Layout-designs of Integrated
Circuits
[No.6 of 2016
307
10. An examination, investigation or any act undertaken in
accordance with this Act shall not warrant the validity of such
examination, investigation or act and no liability shall be incurred
by a member of the Board, Agency, Registrar or any officer by
reason of, or in connection with, any examination, investigation, act
or other consequent proceeding.
Nonwarranty
and non
liability
11. The provisions of the Patents Act relating to patent agents
apply, with the necessary modifications, to this Act.
Patent
agents
Cap. 400
12. The Agency shall establish and maintain a register of
layout-designs and integrated circuits, in which shall be entered—
(a) particulars of layout-designs of integrated circuits;
(b) notices of matters which are required by or under this
Act to be entered in the register; and
(c) such other matters affecting the validity or proprietorship
of layout-designs of integrated circuits as the Registrar
considers necessary.
Register of
layoutdesigns and
integrated
circuits
13. A layout-design shall be eligible for protection, by
registration in accordance with this Part, if the layout-design qualifies
for registration as specified in section fifteen.
Protection of
layoutdesigns
14. A qualified owner who is a qualified person may apply for
the registration of a layout-design in the prescribed manner and
form accompanied by prescribed fee.
Application
for
registration
15. (1) A layout-design may be registered if it is owned by a
qualified owner, who is a qualified person, and—
(a) is original; or
(b) the layout-design consists of a combination of elements
and interconnections that are not commonplace, the
combination, taken as a whole, is original.
(2) Subject to section twenty-four, where there exist identical
and independently created layout-designs which satisfy the
requirements of subsection (1), the layout-designs shall be protected
regardless of when they were created.
Registration
of layoutdesigns
(3) A layout-design shall be considered not to have been
created until it has been recorded in written form or incorporated
into an integrated circuit, whichever is earlier.
(4) The Registrar shall examine an application for registration
of a layout-design and may refuse the application or accept the
application unconditionally or subject to such amendments or
modification as the Registrar considers necessary.