China Tightens Protection for Integrated-Circuit Layout Designs
China has revised its regulations to strengthen the protection of integrated-circuit layout designs, aiming to safeguard domestic semiconductor innovation. The new rules, signed by Premier Li Qiang and effective from October 15, require applicants to demonstrate genuine creative activity in design filings and provide clearer criteria for rejecting or challenging registrations that fail these standards. The changes also enhance legal remedies against infringement, allowing courts to award punitive damages in serious cases. This move reflects Beijing's growing emphasis on protecting strategically important domestic technologies amid U.S.-imposed restrictions limiting access to advanced chip-design tools and manufacturing equipment. The revisions do not constitute export controls but are part of broader efforts to prevent the transfer or acquisition of key Chinese-developed technologies by foreign entities. The updated regulations clarify licensing, transferring, and collateral use for layout designs while mandating fair compensation for personnel involved in their creation.
Topics: China regulations chip design protection semiconductors