(1) Protection under this Act may be obtained for layout‐designs of integrated circuits if and to the
extent that they are original within the meaning of section 2.
(2) Registration may only be applied for if the layout‐design has not been commercially exploited or has
been commercially exploited for not more than two years, anywhere in the world.
Section 2—Originality
(1) A layout‐design shall be considered to be original if it is the result of its creator’s own intellectual
effort and is not commonplace among creators of layout‐designs and manufacturers of integrated
circuits at the time of its creation.
(2) A layout‐design consisting of a combination of elements and interconnections that are commonplace
is protected only if the combination taken as a whole is original within the meaning of subsection (1).
Section 3—Right to Protection
(1) The right to a layout‐design protection belongs to the creator of the layout‐design and may be
assigned, transferred or devolve by succession.
(2) Where several persons have jointly created a layout‐design, the right to the layout‐design protection
belongs to them jointly.
(3) Where the layout‐designs created in execution of a commission or an employment contract, the right
to the layout‐design protection belongs, in the absence of any contractual provisions to the contrary, to
the person who commissioned the work or to the employer.
Section 4—Effect of Protection