National filing in Saudi Arabia

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 law, which provides full protection for patents, layout designs of integrated circuits, plant varieties and industrial models in Saudi Arabia, was published in the Official Gazette No. 4004, dated August 6, 2004 and enforced on September 6, 2004.

The Implementing Regulations for the aforementioned law were issued as per an administrative decision on December 26, 2004 and enforced on the same date.

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.

Once an application for the grant of a patent is filed with the Patent Office, it will be examined with respect to the compliance of the application with the formalities. If executed satisfactorily, the application receives a filing number and the filing date is secured.

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 application shall relate to a single invention or to a group of integrated parts that form a single invention concept. The applicant, before the issuance of the grant decision, may divide the application into more than one, provided that none of them shall deviate from what was disclosed in the original application. The filing date of the original application and the priority date shall be deemed to be the filing date of the divisional applications.

A patent shall be protected for 20 years from the date of filing the application. A patent is subject to annuity due at the beginning of each year subsequent to the year in which the application was filed and payable within a period of 3 months (January 1st to March 31st).