A patent gives you an exclusive right to exploit an invention in the Kingdom for a set period, granted by the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP).
Requirements
| Requirement | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Novelty | Not publicly known anywhere before the filing date |
| Inventive step | Not obvious to a person skilled in the field |
| Industrial application | Can be made or used in practice |
Steps
- Prior-art search.
- Drafting: description, drawings and the claims, which define exactly what is protected.
- Filing with SAIP, which sets the priority date.
- Examination and replies to the examiner.
- Grant, then annual fees.
Protection lasts twenty years from filing as a rule, subject to fees. Check SAIP's current guide.
Mistakes that cost the patent
- Publishing before filing (exhibitions, articles, social media) can destroy novelty.
- Narrow or vague claims.
- Unclear ownership of employee inventions; settle it in the employment contract.
- Missing annual fees.
A patent protects the technical idea; a trademark protects the name. Read trademark registration.
Protecting an invention?
Usus Law Firm handles intellectual property: filings, oppositions, licences and infringement, in Riyadh and Tabuk, and advises in English.
This article is general legal information and is not a substitute for advice on your specific case. Court proceedings in Saudi Arabia are in Arabic; the official Arabic text of each law prevails.
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