Article 42 of the Saudi Publications Law
المادة 42 من نظام المطبوعات والنشر
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 ذلك بمن تراه من غير المتفرغين من خارجها.
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 42 explained in plain English
This article concerns who undertakes approving scientific and intellectual works within the Ministry, and sets an obligation and a power:
The obligation: the Ministry must assign to this task those who are qualified for it, that is:
- Those with competence and specialization.
- Those familiar with the laws.
- Those familiar with publishing instructions.
The power: the Ministry may use for this those it sees fit of non-full-time people from outside it.
The apparent purpose of this article is that approval decisions are based on a specialized understanding of the work submitted, not on an unqualified assessment, and that the Ministry can benefit from outside expertise when needed. The article does not specify the method of selection or the number of those assigned.
This article comes after Article 41, which requires the Ministry, if it approved a printed material and something later arose that requires withdrawing it, to compensate the interested party for the cost value of the withdrawn copies. After it comes Article 43, under which the Ministry, in coordination with the relevant bodies, sets the rules governing book fairs held by private publishing and distribution houses and supervises them.
Under Article 1, the Ministry is the Ministry of Media. Anyone with comments on a decision approving their work 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 42 of the Saudi Publications Law
Who approves scientific and intellectual books?
The Ministry assigns those who are qualified, with competence, specialization and familiarity with the laws and publishing instructions.
Can the Ministry use experts from outside it to approve books?
Yes. It may use those it sees fit of non-full-time people from outside it.
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 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.
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.