Kathmandu— Chinese Premier Li Qiang has signed a State Council decree issuing a revised regulation on the protection of integrated circuit (IC) layout-designs, set to take effect on October 15. The update is designed to enhance legal protections and management systems for IC designs in response to the rapid development of semiconductor technology.

Enhanced Protection Measures

The revised regulation introduces stringent requirements for application procedures, mandating that submissions must be based on genuine creative activities without fraudulent practices. Applicants will need to provide a declaration of originality and clearly indicate the original parts in any copies or drawings submitted. The new rules also establish clear guidelines for rejecting non-compliant applications and revoking improperly registered designs.

Compensation and Enforcement

To address infringement issues, the regulation specifies that compensation will be determined based on actual losses or the infringer's profits. In cases where these figures are difficult to ascertain, a reasonable multiple of licensing fees will serve as the basis for compensation. Additionally, punitive damages will apply in instances of serious infringement. The regulation also mandates that relevant departments enhance public services and provide rewards and remuneration to eligible personnel who create layout-designs under their direction.

(With inputs from Xinhua)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.