Article 16 of the Saudi Publications Law
المادة 16 من نظام المطبوعات والنشر
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تكلف الوزارة المؤلف أو الناشر أن يقدم وفق نظام الإيداع، النسخ المطلوبة منه للإيداع، مما يطبع داخل المملكة.
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 16 explained in plain English
This article concerns the deposit of printed materials, and provides that the Ministry requires the author or publisher to submit the copies required for deposit, and that this is done:
- According to the Deposit Law, meaning that the number of copies and the deposit procedures are governed by the provisions of the Deposit Law, not by this article.
- For what is printed inside the Kingdom.
The person required to deposit, under the text of the article, is the author or publisher. Under Article 1, the author is a person who prepares scientific, cultural or artistic material for circulation, and the publisher is a person who undertakes to issue any scientific, cultural or artistic work for circulation.
The article does not state the number of copies, the body with which they are deposited or the deposit deadlines; these details are in the Deposit Law. Deposit is a different procedure from approval: approval is the Ministry's consent to the printed material before printing or circulation, whereas deposit is the submission of copies of what has been printed.
This article comes after Article 15, which determines who is responsible for violations in a printed material printed or put into circulation without approval, and before Article 17 on adding publicity and advertising to films and tapes. Anyone who needs to know the deposit requirements for their work can refer to the Deposit Law or 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 16 of the Saudi Publications Law
Who is required to deposit copies of a book?
The author or publisher, as required by the Ministry, according to the Deposit Law.
How many deposit copies are required?
The article does not specify the number; it refers to the Deposit Law.
Does deposit cover books printed outside the Kingdom?
This article speaks of what is printed inside the Kingdom.
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 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 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.