No, piracy of movies is illegal in Saudi Arabia under the Anti-Cyber Crime Law (Royal Decree M/17, 2007) and the Copyright Law (Royal Decree M/41, 2019), enforced by the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP). Violations carry penalties including fines up to SAR 500,000 and imprisonment for up to 12 months, with stricter measures anticipated under the 2026 National Anti-Piracy Strategy.
Key Regulations for Pirating Movies in Saudi Arabia
- Copyright Law (2019): Prohibits unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or streaming of copyrighted films, aligning with the Berne Convention and WIPO treaties. SAIP monitors compliance and issues takedown notices.
- Anti-Cyber Crime Law (2007): Criminalizes digital piracy, including torrenting and unauthorized uploads, with penalties escalating for repeat offenders or large-scale operations.
- National Anti-Piracy Strategy (2026): Expands enforcement via ISP blocking, AI-driven content detection, and collaboration with platforms like Netflix and OSN to curb illicit streaming.
SAIP’s 2023 crackdown on 1,200 piracy websites demonstrates heightened enforcement, while the 2024 amendments to the Copyright Law introduced harsher penalties for commercial piracy. Public awareness campaigns, such as “Safe Streaming,” further emphasize legal alternatives like Shahid VIP and OSN+ to mitigate infringement risks.