Saudi Arabia, WIPO sign agreement to publish IP judicial rulings
11 December 2025
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Justice and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) have signed a landmark memorandum of understanding (MOU) to advance transparency and strengthen the global intellectual property ecosystem.
The agreement was formalized during a meeting between Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Justice Walid Al-Samaani and WIPO Director General Daren Tang at the organization’s headquarters in Geneva.
During the meeting, Al-Samaani highlighted the rapid development of Saudi Arabia’s judicial sector, crediting the support of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and the guidance of Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
The new cooperation framework focuses on one key initiative: publishing IP judicial rulings to make them publicly accessible.
Jehad Ali Hasan | CEO @ JAH Intellectual Property, Doha
According to Jehad Ali Hasan, CEO of JAH Intellectual Property in Doha, the agreement marks a direct step toward increased openness in the legal system.
“This agreement directly boosts transparency by making ruling decisions open to the public,” he said. “The initiative is a commitment to cooperation in publishing intellectual property judicial rulings. The public availability of these rulings allows legal practitioners and rights holders worldwide to understand how specialized IP legislation is being interpreted by the courts.”
He added: “By sharing this judicial information, the system itself becomes more predictable and accountable, which aligns with the goal of facilitating knowledge exchange and enhancing judicial practice at both the national and international levels. The act of publishing these decisions serves as the necessary mechanism to enhance legal clarity and foster an open, reliable enforcement environment.”
Officials also emphasized that the MOU’s long-term impact will extend far beyond data publication. Mohcine Fattah, an IP senior director at the same firm, noted the broader implications for judicial advancement and economic competitiveness.
“We anticipate the main future results will be the tangible benefits derived from the stated goals of the initiative: enhanced judicial practice and facilitated knowledge exchange,” he said. “By systematically publishing IP judicial rulings, the agreement will contribute to the ongoing efforts to strengthen and advance Saudi Arabia’s judicial sector. For the legal community, both inside and outside the kingdom, this creates a crucial body of public case law, which will lead to a more consistent and sophisticated application of specialized IP legislation over time.”
“Ultimately, a clearer, more predictable, and globally integrated IP enforcement system is a powerful driver for attracting foreign investment and stimulating innovation, directly supporting the kingdom’s economic transformation goals,” he said.
The MOU signifies a strategic step in aligning Saudi Arabia’s judicial framework with international best practices, reinforcing the kingdom’s commitment to transparency, legal clarity, and global cooperation in the rapidly evolving field of intellectual property.
- Excel V. Dyquiangco
Law firms
