Non Commercial Use License Template for Saudi Arabia

A Non Commercial Use License is a legal agreement that grants permission to use copyrighted or protected intellectual property for educational, research, or personal purposes while prohibiting any commercial exploitation. Under Saudi Arabian law, this type of license must comply with the Saudi Copyright Law and Patent regulations while respecting Islamic legal principles that govern contractual relationships in the Kingdom.

When do you need this document?

You need a Non Commercial Use License when sharing software, educational materials, research data, or creative works that you want others to use freely for non-profit purposes. Academic researchers use these licenses to share datasets with other institutions, software developers offer free versions of their products to educational organizations, and content creators allow their work to be used in classrooms or research projects. Government entities and cultural institutions also rely on these licenses when making archives or educational resources publicly available while maintaining control over commercial rights.

Key legal considerations

The license must clearly define what constitutes "non-commercial use" under Saudi law, as commercial activities are strictly regulated and subject to different intellectual property protections. You must specify attribution requirements, ensuring proper credit is given to the original creator in accordance with moral rights provisions under Saudi Copyright Law. The agreement should include termination clauses that allow you to revoke the license if terms are violated, and limitation of liability provisions to protect against misuse. Consider including provisions for derivative works, geographic restrictions, and whether sublicensing is permitted, as these aspects significantly impact your retained rights under Saudi intellectual property regulations.

Legal requirements in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabian law requires that licensing agreements comply with both the Saudi Copyright Law (Royal Decree No. M/41 of 2003) and the Law of Patents, Layout Designs of Integrated Circuits, Plant Varieties, and Industrial Designs (Royal Decree No. M/27 of 2004). The license must respect Islamic legal principles, including prohibitions on gharar (excessive uncertainty) and ensuring clear, unambiguous terms. If the license involves electronic materials or digital signatures, it must comply with the Electronic Transactions Law (Royal Decree No. M/18 of 2007). The agreement should be written in Arabic or include an Arabic translation for enforceability in Saudi courts, and any personal data collection or processing must comply with the Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL) issued in 2021. Additionally, the license should include provisions that prevent commercial fraud and misrepresentation as outlined in the Anti-Commercial Fraud Law.