国家知识产权局长令
第十一号
根据《集成电路布图设计保护条例》,特制定《集成电路布图设计保护条例实施细则》,现予公布,自二○○一年十月一日起施行。
局长 王景川
二○○一年九月十八日
集成电路布图设计保护条例实施细则
第一章 总 则
第一条 宗旨
为了保护集成电路布图设计(以下简称布图设计)专有权,促进我国集成电路技术的进步与创新,根据《集成电路布图设计保护条例》(以下简称条例),制定本实施细则(以下简称本细则)。
第二条 登记机构
条例所称的国务院知识产权行政部门是指国家知识产权局。
第三条 办理手续需用的形式
条例和本细则规定的各种文件,应当以书面形式或者以国家知识产权局规定的其他形式办理。
第四条 代理机构
中国单位或者个人在国内申请布图设计登记和办理其他与布图设计有关的事务的,可以委托专利代理机构办理。
在中国没有经常居所或者营业所的外国人、外国企业或者外国其他组织在中国申请布图设计登记和办理其他与布图设计有关的事务的,应当委托国家知识产权局指定的专利代理机构办理。
第五条 申请文件和申请日的确定
向国家知识产权局申请布图设计登记的,应当提交布图设计登记申请表和该布图设计的复制件或者图样;布图设计在申请日以前已投入商业利用的,还应当提交含有该布图设计的集成电路样品。
国家知识产权局收到前款所述布图设计申请文件之日为申请日。如果申请文件是邮寄的,以寄出的邮戳日为申请日。
第六条 文件的语言
依照条例和本细则规定提交的各种文件应当使用中文。国家有统一规定的科技术语的,应当采用规范词;外国人名、地名和科技术语没有统一中文译文的,应当注明原文。
依照条例和本细则规定提交的各种证件和证明文件是外文的,国家知识产权局认为必要时,可以要求当事人在指定期限内附送中文译文;期满未附送的,视为未提交该证件和证明文件。
第七条 文件的递交和送达
向国家知识产权局邮寄的各种文件,以寄出的邮戳日为递交日。邮戳日不清晰的,除当事人能够提出证明外,以国家知识产权局收到文件之日为递交日。
国家知识产权局的各种文件,可以通过邮寄、直接送交或者其他方式送达当事人。当事人委托专利代理机构的,文件送交专利代理机构;未委托专利代理机构的,文件送交申请表中指明的联系人。
国家知识产权局邮寄的各种文件,自文件发出之日起满15日,推定为当事人收到文件之日。
根据国家知识产权局规定应当直接送交的文件,以交付日为送达日。
文件送交地址不清,无法邮寄的,可以通过公告的方式送达当事人。自公告之日起满1个月,该文件视为已经送达。
第八条 期限的计算
条例和本细则规定的各种期限的第一日不计算在期限内。期限以年或者月计算的,以其最后一月的相应日为期限届满日;该月无相应日的,以该月最后一日为期限届满日。
期限届满日是法定节假日的,以节假日后的第一个工作日为期限届满日。
第九条 权利的恢复和期限的延长
当事人因不可抗拒的事由而耽误本细则规定的期限或者国家知识产权局指定的期限,造成其权利丧失的,自障碍消除之日起2个月内,但是最迟自期限届满之日起2年内,可以向国家知识产权局说明理由并附具有关证明文件,请求恢复其权利。
当事人因正当理由而耽误本细则规定的期限或者国家知识产权局指定的期限,造成其权利丧失的,可以自收到国家知识产权局的通知之日起2个月内向国家知识产权局说明理由,请求恢复其权利。
当事人请求延长国家知识产权局指定的期限的,应当在期限届满前,向国家知识产权局说明理由并办理有关手续。
条例规定的期限不得请求延长。
第十条 共有
布图设计是2个以上单位或者个人合作创作的,创作者应当共同申请布图设计登记;有合同约定的,从其约定。
涉及共有的布图设计专有权的,每一个共同布图设计权利人在没有征得其他共同布图设计权利人同意的情况下,不得将其所持有的那一部分权利进行转让、出质或者与他人订立独占许可合同或者排他许可合同。
第十一条 向外国人转让专有权
中国单位或者个人向外国人转让布图设计专有权的,在向国家知识产权局办理转让登记时应当提交国务院有关主管部门允许其转让的证明文件。
布图设计专有权发生转移的,当事人应当凭有关证明文件或者法律文书向国家知识产权局办理著录项目变更手续。
第二章 布图设计登记的申请和审查
第十二条 申请文件
以书面形式申请布图设计登记的,应当向国家知识产权局提交布图设计登记申请表一式两份以及一份布图设计的复制件或者图样。
以国家知识产权局规定的其他形式申请布图设计登记的,应当符合规定的要求。
申请人委托专利代理机构向国家知识产权局申请布图设计登记和办理其他手续的,应当同时提交委托书,写明委托权限。
申请人有2个以上且未委托专利代理机构的,除申请表中另有声明外,以申请表中指明的第一申请人为代表人。
第十三条 申请表
布图设计登记申请表应当写明下列各项:
(一)申请人的姓名或者名称、地址或者居住地;
(二)申请人的国籍;
(三)布图设计的名称;
(四)布图设计创作者的姓名或者名称;
(五)布图设计的创作完成日期;
(六)该布图设计所用于的集成电路的分类;
(七)申请人委托专利代理机构的,应当注明的有关事项;申请人未委托专利代理机构的,其联系人的姓名、地址、邮政编码及联系电话;
(八)布图设计有条例第十七条所述商业利用行为的,该行为的发生日;
(九)布图设计登记申请有保密信息的,含有该保密信息的图层的复制件或者图样页码编号及总页数;
(十)申请人或者专利代理机构的签字或者盖章;
(十一)申请文件清单;
(十二)附加文件及样品清单;
(十三)其他需要注明的事项。
第十四条 复制件或者图样
按照条例第十六条规定提交的布图设计的复制件或者图样应当符合下列要求:
(一)复制件或者图样的纸件应当至少放大到用该布图设计生产的集成电路的20倍以上;申请人可以同时提供该复制件或者图样的电子版本;提交电子版本的复制件或者图样的,应当包含该布图设计的全部信息,并注明文件的数据格式;
(二)复制件或者图样有多张纸件的,应当顺序编号并附具目录;
(三)复制件或者图样的纸件应当使用A4纸格式;如果大于A4纸的,应当折叠成A4纸格式;
(四)复制件或者图样可以附具简单的文字说明,说明该集成电路布图设计的结构、技术、功能和其他需要说明的事项。
第十五条 涉及保密信息的申请
布图设计在申请日之前没有投入商业利用的,该布图设计登记申请可以有保密信息,其比例最多不得超过该集成电路布图设计总面积的50%。含有保密信息的图层的复制件或者图样页码编号及总页数应当与布图设计登记申请表中所填写的一致。
布图设计登记申请有保密信息的,含有该保密信息的图层的复制件或者图样纸件应当置于在另一个保密文档袋中提交。除侵权诉讼或者行政处理程序需要外,任何人不得查阅或者复制该保密信息。
第十六条 集成电路样品
布图设计在申请日之前已投入商业利用的,申请登记时应当提交4件含有该布图设计的集成电路样品,并应当符合下列要求:
(一)所提交的4件集成电路样品应当置于能保证其不受损坏的专用器具中,并附具填写好的国家知识产权局统一编制的表格;
(二)器具表面应当写明申请人的姓名、申请号和集成电路名称;
(三)器具中的集成电路样品应当采用适当的方式固定,不得有损坏,并能够在干燥器中至少存放十年。
第十七条 不予受理
布图设计登记申请有下列情形的,国家知识产权局不予受理,并通知申请人:
(一)未提交布图设计登记申请表或者布图设计的复制件或者图样的,已投入商业利用而未提交集成电路样品的,或者提交的上述各项不一致的;
(二)外国申请人的所属国未与中国签订有关布图设计保护协议或者与中国共同参加有关国际条约;
(三)所涉及的布图设计属于条例第十二条规定不予保护的;
(四)所涉及的布图设计属于条例第十七条规定不予登记的;
(五)申请文件未使用中文的;
(六)申请类别不明确或者难以确定其属于布图设计的;
(七)未按规定委托代理机构的;
(八)布图设计登记申请表填写不完整的。
第十八条 文件的补正和修改
除本细则第十七条规定不予受理的外,申请文件不符合条例和本细则规定的条件的,申请人应当在收到国家知识产权局的审查意见通知之日起2个月内进行补正。补正应当按照审查意见通知书的要求进行。逾期未答复的,该申请视为撤回。
申请人按照国家知识产权局的审查意见补正后,申请文件仍不符合条例和本细则的规定的,国家知识产权局应当作出驳回决定。
国家知识产权局可以自行修改布图设计申请文件中文字和符号的明显错误。国家知识产权局自行修改的,应当通知申请人。
第十九条 申请的驳回
除本细则第十八条第二款另有规定的外,申请登记的布图设计有下列各项之一的,国家知识产权局应当作出驳回决定,写明所依据的理由:
(一)明显不符合条例第二条第(一)、(二)项规定的;
(二)明显不符合条例第五条规定的。
第二十条 布图设计专有权的生效
布图设计登记申请经初步审查没有发现驳回理由的,国家知识产权局应当颁发布图设计登记证书,并在国家知识产权局互联网站和中国知识产权报上予以公告。布图设计专有权自申请日起生效。
第二十一条 登记证书
国家知识产权局颁发的布图设计登记证书应当包括下列各项:
(一)布图设计权利人的姓名或者名称和地址;
(二)布图设计的名称;
(三)布图设计在申请日之前已经投入商业利用的,其首次商业利用的时间;
(四)布图设计的申请日及创作完成日;
(五)布图设计的颁证日期;
(六)布图设计的登记号;
(七)国家知识产权局的印章及负责人签字。
第二十二条 更正
国家知识产权局对布图设计公告中出现的错误,一经发现,应当及时更正,并对所作更正予以公告。
第三章 布图设计登记申请的复审、复议和专有权的撤销
第二十三条 复审和撤销机构
国家知识产权局专利复审委员会(以下简称专利复审委员会)负责对国家知识产权局驳回布图设计登记申请决定不服而提出的复审请求的审查,以及负责对布图设计专有权撤销案件的审查。
第二十四条 复审的请求
向专利复审委员会请求复审的,应当提交复审请求书,说明理由,必要时还应当附具有关证据。复审请求书不符合条例第十九条有关规定的,专利复审委员会不予受理。
复审请求不符合规定格式的,复审请求人应当在专利复审委员会指定的期限内补正;期满未补正的,该复审请求视为未提出。
第二十五条 复审程序中文件的修改
复审请求人在提出复审请求或者在对专利复审委员会的复审通知书作出答复时,可以修改布图设计申请文件;但是修改应当仅限于消除驳回决定或者复审通知书指出的缺陷。
修改的申请文件应当提交一式两份。
第二十六条 复审决定
专利复审委员会进行审查后,认为布图设计登记申请的复审请求不符合条例或者本细则有关规定的,应当通知复审请求人,要求其在指定期限内陈述意见。期满未答复的,该复审请求视为撤回;经陈述意见或者进行修改后,专利复审委员会认为该申请仍不符条例和本细则有关规定的,应当作出维持原驳回决定的复审决定。
专利复审委员会进行复审后,认为原驳回决定不符合条例和本细则有关规定的,或者认为经过修改的申请文件消除了原驳回决定指出的缺陷的,应当撤销原驳回决定,通知原审查部门对该申请予以登记和公告。
专利复审委员会的复审决定,应当写明复审决定的理由,并通知布图设计登记申请人。
第二十七条 复审请求的撤回
复审请求人在专利复审委员会作出决定前,可以撤回其复审请求。
复审请求人在专利复审委员会作出决定前撤回其复审请求的,复审程序终止。
第二十八条 复议请求
当事人对国家知识产权局作出的下列具体行政行为不服或者有争议的,可以向国家知识产权局行政复议部门申请复议:
(一)不予受理布图设计申请的;
(二)将布图设计申请视为撤回的;
(三)不允许恢复有关权利的请求的;
(四)其他侵犯当事人合法权益的具体行政行为。
第二十九条 撤销程序
布图设计登记公告后,发现登记的布图设计专有权不符合集成电路布图设计保护条例第二条第(一)、(二)项、第三条、第四条、第五条、第十二条或者第十七条规定的,由专利复审委员会撤销该布图设计专有权。
撤销布图设计专有权的,应当首先通知该布图设计权利人,要求其在指定期限内陈述意见。期满未答复的,不影响专利复审委员会作出撤销布图设计专有权的决定。
专利复审委员会撤销布图设计专有权的决定应当写明所依据的理由,并通知该布图设计权利人。
第三十条 撤销决定的公告
对专利复审委员会撤销布图设计专有权的决定未在规定期限内向人民法院起诉,或者在人民法院维持专利复审委员会撤销布图设计专有权决定的判决生效后,国家知识产权局应当将撤销该布图设计专有权的决定在国家知识产权局互联网站和中国知识产权报上公告。
被撤销的布图设计专有权视为自始即不存在。
第四章 布图设计专有权的保护
第三十一条 布图设计专有权的放弃
布图设计权利人在其布图设计专有权保护期届满之前,可以向国家知识产权局提交书面声明放弃该专有权。
布图设计专有权已许可他人实施或者已经出质的,该布图设计专有权的放弃应当征得被许可人或质权人的同意。
布图设计专有权的放弃应当由国家知识产权局登记和公告。
第三十二条 国家知识产权局受理侵权纠纷案件的条件
根据条例第三十一条的规定请求国家知识产权局处理布图设计专有权侵权纠纷的,应当符合下列条件:
(一)该布图设计已登记、公告;
(二)请求人是布图设计权利人或者与该侵权纠纷有直接利害关系的单位或者个人;
(三)有明确的被请求人;
(四)有明确的请求事项和具体的事实、理由;
(五)当事人任何一方均未就该侵权纠纷向人民法院起诉。
第三十三条 有关程序的中止和恢复
当事人因布图设计申请权或者布图设计专有权的归属发生纠纷,已经向人民法院起诉的,可以请求国家知识产权局中止有关程序。
依照前款规定请求中止有关程序的,应当向国家知识产权局提交请求书,并附具人民法院的有关受理文件副本。
在人民法院作出的判决生效后,当事人应当向国家知识产权局办理恢复有关程序的手续。自请求中止之日起一年内,有关布图设计申请权或者布图设计专有权归属的纠纷未能结案,需要继续中止有关程序的,请求人应当在该期限内请求延长中止。期满未请求延长的,国家知识产权局自行恢复有关程序。
人民法院在审理民事案件中裁定对布图设计专有权采取保全措施的,国家知识产权局在协助执行时中止被保全的布图设计专有权的有关程序。保全期限届满,人民法院没有裁定继续采取保全措施的,国家知识产权局自行恢复有关程序。
第五章 费 用
第三十四条 应缴纳的费用
向国家知识产权局申请布图设计登记和办理其他手续时,应当缴纳下列费用:
(一)布图设计登记费;
(二)著录事项变更手续费、延长期限请求费、恢复权利请求费;
(三)复审请求费;
(四)非自愿许可许可请求费、非自愿许可使用费的裁决请求费。
前款所列各种费用的数额,由国务院价格管理部门会同国家知识产权局另行规定。
第三十五条 缴费手续
条例和本细则规定的各种费用,可以直接向国家知识产权局缴纳,也可以通过邮局或者银行汇付,或者以国家知识产权局规定的其他方式缴纳。
通过邮局或者银行汇付的,应当在送交国家知识产权局的汇单上至少写明正确的申请号以及缴纳的费用名称。不符合本款规定的,视为未办理缴费手续。
直接向国家知识产权局缴纳费用的,以缴纳当日为缴费日;以邮局汇付方式缴纳费用的,以邮局汇出的邮戳日为缴费日;以银行汇付方式缴纳费用的,以银行实际汇出日为缴费日。但是自汇出日至国家知识产权局收到日超过15日的,除邮局或者银行出具证明外,以国家知识产权局收到日为缴费日。
多缴、重缴、错缴布图设计登记费用的,当事人可以向国家知识产权局提出退款请求,但是该请求应当自缴费日起一年内提出。
第三十六条 缴费期限
申请人应当在收到受理通知书后2个月内缴纳布图设计登记费;期满未缴纳或者未缴足的,其申请视为撤回。
当事人请求恢复权利或者复审的,应当在条例及本细则规定的相关期限内缴纳费用;期满未缴纳或者未缴足的,视为未提出请求。
著录事项变更手续费、非自愿许可请求费、非自愿许可使用费的裁决请求费应当自提出请求之日起1个月内缴纳;延长期限请求费应当在相应期限届满前缴纳;期满未缴纳或者未缴足的,视为未提出请求。
第六章 附 则
第三十七条 布图设计登记簿
国家知识产权局设置布图设计登记簿,登记下列事项:
(一)布图设计权利人的姓名或者名称、国籍和地址及其变更;
(二)布图设计的登记;
(三)布图设计专有权的转移和继承;
(四)布图设计专有权的放弃;
(五)布图设计专有权的质押、保全及其解除;
(六)布图设计专有权的撤销;
(七)布图设计专有权的终止;
(八)布图设计专有权的恢复;
(九)布图设计专有权实施的非自愿许可。
第三十八条 布图设计公告
国家知识产权局定期在国家知识产权局互联网站和中国知识产权报上登载布图设计登记公报,公布或者公告下列内容:
(一)布图设计登记簿记载的著录事项;
(二)对地址不明的当事人的通知;
(三)国家知识产权局作出的更正;
(四)其他有关事项。
第三十九条 公众查阅和复制
布图设计登记公告后,公众可以请求查阅该布图设计登记簿或者请求国家知识产权局提供该登记簿的副本。公众也可以请求查阅该布图设计的复制件或者图样的纸件。
本细则第十四条所述的电子版本的复制件或者图样,除侵权诉讼或者行政处理程序需要外,任何人不得查阅或者复制。
第四十条 失效案卷的处理
布图设计登记申请被撤回、视为撤回或者驳回的,以及布图设计专有权被声明放弃、撤销或者终止的,与该布图设计申请或者布图设计专有权有关的案卷,自该申请失效或者该专有权失效之日起满3年后不予保存。
第四十一条 文件的邮寄
向国家知识产权局邮寄有关申请或者布图设计专有权的文件,应当使用挂号信函,一件信函应当只包含同一申请文件。电子版本的复制件或者图样和集成电路样品的邮寄方式应当保证其在邮寄过程中不受损坏。
第四十二条 本细则的解释
本细则由国家知识产权局负责解释。
第四十三条 本细则的实施日期
本细则自2001年10月1日起施行。
Document Number:Order No. 11 of Commissioner of State Intellectual Property Office
Area of Law: Integrated Circuit Layout Design
Level of Authority: Departmental Rules
Date Issued:09-18-2001
Effective Date:10-01-2001
Issuing Authority: State Intellectual Property Office
Status: Effective
Order of Commissioner of State Intellectual Property Office
(No. 11)
The Protection of Integrated Circuit Layout Designs Regulations Implementing Rules are formulated in accordance with the Protection of Integrated Circuit Layout Designs Regulations, are hereby promulgated and shall be implemented as of 1 October 2001.
Commissioner, Wang Jingchuan
September 18, 2001
Protection of Integrated Circuit Layout Designs Regulations Implementing Rules
PART ONE GENERAL PROVISIONS
Article 1 Purpose
These Implementing Rules (Rules) have been formulated pursuant to the Protection of Integrated Circuit Layout Designs Regulations (the Regulations), in order to protect proprietary rights in integrated circuit layout designs (Layout Designs) and promote the development of, and innovations in, integrated circuit technology in China.
Article 2 Registration Authority
For the purposes of the Regulations, the term "administrative authority for intellectual property of the State Council" means the State Intellectual Property Office.
Article 3 Format To Be Used When Carrying out Procedures
The various documents specified in the Regulations and herein shall be in writing or in another format specified by the State Intellectual Property Office.
Article 4 Agencies
When Chinese work units or individuals wish to apply in China to register Layout Designs or handle other matters related to Layout Designs, they may appoint a patent agency to do so on their behalf.
When foreign nationals, foreign enterprises or other foreign organizations without a habitual residence or place of business in China wish to apply in China to register Layout Designs or handle other matters related to Layout Designs, they shall appoint a patent agency designated by the State Intellectual Property Office to do so on their behalf.
Article 5 Application Documents and Determination of Application Date
When applying to register a Layout Design with the State Intellectual Property Office, an application form for the registration of Layout Designs and a reproduction or drawing of the Layout Design shall be submitted. If commercial exploitation of the Layout Design has commenced before the application date, sample integrated circuits containing the Layout Design shall be submitted as well.
The date on which the State Intellectual Property Office receives the application documents for a Layout Design mentioned in the preceding paragraph shall be the application date. If the application documents are sent by mail, the date of the sending post office's postmark shall be the application date.
Article 6 Language of Documents
All documents submitted in accordance with the Regulations and these Rules shall be in Chinese. Where the State has prescribed unified scientific and technical terminology, the standard terms shall be used. If there is no unified Chinese translation for a foreign personal or place name or foreign scientific or technical term, the original term shall be indicated.
If any certificate or supporting document submitted in accordance with the Regulations and these Rules is in a foreign language, the State Intellectual Property Office may require the party concerned to supply a Chinese translation within a prescribed time limit if it considers this to be necessary. If the translation is not supplied within the time limit, such certificate or supporting document shall be deemed not to have been submitted.
Article 7 Delivery and Service of Documents
The postmark date of a document mailed to the State Intellectual Property Office shall be the date of submission. If the postmark date is unclear, the date of receipt of the document by the State Intellectual Property Office shall be the date of submission, unless the party concerned can supply evidence regarding the date of mailing.
Documents of the State Intellectual Property Office may be served on a party by mail, direct delivery or otherwise. If the party has appointed a patent agency, documents shall be delivered to the patent agency. If the party has not appointed a patent agency, documents shall be delivered to the contact person designated in the request.
Documents mailed by the State Intellectual Property Office shall be assumed to have been received by the party concerned after a lapse of 15 days from the date of sending. The date of service of documents that provisions of the State Intellectual Property Office require to be delivered directly shall be the date of delivery.
If the address to which a document is to be sent is unclear and the document cannot be mailed, the document may be served on the party concerned by public announcement. Such document shall be deemed to have been served after the lapse of one month from the date of the announcement.
Article 8 Calculation of Time Limits
The first day of any time limit provided for in the Regulations or these Rules shall not be calculated as part of the time limit. If a time limit is calculated in years or months, the corresponding day of the last month of such time limit shall be the date of expiration. If there is no corresponding day in such month, the last day of that month shall be the date of expiration.
If the date of expiration of a time limit is a statutory holiday, the first working day following the holiday shall be the date of expiration.
Article 9 Restoration of Rights and Extension of Time Limits
If, due to an event of force majeure, a party fails to observe a time limit provided for in these Rules or a time limit prescribed by the State Intellectual Property Office, and consequently forfeits his rights, he may within two months from the date of elimination of the obstacle, but not later than within two years from the date of expiration of the time limit, petition the State Intellectual Property Office for restoration of his rights. Such petition shall contain an explanation of the reasons and be accompanied by relevant supporting documents.
If, for legitimate reasons, a party fails to observe a time limit provided for in the Regulations or these Rules or a time limit prescribed by the State Intellectual Property Office, and consequently forfeits his rights, he may within two months from the date of receipt of a notice from the State Intellectual Property Office petition such authority for restoration of his rights. Such petition shall contain an explanation of the reasons.
If a party petitions for extension of a time limit prescribed by the State Intellectual Property Office, he shall explain the reasons to the State Intellectual Property Office and carry out the relevant procedure prior to the expiration of the time limit.
No petition may be filed for the extension of time limits specified in the Regulations.
Article 10 Joint Ownership
If a Layout Design is created in cooperation between two or more work units or individuals, the creators shall jointly apply for registration of the Layout Design. If there are contractual stipulations in respect thereof, such stipulations shall prevail.
With regard to proprietary rights in a Layout Design that involve joint ownership, no party with joint rights in the Layout Design may assign or pledge, or conclude a contract for a sole or exclusive licence with a third party in respect of the part of the rights that he holds without the consent of the other parties with joint rights in the Layout Design.
Article 11 Assignment of Proprietary Rights to Foreigners
When a Chinese work unit or individual assigns the proprietary rights in a Layout Design to a foreigner, it/he shall, when it/he registers the assignment with the State Intellectual Property Office, submit the document attesting that the competent State Council authority has permitted the assignment.
When the proprietary rights in a Layout Design are transferred, the party concerned shall carry out the procedures for the amendment of bibliographic items with the State Intellectual Property Office on the strength of the relevant supporting documents or legal instruments.
PART TWO APPLICATION AND EXAMINATION FOR THE REGISTRATION OF LAYOUT DESIGNS
Article 12 Application Documents
If an application for the registration of a Layout Design is made in writing, an application form for the registration of a Layout Design (in duplicate) and a reproduction or drawing of the Layout Design shall be filed with the State Intellectual Property Office.
If an application for the registration of a Layout Design is made in another format specified by the State Intellectual Property Office, such format shall comply with the specified requirements.
If an applicant has appointed a patent agency to apply to the State Intellectual Property Office to register a Layout Design or carry out another procedure, the power of attorney specifying the scope of the power entrusted shall be submitted at the same time.
If there are two or more applicants and they have not appointed a patent agency, the first applicant indicated on the application form shall be their representative, unless otherwise stated in the application form.
Article 13 Application Form
Each of the following particulars shall be indicated on the application form for the registration of the Layout Design:
1. The name and address or residence of the applicant;
2. The applicant's nationality;
3. The title of the Layout Design;
4. The name of the creator of the Layout Design;
5. The date of completion of the creation of the Layout Design;
6. The type of integrated circuit on which the Layout Design is used;
7. if the applicant has appointed a patent agency, the relevant particulars that are to be indicated; if the applicant has not appointed a patent agency, the name, address, postal code and contact telephone number of his contact person;
8. if the Layout Design has been exploited commercially as mentioned in Article 17 of the Regulations, the date on which such commercial exploitation commenced;
9. if the application for the registration of the Layout Design contains confidential information, the page numbers and total number of pages of the reproductions or drawings of the drawing layers that contain the confidential information;
10. the signature or seal of the applicant or patent agency;
11. the list of application documents;
12. the list of appended documents and samples; and
13. other particulars that need to be indicated.
Article 14 Reproductions or Drawings
The reproduction or drawing of the Layout Design submitted in accordance with Article 16 of the Regulations shall satisfy the following requirements:
1. the paper version of the reproduction or drawing shall be enlarged at least 20 times the size of the integrated circuit produced using the Layout Design; the applicant may additionally provide an electronic version of the reproduction or drawing; a reproduction or drawing submitted in electronic form shall include all the information on the Layout Design and indicate the document's data format;
2. if the paper version of the reproduction or drawing is multi-page, the pages shall be numbered sequentially and a table of contents attached thereto;
3. the paper version of the reproduction or drawing shall be on A4-size paper; if the paper version is larger than A4-size, it shall be folded into A4-size; and
4. The reproduction or drawing may carry a brief textual description, describing the integrated circuit Layout Design's structure, technology, function and other particulars requiring explanation.
Article 15 Applications Involving Confidential Information
An application for the registration of a Layout Design that had not been commercially exploited before the application date may contain confidential information; however, the ratio of such confidential information may not exceed 50% of the total area of the integrated circuit Layout Design. The page numbers and total number of pages of the reproductions or drawings of the drawing layers that contain confidential information shall be consistent with those filled out on the application form for the registration of the Layout Design.
If an application for the registration of a Layout Design contains confidential information, the paper version of the reproductions or drawings of the drawing layers containing confidential information shall be submitted in a separate confidential file pouch. No person may consult or photocopy the said confidential information, except if required for an infringement action or administrative handling procedure.
Article 16 Sample Integrated Circuits
If a Layout Design has been commercially exploited before the application date, four sample integrated circuits containing the Layout Design shall be submitted when applying for registration and such samples shall satisfy the following requirements:
1. the four submitted sample integrated circuits shall be placed in special containers that can ensure the samples are not damaged and shall be accompanied by a completed State Intellectual Property Office prepared standard form;
2. the applicant's name, the application number and the name of the integrated circuits shall be indicated on the surface of the containers; and
3. an appropriate method shall be used to immobilize the sample integrated circuits in the containers, keeping them free from damage and able to be stored in a desiccator for a minimum of 10 years.
Article 17 Refusal of Acceptance
The State Intellectual Property Office shall refuse to accept an application to register a Layout Design and notify the applicant thereof if:
1. the applicant fails to submit an application form for the registration of the Layout Design, or a reproduction or drawing of the Layout Design or (where the Layout Design has been commercially exploited) sample integrated circuits, or there is a discrepancy among the afore-mentioned submitted items;
2. the home country of a foreign applicant has not entered into an agreement for the protection of Layout Designs with China or has not acceded to a relevant international treaty to which China has acceded;
3. the Layout Design involved is not eligible for protection as per Article 12 of the Regulations;
4. the Layout Design involved is not eligible for registration as per Article 17 of the Regulations;
5. the application documents are not in Chinese;
6. the application type is unclear or it is difficult to determine that the application pertains to a Layout Design;
7. no agency was appointed in accordance with provisions; or
8. the application form for registration of a Layout Design was not filled out completely.
Article 18 Supplementation, Correction and Revision of Documents
If an application document fails to satisfy the conditions specified in the Regulations and herein but is not refused acceptance as per Article 17 hereof, the applicant shall supplement and/or correct the document within two months from the date of receipt of the notice of the State Intellectual Property Office's opinion reached upon examination. The supplementation and/or correction shall be effected in accordance with the requirements of the notice of opinion reached upon examination. If the applicant fails to respond within the time limit, the application shall be deemed to have been withdrawn.
If the application document still fails to satisfy the provisions of the Regulations or these Rules after the applicant supplements and/or corrects the document in accordance with the opinion reached by the State Intellectual Property Office upon examination, the State Intellectual Property Office shall render a decision to reject the application.
The State Intellectual Property Office may of its own motion revise obvious textual and punctuation errors in Layout Design application documents. If the State Intellectual Property Office makes revisions itself, it shall notify the applicant thereof.
Article 19 Rejection of Applications
Unless otherwise provided in the second paragraph of Article 18 hereof, the State Intellectual Property Office shall render a decision to reject an application and indicate the grounds therefor if a Layout Design for which a registration application is made is characterized by either of the following circumstances:
1. it clearly does not satisfy the provisions of Item (1) or (2) of Article 2 of the Regulations; or
2. it clearly does not satisfy the provisions of Article 5 of the Regulations.
Article 20 Entry Into Effect of Proprietary Rights in a Layout Design
If no grounds for rejecting an application for the registration of a Layout Design are discovered after a preliminary examination, the State Intellectual Property Office shall issue a Layout Design Registration Certificate and publicly announce the same on the State Intellectual Property Office's website and in China Intellectual Property News. The proprietary rights in the Layout Design shall enter into effect on the application date.
Article 21 Registration Certificate
The Layout Design Registration Certificate issued by the State Intellectual Property Office shall include the following particulars:
1. the name and address of the holder of the rights in the Layout Design;
2. the title of the Layout Design;
3. if commercial exploitation of the Layout Design commenced before the application date, the time when it was first exploited commercially;
4. the application date and the date of completion of the creation of the Layout Design;
5. the date of issuance of the certificate for the Layout Design;
6. the Layout Design's registration number; and
7. the seal of the State Intellectual Property Office and the signature of the person in charge.
Article 22 Corrections
If the State Intellectual Property Office makes an error in the public announcement for a Layout Design, it shall correct such error promptly upon discovery and publicly announce such correction.
PART THREE RE-EXAMINATION AND REVIEW OF APPLICATIONS FOR THE REGISTRATION OF LAYOUT DESIGNS AND REVOCATION OF PROPRIETARY RIGHTS
Article 23 Re-examination and Revocation Authority
The Patent Re-examination Board of the State Intellectual Property Office (the Patent Re-examination Board) is responsible for examining petitions for re-examination submitted by applicants dissatisfied with the State Intellectual Property Office's decision to reject their applications for the registration of Layout Designs and the examination of cases concerning the revocation of proprietary rights in Layout Designs.
Article 24 Petition for Re-examination
When petitioning the Patent Re-examination Board for re-examination, a written petition for re-examination, stating the reasons therefor shall be submitted accompanied, if necessary, by the relevant evidence. If the written petition for re-examination fails to satisfy the relevant provisions of Article 19 of the Regulations, the Patent Re-examination Board shall not accept such petition.
If a petition for re-examination is not in the prescribed format, the party petitioning for the re-examination shall correct it within the time limit prescribed by the Patent Re-examination Board. If correction is not made within the time limit, no petition for re-examination shall be deemed to have been submitted.
Article 25 Amendment of Re-examination Procedure Documents
When submitting the petition for re-examination or responding to the re-examination notice issued by the Patent Re-examination Board, the petitioner may amend his Layout Design application documents, provided that the amendments are limited to eliminating the defects indicated in the rejection decision or the re-examination notice.
The amended application documents shall be submitted in duplicate.
Article 26 Re-examination Decision
If, after re-examination, the Patent Re-examination Board considers that a petition for re-examination of an application for the registration of a Layout Design does not conform to the relevant provisions of the Regulations or these Rules, it shall notify the petitioner and require him to state his comments within a prescribed time limit. If no response is made within the time limit, the petition for re-examination shall be deemed to have been withdrawn. If, after comments have been stated or amendments made, the Patent Re-examination Board still considers that the application does not conform to the relevant provisions of the Regulations and these Rules, it shall render a re-examination decision sustaining the original rejection decision.
If, after re-examination, the Patent Re-examination Board considers that the original rejection decision does not conform to the relevant provisions of the Regulations and these Rules or that the amendments made to the application documents have eliminated the defects indicated in the original rejection decision, it shall quash the original rejection decision and notify the original examination authority to register the application and make a public announcement to that effect.
The re-examination decision of the Patent Re-examination Board shall indicate the grounds for the re-examination decision and the applicant for the registration of the Layout Design shall be notified thereof.
Article 27 Withdrawal of Petitions for Re-examination
A party petitioning for re-examination may withdraw such petition before the Patent Re-examination Board renders its decision.
The re-examination procedure shall terminate if the party petitioning for re-examination withdraws his petition before the Patent Re-examination Board renders its decision.
Article 28 Petition for Review
If a party is dissatisfied with, or objects to, any of the specific administrative acts set forth below performed by the State Intellectual Property Office, he may petition for review to the administrative review department of the State Intellectual Property Office:
1. it refuses to accept an application for a Layout Design;
2. it deems an application for a Layout Design to have been withdrawn;
3. it rejects a petition for the restoration of relevant rights; or
4. it performs another specific administrative act that infringes the lawful rights or interests of the party.
Article 29 Revocation Procedures
After the public announcement of the registration of a Layout Design, if it is discovered that the registered proprietary rights in the Layout Design fail to satisfy the provisions of Item (1) or (2) of Article 2, Article 3, Article 4, Article 5, Article 12 or Article 17 of the Protection of Integrated Circuit Layout Designs Regulations, the Patent Re-examination Board shall revoke the proprietary rights in the Layout Design.
If the proprietary rights in a Layout Design are to be revoked, the holder of the rights in the Layout Design shall be notified first and he shall be required to state his opinion within a designated time limit. Failure by the party to respond within the time limit shall not affect the decision to revoke the proprietary rights in the Layout Design rendered by the Patent Re-examination Board.
A decision of the Patent Re-examination Board to revoke the proprietary rights in a Layout Design shall indicate the grounds on which the decision is based and the holder of the rights in the Layout Design shall be notified thereof.
Article 30 Announcement of Revocation Decisions
The State Intellectual Property Office shall publicly announce a decision by the Patent Re-examination Board to revoke the proprietary rights in a Layout Design on the State Intellectual Property Office's website and in the China Intellectual Property News if no action has been instituted against the decision in a people's court within the specified time limit or after a judgment of the people's court sustaining the Patent Re-examination Board's decision to revoke the proprietary rights in the Layout Design has entered into effect.
Proprietary rights in a Layout Design that have been revoked shall be deemed not to have existed ab initio.
PART FOUR PROTECTION OF PROPRIETARY RIGHTS IN LAYOUT DESIGNS
Article 31 Abandonment of Proprietary Rights in Layout Designs
A holder of rights in a Layout Design may submit a written declaration to the State Intellectual Property Office abandoning his proprietary rights in the Layout Design before the term of protection of his proprietary rights in the Layout Design expires.If the proprietary rights in a Layout Design have been licensed to a third party or pledged, the licensee's or the pledgee's consent to the abandonment shall be obtained.
The abandonment of proprietary rights in a Layout Design shall be registered and publicly announced by the State Intellectual Property Office.
Article 32 Conditions for Acceptance of Infringement Disputes by the State Intellectual Property Office
To submit a petition to the State Intellectual Property Office for the handling of an infringement dispute concerning the proprietary rights in a Layout Design pursuant to Article 31 of the Regulations, the following conditions shall be satisfied:
1. the Layout Design has been registered and a public announcement to that effect has been made;
2. the petitioner is the holder of rights in the Layout Design or a work unit or individual with a direct material interest in the infringement dispute;
3. there is a clearly identified respondent;
4. there are clearly defined claims and specific facts and grounds; and
5. none of the parties concerned has instituted an action in a people's court concerning the infringement dispute.
Article 33 Stay and Resumption of Relevant Procedure
If a dispute over the ownership of a Layout Design application right or proprietary rights in a Layout Design arises and a party has instituted an action in a people's court, the State Intellectual Property Office may be petitioned to stay the relevant procedure.
To petition for a stay of the relevant procedure pursuant to the preceding paragraph, a written petition accompanied by a duplicate of the acceptance document issued by the people's court shall be submitted to the State Intellectual Property Office.
After the judgment of the people's court has entered into effect, the concerned party shall carry out formalities with the State Intellectual Property Office for resumption of the relevant procedure. If the dispute over the ownership of the Layout Design application right or the proprietary rights in the Layout Design cannot be resolved within one year of the date of the suspension petition and it is necessary to continue the stay of the relevant procedure, the petitioner shall petition for an extension of the stay within the said time limit. If at the expiration of the time limit no petition for extension has been filed, the State Intellectual Property Office shall resume the relevant procedure of its own motion.
If, during the hearing of a civil case, the people's court rules that preservation measures be taken in respect of proprietary rights in a Layout Design, the State Intellectual Property Office shall, while assisting in enforcement, stay the relevant procedure in which the proprietary rights are involved. If, upon expiration of the term of preservation, the people's court has not ruled that the preservation measures be continued, the State Intellectual Property Office shall resume the relevant procedure of its own motion.
PART FIVE FEES
Article 34 Payable Fees
When application for registration of a Layout Design is made to, or other procedures are carried out with, the State Intellectual Property Office, the following fees shall be paid:
1. Layout Design registration fee;
2. fee for alteration of bibliographic items, petitioning fee for time limit extension or petitioning fee for restoration of rights;
3. petitioning fee for re-examination;
4. petitioning fee for a non-voluntary licence or petitioning fee for a ruling on non-voluntary licence royalties.
The amounts of the fees set forth in the preceding paragraph shall be separately specified by the State Council's price administration authority together with the State Intellectual Property Office.
Article 35 Procedures for the Payment of Fees
The fees provided for in the Regulations and these Rules may be paid directly to the State Intellectual Property Office, remitted through a post office or a bank or paid by another method specified by the State Intellectual Property Office.
If such payments are remitted through a post office or a bank, at minimum the correct application number and the description of the fee being paid shall be written on the remittance slip sent to the State Intellectual Property Office. If the provisions of this paragraph are not complied with, no payment procedures shall be deemed to have been carried out.
If such fee payments are made directly to the State Intellectual Property Office, the date on which payment is made shall be the date of payment. If such fee payments are made by postal remittance, the postal remittance postmark date shall be the date of payment. If such fee payments are made by bank remittance, the actual bank remittance date shall be the date of payment. However, if the State Intellectual Property Office receives such payment more than 15 days after the date of remittance, the date of receipt by the State Intellectual Property Office shall be the date of payment, unless the post office or bank issues proof to the contrary.
If fees for the registration of a Layout Design are overpaid, paid more than once or paid in error, parties may request a refund from the State Intellectual Property Office, provided that such request is made within one year from the fee payment date.
Article 36 Time Limit for Payment
An applicant shall pay the fee for the registration of a Layout Design within two months of receipt of the notice of acceptance. If payment is not made or not made in full within the time limit, the application shall be deemed to have been withdrawn.
If a party petitions for the restoration of rights or for re-examination, the fee shall be paid within the relevant time limit provided for in the Regulations or these Rules. If payment is not made or not made in full within the time limit, the petitioner shall be deemed not to have filed a petition.
Fees for alteration of bibliographical items, petitioning fees for non-voluntary licences and petitioning fees for a ruling on non-voluntary licence royalties shall be paid in accordance with provisions within one month of the date of filing the petition. Petitioning fees for time limit extensions shall be paid by the date on which the relevant time limit expires. If payment is not made or not made in full within the time limit, no petition shall be deemed to have been filed.
PART SIX SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS
Article 37 Register of Layout Designs
The State Intellectual Property Office shall establish a Register of Layout Designs, in which the following particulars shall be recorded:
1. the names, nationalities and addresses of holders of rights in Layout Designs and amendments thereto;
2. registrations of Layout Designs;
3. the transfer of, and succession to, proprietary rights in Layout Designs;
4. the abandonment of proprietary rights in Layout Designs;
5. the pledge or preservation of proprietary rights in Layout Designs and the termination thereof;
6. the revocation of proprietary rights in Layout Designs;
7. the termination of proprietary rights in Layout Designs;
8. the restoration of proprietary rights in Layout Designs;
9. non-voluntary licences of proprietary rights in Layout Designs.
Article 38 Public Announcement of Layout Designs
The State Intellectual Property Office shall periodically publish an official report of the registration of Layout Designs on its website and in the China Intellectual Property News, in which report it shall publish or publicly announce the following particulars:
1. the particulars recorded in the Register of Layout Designs;
2. notices to concerned parties whose addresses are unknown;
3. corrections effected by the State Intellectual Property Office;
4. other relevant particulars.
Article 39 Consultation and Photocopying by the Public
After a Layout Design has been registered and a public announcement to that effect made, the public may request to consult the relevant entry in the Register of Layout Designs or request that the State Intellectual Property Office provide a copy thereof. The public may also request to consult the paper version of the reproduction or drawing of the Layout Design.
No person may consult or reproduce the electronic version of the duplicate or drawing mentioned in Article 14 hereof, except where required for an infringement action or administrative handling procedure.
Article 40 Disposal of Dossiers That Have Become Void
Where an application for the registration of a Layout Design is withdrawn, is deemed to have been withdrawn or is rejected, or where proprietary rights in a Layout Design have been declared abandoned, have been revoked or terminated, the dossier pertaining to the application or proprietary rights shall no longer be kept after the lapse of three years of the date the application or the proprietary rights became void.
Article 41 Mailing of Documents
Documents concerning applications or proprietary rights in Layout Designs that are mailed to the State Intellectual Property Office shall be sent as registered letters. A letter shall contain only documents relating to the same application. Electronic versions of reproductions or drawings and sample integrated circuits shall be mailed in such a manner as to ensure that they are not damaged in the mail.
Article 42 Interpretation of These Rules
The State Intellectual Property Office is in charge of interpreting these Rules.
Article 43 Implementation Date of These Rules
These Rules shall be implemented as of 1 October 2001.
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