Article 37 of the Saudi Trademarks Law
المادة 37 من نظام العلامات التجارية · الباب الرابع: العلامات الجماعية وعلامات المراقبة وعلامات الهيئات ذات النفع العام والمؤسسات المهنية
The Article allows geographical indications to be a certification or collective mark, and refers to the Implementing Regulations the conditions for registering the marks in Articles 34, 35 and 36.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1 - يجوز أن تشكل الإشارات، التي يمكن استعمالها في سياق التجارة كمؤشرات جغرافية، علامة مصادقة أو علامة جماعية.
2 - تحدد اللائحة التنفيذية الشروط والقواعد الخاصة بتسجيل العلامات المنصوص عليها في المواد (34) و(35) و(36) من هذا القانون (النظام) والمستندات التي يتعين تقديمها لغرض التسجيل، وسائر الأمور التنظيمية المتعلقة بها، ويترتب على تسجيل أي من تلك العلامات جميع الآثار المنصوص عليها في هذا القانون (النظام).
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 37 explained in plain English
This Article contains two provisions:
First: geographical indications. Signs that can be used in trade as geographical indications, that is, those that link a product to a particular place, may constitute a certification mark or a collective mark. The collective mark is governed by Article 34, and is used by the members of an entity with legal personality under conditions set by the entity and approved by the competent authority. The Article does not define a "certification mark".
Second: reference to the Implementing Regulations. The Implementing Regulations, issued by the Commercial Cooperation Committee, specify the conditions and rules for registering collective marks (Article 34), control marks (Article 35), and marks for non-commercial purposes such as the emblems of public-benefit bodies and professional institutions (Article 36), the documents required and other organizational matters. The Article does not give the details of these conditions.
The Article confirms that registering any of these marks has all the effects set out in the Law, so they enjoy the same protection provided for registered marks. To learn whether the name of a particular region can be protected, you can consult a lawyer who specializes in trademarks and commercial cases.
Practical example
An association of coffee producers in a mountainous region in the south of the Kingdom wanted to protect the name of the region by which its coffee is known. This geographical indication may be registered as a collective mark used by the association's members, under the conditions and documents specified by the Implementing Regulations.
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 37 of the Saudi Trademarks Law
Can a geographical indication be registered as a trademark?
Signs used in trade as geographical indications may constitute a certification mark or a collective mark.
Where do I find the conditions for registering a collective mark and a control mark?
The Article refers to the Implementing Regulations the specification of the conditions and rules for registering these marks and the documents required.
Does a collective mark enjoy the same protection as a trademark?
Yes. Registering the marks provided for in Articles 34, 35 and 36 has all the effects set out in the Law.
Articles this article refers to
- Article 34
The Article allows registering collective marks used by the members of an entity with legal personality, and governs the application, the conditions of use and the cases of cancellation by court order.
1 - يجوز تسجيل العلامات الجماعية التي تستخدم لتمييز سلع أو خدمات منشآت تعود لأعضاء ينتمون إلى كيان معين يتمتع بشخصية قانونية. ويقدم طلب تسجيل العلامة الجماعية م
- Article 35
The Article allows legal persons who control or inspect goods or services to register a mark indicating the control or inspection, with the approval of the competent authority.
1- يجوز للأشخاص الاعتباريين الذين يتولون مراقبة أو فحص بعض السلع أو الخدمات من حيث مصدرها أو عناصر تركيبها أو طريقة صنعها أو جودتها أو ذاتيها أو أية خاصية أخرى
- Article 36
The Article allows registering marks for non-commercial purposes, such as the emblems of public-benefit bodies or the insignia of professional institutions and their correspondence.
يجوز تسجيل علامة لغايات غير تجارية، كالشعارات التي تتخذها الهيئات ذات النفع العام أو التي تستعملها المؤسسات المهنية لتمييز مراسلاتها أو لتكون بمثابة شارات لأعضا
More articles on Collective and Certification Marks
- Article 34
The Article allows registering collective marks used by the members of an entity with legal personality, and governs the application, the conditions of use and the cases of cancellation by court order.
1 - يجوز تسجيل العلامات الجماعية التي تستخدم لتمييز سلع أو خدمات منشآت تعود لأعضاء ينتمون إلى كيان معين يتمتع بشخصية قانونية. ويقدم طلب تسجيل العلامة الجماعية م
- Article 35
The Article allows legal persons who control or inspect goods or services to register a mark indicating the control or inspection, with the approval of the competent authority.
1- يجوز للأشخاص الاعتباريين الذين يتولون مراقبة أو فحص بعض السلع أو الخدمات من حيث مصدرها أو عناصر تركيبها أو طريقة صنعها أو جودتها أو ذاتيها أو أية خاصية أخرى
- Article 36
The Article allows registering marks for non-commercial purposes, such as the emblems of public-benefit bodies or the insignia of professional institutions and their correspondence.
يجوز تسجيل علامة لغايات غير تجارية، كالشعارات التي تتخذها الهيئات ذات النفع العام أو التي تستعملها المؤسسات المهنية لتمييز مراسلاتها أو لتكون بمثابة شارات لأعضا
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.