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TITLE IV. LAYOUT DESIGNS FOR INTEGRATED CIRCUITS
Chapter 1. Layout designs for integrated circuits accepted for registration
Section 1. Registration
Article 219: To be accepted for registration, a layout design must be original. A layout design
shall be considered original if it is the fruit of the intellectual effort of its creator
and if, at the time of its creation, it is not common for creators of layout designs
and manufacturers of integrated circuits.
Article 220: Registration of the layout design may only be requested if it has not yet been
commercially exploited or if it has been commercially exploited for a maximum
of two years, anywhere in the world.
Section 2. Rights to layout designs for integrated circuits
Article 221: The right to protection for the layout design shall belong to the creator of the
design. It may be transferred inter vivos or bequeathed. In the event that several
persons have jointly created a layout design, the right shall belong to them
jointly.
For the purposes of this Part, owner shall mean the natural person or legal entity
considered to be the beneficiary of the protection within the meaning of this
Article.
Article 222: Protection under this part may be obtained for layout designs for integrated
circuits if they are original as defined by Article 219.
Article 223: A layout design consisting of a combination of elements and interconnections
which are routine shall only be protected if the combination, taken as a whole, is
original within the meaning of Article 219.
Chapter II. Applications for registration
Section 1. Filing of applications
Article 224: Applications for registration of layout designs must be filed in writing with the
Industrial Property Director. A separate application must be filed for each layout
design.
Article 225: Applications must:
- contain a request for the layout design to be entered in the register of layout
designs as well as a brief and accurate description of the layout design;
- indicate the applicant’s name, address and nationality and, if it is different
from his address, his usual place of residence;