RIYADH: Saudi Authority for IntellectualProperty (SAIP) carried out an extensive inspection campaign to uncover   stores,  which   violate   intellectual   property   rights   (IPR), specifically the copyright protection system.

SAIP has warned against the promotion or sale of any products or any activities that violate intellectual property rights, and reiterated that it will be strictly imposing relevant penalties to ensure IPR protection,   especially   concerning   digital   and   paper   literary,   art products, and trademarks. The inspection follows several awareness campaigns, conducted by SAIP   in partnership with competent entities to raise awareness of intellectual property protection and penalties as per relevant laws and regulations.

Complementing SAIP’s ongoing efforts to protect intellectual property rights, the campaign resulted in uncovering some Riyadh-based   stores   involved   in   selling   devices,   constituting IPR infringement.

"The SAIP campaign is an extension of our periodic unscheduled inspection on public establishments and stores, which circulate or deal with products that violate intellectual property rights on any as part of its operations. We are determined to establish the principles of   respecting   intellectual   property   rights,   and   combating   the infringement of these rights in the Kingdom," said Yasser Al Dabbasi, Executive Director of the Intellectual  Property   Rights   Protection Department at SAIP.

"Cooperating with partners from the Kingdom's government and private sectors, SAIP is determined to monitor the activities of service providers and companies that involve intellectual property rights to ensure that the rights are honored, through ongoing awareness   campaigns   and   inspections   aimed   at   apprehending violators," added Al-Dabbasi.