Trademarks Law in Saudi Arabia
Here’s a detailed overview of Trademark Law in Saudi Arabia:
🇸🇦 Trademark Law in Saudi Arabia
Trademark protection in Saudi Arabia is governed by:
Saudi Trademark Law (Royal Decree No. M/17 dated 2019) – the latest comprehensive trademark legislation.
Administered by the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP).
Saudi Arabia is a member of international treaties such as the Paris Convention, Madrid Protocol, and the TRIPS Agreement.
Key Features:
1. Definition of a Trademark
A trademark is any visible sign capable of distinguishing goods or services of one business from another.
Includes words, logos, letters, numbers, shapes, colors, sounds, or a combination of these.
2. Registration Process
Applications must be filed with SAIP.
Must specify the class(es) of goods or services according to the Nice Classification.
SAIP conducts a formal and substantive examination, including distinctiveness and conflict checks.
If accepted, the application is published for opposition for 90 days.
If no opposition or opposition is rejected, the mark is registered.
3. Term and Renewal
Registration is valid for 10 years from the filing date.
Renewable indefinitely for subsequent 10-year periods.
Renewal must be filed within the last 6 months before expiration or within 6 months after expiration with a surcharge.
4. Rights Conferred
Exclusive right to use the trademark on the registered goods/services in Saudi Arabia.
Right to prevent unauthorized use, import, or sale of infringing goods.
Right to license, assign, or pledge the trademark.
5. Grounds for Refusal
Lack of distinctiveness or descriptiveness.
Marks that are misleading, contrary to public order or Islamic principles.
Similarity to earlier registered marks causing confusion.
Generic terms or marks that denote quality or characteristics of goods/services.
6. Infringement and Enforcement
Trademark infringement includes unauthorized use causing confusion or dilution.
Remedies include injunctions, damages, seizure/destruction of infringing goods.
Criminal penalties and fines apply to counterfeiting.
SAIP works closely with customs to prevent import/export of counterfeit goods.
7. International Treaties
Saudi Arabia is a member of:
Paris Convention
Madrid Protocol (joined in 2015)
TRIPS Agreement
This enables international trademark protection and filing through WIPO.
Additional Notes:
Saudi Arabia has significantly modernized its IP laws to attract foreign investment.
Online filing and management of trademarks are available through SAIP’s official portal.
Local legal representation is recommended for foreign applicants.
RELATED Blog
0 comments