Article 16 of the Saudi Trademarks Law
المادة 16 من نظام العلامات التجارية · الفصل الأول: إجراءات تسجيل العلامات التجارية
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 للاعتراض.
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 sets a simple rule for the end of the objection stage: if the period set for objection expires without any objection having been submitted to acceptance of the trademark registration application, the competent authority must register the mark immediately on expiry of that period.
The Article has three elements:
- The condition: The objection period expires without any objection being submitted.
- The obligation: Registration is mandatory for the competent authority, not discretionary in this case.
- The timing: Registration is immediately on expiry of the period, with no additional waiting.
If an objection is submitted during the period, this Article does not apply, and the objection is considered under Article 15, which requires the competent authority to decide it by a decision accepting or refusing registration, with an appeal to the competent court allowed within thirty days.
After registration, Article 17 provides that its effect goes back to the date of the application, that the owner obtains a certificate containing the mark's details, and that he acquires an exclusive right to use it and to prevent others from using it or a similar sign in the cases it specifies. This Article is therefore the link between the objection stage and the stage of enjoying protection.
Practical example
An accepted mark of a travel office in Abha was published, and the full objection period passed without anyone objecting. In this case the competent authority must register the mark immediately on expiry of the period, without any additional step by the office's owner that the text specifies.
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 Trademarks Law
When is a trademark registered after publication?
If the objection period expires without any objection being submitted, the competent authority must register the mark immediately on expiry of that period.
Can the competent authority delay registration if no one objects?
The text requires it to register immediately on expiry of the period set for objection if no objection was submitted.
What happens if an objection is submitted?
This Article does not apply, and the objection is decided under Article 15 by a decision accepting or refusing registration.
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 14
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.
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 التسج
- 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
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.