Article 14 of the Saudi Trademarks Law
المادة 14 من نظام العلامات التجارية · الفصل الأول: إجراءات تسجيل العلامات التجارية
The Article requires an accepted mark to be published before registration at the applicant's expense, allows a written objection within sixty days of publication, and requires the applicant to reply within sixty days or be considered to have waived.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- إذا قبلت الجهة المختصة العلامة التجارية، وجب عليها قبل تسجيلها أن تعلن عنها بوسيلة النشر التي تحددها اللائحة التنفيذية لهذا القانون (النظام) ويلزم طالب التسجيل بتكاليف الإشهار.
2 - لكل ذي شأن، خلال ستين يوما من تاريخ النشر، أن يقدم للجهة المختصة اعتراضا مكتوبا على تسجيل العلامة. وعلى الجهة المختصة أن تبلغ طالب التسجيل بصورة من الاعتراض خلال ثلاثين يوما من تاريخ تقديمه، وعلى طالب التسجيل أن يقدم للجهة المختصة ردا مكتوبا على الاعتراض خلال ستين يوما من تاريخ إبلاغه به، وإلا اعتبر متنازلًا عن طلب التسجيل.
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 governs the stage of publication and objection after a mark is accepted and before it is registered.
1. Publication: If the competent authority accepts the trademark, it must, before registering it, announce it by the means of publication specified by the Implementing Regulations, and the applicant bears the costs of publicity.
2. Objection and its deadlines:
- Every interested party may submit to the competent authority a written objection to the registration of the mark within sixty days of the date of publication.
- The competent authority must notify the applicant of a copy of the objection within thirty days of its submission.
- The applicant must submit a written reply to the objection within sixty days of being notified of it, otherwise he is considered to have waived the registration application.
This stage gives owners of existing marks and other interested parties a chance to prevent registration of a mark that harms them before it is registered. Mark owners are therefore well advised to follow the accepted marks that are published. The applicant, for his part, should take an objection seriously, because failing to reply on time costs him his application.
This stage comes after the examination and grievance stage governed by Article 13, and Article 15 then explains how the competent authority decides the objection after hearing both parties or one of them if necessary, and allows an appeal of its decision before the competent court within thirty days. To prepare an objection or a reply to one, you can consult a lawyer who specializes in commercial cases.
Practical example
A sweets company in Jeddah noticed the publication of a competitor's accepted mark resembling its registered mark. The company submitted a written objection to the competent authority within sixty days of publication, and the authority notified the applicant of a copy of it within thirty days. The applicant has sixty days from being notified to reply in writing, or he is considered to have waived his application.
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 Trademarks Law
What is the period for objecting to a trademark registration?
Sixty days from the date of publication of the accepted mark; the objection is in writing and is submitted to the competent authority.
Who pays the costs of publishing a trademark?
The applicant bears the costs of publicity.
How long do I have to reply to an objection?
The applicant must submit a written reply within sixty days of being notified of the objection, or he is considered to have waived the registration application.
Who may object to the registration of a mark?
The Article gives this right to every interested party.
More articles on Objecting to Trademark Registration
- Article 12
The Article allows the competent authority to impose restrictions and amendments on the mark, treats the applicant as having waived if he does not reply within ninety days, and requires written reasons for refusal and a decision on a complete application within ninety days.
1 - يجوز للجهة المختصة أن تفرض ما تراه لازما من القيود والتعديلات لتحديد العلامة التجارية وتوضيحها على وجه يمنع التباسها بعلامة أخرى سبق تسجيلها أو سبق إيداع طل
- Article 13
The Article allows a grievance against a decision refusing registration or making it conditional, within sixty days before a committee set by the Regulations, then an appeal to the competent court within sixty days, or the applicant is considered to have waived.
1- يجوز لطالب التسجيل أو من ينيبه التظلم من قرار الجهة المختصة برفض التسجيل أو تعليقه على شرط، خلال ستين يوما من تاريخ إبلاغه به، أمام لجنة تحددها اللائحة التنف
- Article 15
The Article requires the competent authority to decide the objection by accepting or refusing registration, allows an appeal to the competent court within thirty days, and provides that appealing an acceptance does not stay registration unless the court decides.
1- تفصل الجهة المختصة في الاعتراض المحال إليها، بعد الاستماع إلى المعترض وطالب التسجيل أو إلى أحدهما، إذا اقتضى الأمر. 2 - تصدر الجهة المختصة قرارا بقبول التسجي
- Article 16
The Article requires the competent authority to register the trademark immediately on expiry of the objection period if no objection to acceptance of its registration application was submitted.
إذا انقضت المدة المحددة للاعتراض دون تقديم أي اعتراض بشأن قبول طلب تسجيل العلامة التجارية، وجب على الجهة المختصة تسجيل العلامة التجارية فور انقضاء المدة المحددة
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.