The protection of the unique lay-out of a semiconductor product (chip or integrated circuit, IC) falls under the topography right, also known as ‘chip right’. In the Netherlands this right has been laid down in the Legal Protection of Original Topographies of Semiconductor Products Act. The act grants designers the exclusive right to manufacture, sell, import and stock the product with the topography or the topography itself. For certain products designers will usually have a certain level of freedom in designing the chip’ lay-outs, which usually makes them unique.
The chip right follows upon filing which means submitting a request including the details of the unique lay-out. NLO will be happy to arrange matters for you.