
- If none of them can be identified, the distributor is responsible.
- Otherwise, responsibility falls on the seller.
The definitions in Article 1 explain these parties: the author is the person who prepares scientific, cultural or artistic material for circulation; the publisher is the person who undertakes to issue the work for circulation; the printer is the person responsible for the printing press, its owner or someone acting in his place; and the distributor is the intermediary between the author or publisher, the distribution points and the beneficiary.
The condition for this responsibility, under the text of the article, is that the printed material was printed or put into circulation without its approval. This article does not set the penalty; it determines who is responsible. Before it comes Article 14, which requires a register of printed materials to be kept and shown to the competent officials on request, and after it comes Article 16, under which the Ministry requires the author or publisher to submit deposit copies according to the Deposit Law.
In practice this means that everyone involved in producing or distributing a book should verify that it has been approved, because responsibility may pass to them. Anyone facing accountability because of a printed material can consult a lawyer who specializes in media and publishing law.
Practical example
A shop in Jeddah sells booklets printed without approval that contain violations, and neither their author, publisher, printer nor distributor can be identified. In this case responsibility falls on the seller, following the order set out in the article.
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 15 of the Saudi Publications Law
Who is responsible for a book printed without approval?
The author, publisher and printer; if none of them can be identified, the distributor; otherwise, the seller.
Is a bookseller held responsible for a book's violations?
Yes, if the author, publisher, printer and distributor cannot be identified, and the printed material was printed or put into circulation without its approval.
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 14
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.
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.
- 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.