Guidelines on Copyright Principles for AI-Related Works

The Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property has issued guidelines clarifying how copyright protection applies to works generated with artificial intelligence.

The guidelines confirm that fully autonomous AI outputs, created without human intervention, do not qualify for copyright protection, as originality under Saudi law is inseparable from human creativity. By contrast, AI-assisted works may be protected if they reflect sufficient human contribution, such as detailed prompting, iterative modifications, or editing.

The initiative also highlights alignment with approaches in the United States, European Union, Japan, and South Korea, where human authorship is regarded as indispensable. While not legally binding, the guidelines provide practical clarity for creators and businesses in Saudi Arabia and take the country’s place among jurisdictions actively shaping international policy on IP and artificial intelligence.