Trademark Registration
Introduction
What is the first product that comes to mind as soon as you see the apple logo? Ever since Rob Janoff designed the Apple logo, its brand has become the most valuable brand in the world, according to statistics. Moreover, Amazon, Google, and other companies with the highest market value in the world have adopted a "brand strategy," which is to build a relationship of loyalty with their consumers. In the Kingdom, with the growing awareness of the importance of trademark registration, the number of registered trademarks has reached 8,065.
History
Nov 2024
The sector
Businesses and Communication

Trademarks are considered a part of commercial property, and they consist of a specific shape, drawing, words, or any sign carrying a special character that enables consumers to distinguish them from others. In the Kingdom, the Trademark Law issued in 2002 stipulated that the trademark to be registered must be distinctive, meaning it must have a distinguishing mark that provides the legitimacy for registration according to the text of Article (2/A) of the Trademark Law: (The signs, logos, flags, and other items listed below shall not be considered or registered as a trademark: A - Signs devoid of any distinctive character, or which consist of descriptions of the characteristics of products or services, or are merely ordinary names given by custom to products or services. It is also stipulated that the trademark must be new, meaning that it has not been registered before, and that it must be lawful, so it does not contain anything that violates the law, regulations, and public morals in the Kingdom. The importance of registering an establishment's or enterprise's trademark is represented in several points. First, the acceptance of registration grants it the exclusive right to use the logo within the geographical scope specified in the registration. Registration also grants the trademark protection from imitation or exploitation, giving the trademark owner the right to sue anyone who infringes on their trademark. Furthermore, the acceptance of registration grants the owner the right to license any natural or legal person to use the trademark during the protection period. To discuss how to register a trademark, the application can be submitted manually through the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property or electronically through the link here, following the steps to issue a registration certificate which grants protection for ten years, renewable. When submitting the application, it is usually reviewed and examined for a period of 7 days. Acceptance of registration may be rejected for several reasons, including the trademark being devoid of any distinctive character, violating a religious text, regulation, or public morals in the Kingdom, containing pictures or names of other people without obtaining their consent, or using logos or badges belonging to the Kingdom. The law also mentioned several terms whose presence prohibits the registration of the trademark, and finally, registering trademarks similar to famous trademarks is prohibited, even if they are not registered in the Kingdom.
In conclusion, a trademark is the foundation for building a relationship of trust and loyalty among consumers toward a product. The path to protecting it from infringement and imitation does not stop at registration, as legal services allow the registrant to prosecute violators, follow up, file objections against the registration advertisements of imitative and similar trademarks, and submit the necessary compensation claims.