Layout-design of integrated circuits
Also called: Semiconductor layout-design · Topic: International Trade Policy, WTO and Intellectual Property · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
This is a form of intellectual property for the layout-design of a chip. The layout-design is the original three-dimensional arrangement of the circuitry inside an integrated circuit (a semiconductor chip). Designing a chip layout takes huge effort and money, but copying it is easy. This right stops others from copying it. In India, it is protected under the Semiconductor Integrated Circuits Layout-Design (SICLD) Act 2000, and protection lasts 10 years.
Example
An Indian firm designs a new power-management chip under the India Semiconductor Mission. It can register the chip's circuit layout under the SICLD Act. This stops a rival from copying the layout and making identical chips for 10 years. The India Semiconductor Mission has given this old law new relevance.
Don't confuse with
- Patent: a patent protects a new technical idea or process. The layout-design right protects only the specific circuit arrangement, which may not be new enough to patent.
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