Summary
Saudi Arabia is a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Patent Office. It is a regional office for the GCC, which comprises the United Arab Emirates, Kingdom of Bahrain, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Sultanate of Oman, State of Qatar and State of Kuwait. Certificates of patents granted by the Office secure legal protection of the inventor's rights in all member states.
Patents in Saudi Arabia are governed by Patents, Layout Designs of Integrated Circuits, Plant Varieties and Industrial Models Law which was issued, as per Royal Decree No. M/27 on July 17, 2004.
The Directorate of Patents at King Abdul-Aziz City of Science and Technology is deemed as the "Patent Office" and has the authority to grant patents in the country.
The definition of an invention includes any new article, method of manufacture, or improvement in either of them. Product patents are also protected. Absolute universal novelty is stipulated by the patent law. An invention is new only if it is not anticipated by the prior art, which covers anything disclosed to the public anywhere and at any time, by means of a written or oral disclosure, by use, or in any other way before the relevant filing date or priority date.
A patent shall be protected for 20 years from the date of filing the application.
The Patent Office may grant a compulsory license for exploiting the patent to any person upon application filed thereof, provided that the patentee has not exploited or sufficiently exploited the invention covered by the patent within 4 years from the application filing date or 3 years from the grant date unless he justifies that with a legitimate excuse.
Requirements
1. A Power of Attorney executed in the name of the applicant duly notarized and legalized up to the Saudi Consulate.
2. A notarized and legalized deed of assignment, if any, executed by the inventor(s), assigning the patent rights to the applicant.
3. Two copies of the specification in English and Arabic prepared strictly in the following order:
- The abstract (not exceeding one page);
- Background of the invention;
- Summary description of the invention;
- Brief description of the drawings, if any;
- Full description of the invention;
- Claims.
4. General Information Required:
a. Name and address of the inventor;
b. A list of the home and/or foreign applications stating:
- Country of filing;
- Application number(s) and filing date(s);
- Publication number and date (if any);
- Class of the patent in accordance with the International Classification (if known).
