The Saudi Intellectual Property Authority (SIPO) was established by Ministerial Decree No. 410 dated 28/6/1438 AH, In 2017, following the approval of the Saudi Council of Ministers to establish the Saudi Intellectual Property Authority, which is one of the initiatives of the Ministry of Commerce and Investment within the National Transformation Program 2020, which is based on the Kingdom's Vision 2030 and its support for scientific and knowledge development in all sectors.
It is a government organization affiliated to the Ministry of Commerce and Investment and a Saudi authority for the protection and regulation of intellectual property fields. It was established in order to organize work and unify efforts after the intellectual property rights in the Kingdom were distributed among more than one party, namely the Ministry of Trade and Investment (Trademarks), the Ministry of Culture and Information (Copyright and Related Rights), and King Abdulaziz City Of Science and Technology "(Patents). The establishment of the Commission is the largest regulation of intellectual property rights by creating a reference that charts future directions that increase the protection of intellectual property rights and contribute to raising confidence in them.
The Board of Directors of the Saudi Intellectual Property Authority (SIPA) is chaired by the Minister of Commerce and Investment, Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi, and includes the representatives of the Ministry of Culture and Information, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Economy and Planning, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology And the General Authority for Food and Drug, the General Authority for Customs, in addition to the membership of representatives of the private sector.
The Saudi Intellectual Property Authority (SIPA) aims to improve the business environment and support the knowledge economy, allow for the creativity and innovations of Saudi youth, in addition to raising the level of the Kingdom in the Global Innovation Index, enhancing the business of small and medium enterprises, and harnessing the financial returns to develop intellectual property protection services.
In addition, it aims to regulate, support, develop, nurture, respect, enforce and promote intellectual property in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in accordance with international best practices. The vision of the Saudi Intellectual Property Authority (SIPA) is to be an integrated intellectual property authority with a global reputation and a key intellectual property hub in the MENA region.
Clear interest in the cultural sector has been noted, and this comes under the empowerment and encouragement of authors to ensure their intellectual and legal rights. It is well known that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is seeking a fast and clear pace towards global leadership in all areas of development. President of the Assembly of the International Union for the Protection of Industrial Property (Paris Convention),
an association administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), for two years. The Paris Convention is very important for the protection of industrial property internationally. Theft and use of inventions and trademarks in countries not subject to property protection laws. He pointed out that the Convention includes patents, trademarks, industrial designs, utility models, service marks, trade names, geographical indications and the fight against unfair competition. The importance of the Convention is evident when we recognize that IP-based industries employ more than 30% and account for more than 35% of GDP in the United States and the former European Union, and WIPO has been able to promote the integration of IP and competition policies.
Accordingly, the nomination for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was accepted at the General Assembly of the World Intellectual Property Organization to be the President of the Assembly of the International Union for the Protection of Industrial Property (Paris Convention) for a period of two years represented by HE the CEO of the Saudi Intellectual Property Authority. Abdulaziz Al-Swailem for the post of President of the International Union for the Protection of Industrial Property (Paris Union). The association is one of the 175 member states administered by the organization. The association's program and budget for the federation are for a two-year period.
The other nomination was accepted for the Kingdom to be the Vice-President of the PCT Union Assembly, also represented by the Executive Chairman of the Saudi Intellectual Property Authority.
Dr. Al-Swailem for the post of Vice-President of the PCT Union Assembly. The association is one of the 152 administrations run by the Organization. The most important tasks of the Assembly are to consider and approve the reports and activities of the Director-General of the Organization concerning the Union, and to provide the Director-General with all necessary guidance on matters within the competence of the Union; approve its three-year budget; The Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) was concluded in 1970 and the Kingdom acceded to it in 2014. All nominations were accepted during the opening session of the General Assembly of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) held from September 30 to October 9, 2019.
In Geneva, the Saudi Intellectual Property Authority (SIPA) signed a memorandum of cooperation with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to establish a training center in the field of intellectual property, which will be the national institution charged with implementing the project to build capacity and facilitate the use of intellectual property for development.
The Authority was represented by the Chief Executive Officer of the Saudi Intellectual Property Authority, Dr. Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Al-Suwailem, and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), which was represented by the Director-General, Mr. Francis Gurry. The Center will raise awareness of intellectual property rights in the region.
The purpose of this memorandum is to assist in the preparation of training program curricula and to use the services of specialized WIPO experts with a broad background in IP education and knowledge of local needs, as well as coordination between the Commission and WIPO to provide necessary assistance to ensure the implementation of the project. The project targets various categories of different specialties including lawyers, judges, agents, researchers, examiners, innovators and creative students interested in the fields of intellectual property.
Last November, the Saudi Law Conference was held in its second session and it was attended by a group of lawyers, jurists, arbitrators, and legal specialists. During one of the panel discussions, Dr. Abdul Aziz Al-Suwailem, CEO of the Saudi Intellectual Property Authority (SIPA) presented the most important achievements of the Intellectual Property Authority (IPA) and how we can value those achievements. Al-Suwailem confirmed that the Saudi Commission for Intellectual Property is working to improve its legislation and always play a central role among the rights holders and beneficiaries and that this will create an attractive market.
Intellectual property protection is a form of encouraging foreign investment in Saudi Arabia
Making the right investments is important in enhancing the value of SMEs in local and global markets. Investing in inventions, equipment, property, ownership, software development, marketing, and research will greatly help the company's financial position by expanding its asset base and raising its productivity in the future. A similar effect can be achieved through the acquisition of intellectual property.
Because the markets are evaluating companies based on their assets, current business transactions and expected future profits.
The expected profits in the future can be greatly influenced by the acquisition of key and key patents. There are several examples of SMEs that have seen their market value increase day and night thanks to the acquisition of important patents in key technological areas.
Good brands with a good reputation and well-known to consumers help to enhance the value of the company and may play a major role in making the company's products and services more attractive to the consumer.
The smart investment right now is to build a strong portfolio of intellectual property, not to be a defensive measure against potential competitors, but rather as a way to increase the company's value in the market and improve the profitability of the future.
Therefore, the Saudi Intellectual Property Authority has a strategy that takes into account the best international practices of intellectual property to be possible to protect competitiveness in the Kingdom and contribute to the upgrading of the national economy to the largest and most powerful economies in the world. They are based on the following topics: Modernization of IP systems and implementing regulations, Provision of high quality and efficient IP products and services, Raising awareness of intellectual property rights, Guiding the IP system in the Kingdom, Providing and enhancing the use of IP information, Cooperation with IP enforcement agencies Cooperation with intellectual property organizations, representing the Kingdom and defending its interests.
Taghreed Almashari
Bachelor of Public Law, Diploma in Business Administration, Higher Diploma in Intellectual Property and E-Law from UCC University, Cork, Ireland
At the beginning of my career, I worked in local Saudi law firms and then moved to complete graduate studies in Ireland from there I worked with a law firm specialized in international commercial arbitration (Aceris Law).
I currently work as a Senior Legal Specialist in a military facility, with an interest in intellectual property and electronic law, corporate law, international trade law, arbitration, international law, and international humanitarian law.