Integrated circuit layout design refers to the three-dimensional configuration of two or more components and part or all of the interconnection lines in at least one of the active components in the integrated circuit, or the above-mentioned three-dimensional configuration prepared for manufacturing the integrated circuit. Integrated circuit layout design is essentially a graphic design, but it is not an industrial design, can not be applied to patent law protection, the speed of renewal and copyright easily50The protection period of years does not match, so the exclusive right of layout design can only be confirmed by one-way legislation. The term of protection of the layout design right is.10Year, calculated from the date of the application for registration of the layout-design or the date of its first commercial use anywhere in the world, whichever is earlier. However, whether registered or put into commercial use, the layout-design shall be completed from the date of its creation.15Years later, they are no longer protected.

The integrated circuit layout design can take the form of both paper application and electronic application. Electronic application is currently the main form of application used by applicants, and application materials need to be submitted in accordance with the prescribed content and form.

Application materialsContent requirements

1Materials that must be submitted: (1) Application form for registration of integrated circuit layout design. (2) pattern. (3) catalog of patterns.

2Materials that may need to be submitted: (1) If the layout design has been put into commercial use before the application date, it shall be submitted when applying for registration.4sample. (2) If the applicant entrusts an agency, it shall also submit a power of attorney for the registration of the integrated circuit layout design. (3) Applicants may also submit a brief description of the layout-design.

Form requirements of application materials

1, pattern: includes the general diagram and layered diagram of the integrated circuit layout design. The pattern shall at least enlarge the integrated circuit produced by the layout design.20More than times, single picture placedA4format document, then each page is converted into a single graphic document, and the graphic document names are sequentially numbered.

22. Directory: The layer name of each page of the pattern should be stated, and the pattern number of each page should correspond to the layer name.

32. Sample: The sample submitted shall be placed in a special appliance, and the surface of the appliance shall be labeled with the name of the applicant and the name of the integrated circuit layout design. The sample should be mailed to the Patent Office on the day of the electronic application or the next day, with the envelope indicated.“integrated circuit layout design”.

4Brief description: Describe the structure, technology, function and other matters that need to be explained of the integrated circuit layout design.

5, make the corresponding documents (drawings, catalogues, brief descriptions, proxy letters) into graphic documents that conform to the specified format (e. g.tiffformat). Compress multiple file graphic documents that belong to the same file category (e. g., pattern is one category, directory is another category) and conform to the specified format into oneZipUpload the compressed package in the format. ThisZipThere must be no folders in the compression package. A file category makes a compressed package.