2.2.7 The Semiconductor Integrated Circuits Layout Design Act, 2000

The Semiconductor Integrated Circuits Layout Design Act, 2000 (‘the IC Design Act’) seeks to protect IPR relating to layout-design (topographies) of the Integrated Circuits (‘IC’) as envisaged under Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights.
As per section 2(h) of the IC Design Act, layout-design means a layout of transistors and other circuitry elements and includes lead wires connecting such elements and expressed in any manner in a semiconductor IC.
As per section 8 of the IC Design Act, any person claiming to be the creator of a layout-design seek registration reproducing the layout-design in an IC or importing and selling registered layout-design or a IC or an article containing such layout-design will be infringement of the rights of registered proprietor. As per section 20 of the IC Design Act, layout-design rights can be assigned and transmitted and on the registration of such assignment and transmission, such person becomes the proprietor of layout-design. The registered proprietors of layout-designs are the IPR holders.
Under section 25 of the IC Design Act, IPR holders have powers to grant licence to use the registered design as per the conditions of the written contract.