A new frontier: IP in Saudi Arabia
01-11-2013
Since the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia acceded to the World Trade Organization, it has been one of the most effective jurisdictions in policing counterfeits, says Khalil Aljehani.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), by acceding to the World Trade Organization (WTO) on December 12, 2005, became obliged to implement the WTO agreements, such as the agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), particularly in relation to border protection of IP rights as specified in Articles 51 to 60 of the agreement.
In fulfilling its obligations towards the WTO, the KSA has issued Regulations for Border Protection of IP Rights ‘Trademarks & Copyrights‘ (RBPIPR), that conform to the TRIPS Agreement pursuant to the Minister of Finance Order No. 1227 dated 2005. The regulations make it imperative on the customs department to implement the order at border checkpoints to stop commodities and goods that infringe trademarks and copyright from entering the country.
It is to be noted that TRIPS obliges members of the WTO to provide the minimum protection of rights as regards trademarks and copyright.
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counterfeit, Saudi Arabia, KSA, WTO TRIPS,