Topographies of Integrated Circuits

– Law on Legal Protection of Topographies of Integrated Circuits, No. 218, dated December 22, 2006.

Filing

Applicant: any natural person or legal entity.

Foreigners: enjoy the same rights as nationals; protection may be obtained under International Treaties, or subject to reciprocity.

Receiving Office: National Center for Patent and Information (Patent Office) of the Republic of Tajikistan.

Examination: only formal.

Definition: topography means the three-dimensional layout of all the elements constituting an integrated circuit and their interconnections fixed on a physical medium; integrated circuit means a microelectronic product in its final or intermediate form intended to perform the functions of an electronic circuit, of which the elements and interconnections constitute an integral part of the body and/or of the surface of a body of material acting as the basis for manufacturing the product.

Originality: a topography of integrated circuit is ingenious, its essential features arise from the creativity of the author, and if the entirety of the elements of a topography of an integrated circuit was unknown to the author(s) or any skilled person on the day of its creation.

Filing requirements: the topography should be filed within two years from its first use; the application must contain a declaration as stipulated by the Office, identifying the specimen of the topography, and a payment fee document.

Amendment of application: possible up to the publication.

Publication: in the Patent Office Official Gazette.

Protection

Right to protection: belongs to the author of the topography, or his assignee.

Employee’s topography: if the topography is created by an employee in execution of his functions, all rights belong to the employer, unless otherwise stipulated.

Duration: ten years from the earliest date either from the day of the first use, if this use is evidenced in a document or from the day of registration.

Assignment: should be registered at the Patent Office.

Licenses: may also be registered at the Patent Office.

Disputes and infringement: are judged by Economic Courts.