– Law on Intellectual Property No. 38/NA of November 15, 2017, published on May 25, 2018, in force since June 9, 2018.

– Convention Establishing the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), since June 17, 1995.
– Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property, Stockholm Act, since October 8, 1998.
– WTO’s TRIPS Agreement, since February 2, 2013.

Applicant: may be an enterprise or an individual.

Foreigners: have the same rights as nationals on the basis of reciprocity. They have to appoint a resident agent.

Definition: designs or pictures made in any form comprising circuit elements which form a complete circuit.

Registrability: new integrated circuit topography by modification of an existing design, not generally known in industrial integrated circuit topography production.

Non-registrable: principles, methods, system or methods of implementation of integrated circuits; data (and) information or software contained in the integrated circuit industry.

Filing requirements for an application (to be sent to resident agent):
1. Application;
2. Power of attorney, legalized;
3. Explanation;
4. Claims;
5. Drawings or photographs of the integrated circuit topography and a sample of the semiconductor;
6. Summary report;
7. Priority document, if any.

Note: from June 2023 notarization of the PoA, Deed of Assignment, Declaration of Change and other required documents is no longer required, legalization will suffice.

Examination: preliminary examination only.

Publication: after examination.

Granting: a certificate of registration is issued and published in the Industrial Property Gazette.

Duration: twelve years following the filing date or two years from the date of the first commercial exploitation, whether within or outside the country, but the term of protection will not exceed fifteen years as from the date of the completion of the creation of the integrated circuit topography.

Annuities: annual fee must be paid in advance.

Licensing: must be registered.