Summary
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a member of the Universal Copyright Convention and the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works.
The copyright law in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was issued as per Royal Decree No. M/41 dated August 30, 2003 and published in the Official Gazette No. 3959 dated September 19, 2003.
Protection is granted to authors whose works of art are expressed in writing, sound, drawing, photography or motion pictures and computer software. The rights of the author are protected for his lifetime and for a period of 50 years after his death.
The protection shall cover all intellectual works whether they are literary, scientific or artistic of any type as far as the distribution of the same in Saudi Arabia is allowed.
However, any printed materials or computer programs can be distributed in Saudi Arabia only after receiving an approval from the Ministry of Information. For this purpose, a local distributor is essential. The distributor should obtain the necessary approval locally.
The law incorporates stringent penalties to be imposed on Intellectual Property infringers. These penalties include financial fines reaching up to 250.000 Saudi Riyals, closing the violating establishment, confiscation of all copies of the work and imprisonment for a period not exceeding 6 months.
Requirements
Computer software:
1. Three copies of the software.
2. A detailed explanation of the software with specification of its contents.
3. The name and identity of the programmer (a photocopy of his passport).
4. An undertaking that the program is not quoted, i.e. it is the programmer's own invention. If the opposite is proven, the application will be treated as canceled.
5. A Power of Attorney legalized up to the Consulate of Saudi Arabia.
6. A permission from the Ministry of Information allowing the circulation of the software.
Literary works and others:
1. Three copies of the work.
2. The name and identity of the author.
3. An undertaking that the work is not quoted, i.e. it is the author's own invention. If the opposite is proven, the application will be treated as canceled.
4. A Power of Attorney legalized up to the Consulate of Saudi Arabia.
5. A permission from the Ministry of Information allowing the distribution of the work.
