REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9150
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE PROTECTION OF LAYOUT-DESIGNS (TOPOGRAPHIES) OF INTEGRATED CIRCUITS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE CERTAIN SECTIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8293, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
SECTION 1. Sections 112, 113, 114, 116, 117, 118, 119 and 120 under Chapter XIII of R. A. No. 8293 are hereby amended to read as follows:
CHAPTER XIII
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN AND LAYOUT-DESIGNS (“TOPOGRAPHIES) OF INTEGRATED CIRCUITS
SEC. 112. Definition of Terms:
1. An Industrial Design is any composition of lines or colors or any three-dimensional form, whether or not associated with lines or colors: Provided, That such composition or form gives a special appearance to and can serve as pattern for an industrial product or handicraft;
2. Integrated Circuit means a product, in its final form, or an intermediate form, in which the elements, at least one of which is an active element, and some or all of the interconnections are integrally formed in and/or on a piece of material, and which is intended to perform an electronic function; and
3. Layout-Design is synonymous with ‘Topography’ and means the three-dimensional disposition, however expressed, of the elements, at least one of which is an active element, and of some or all of the interconnections of an integrated circuit, or such a three-dimensional disposition prepared for an integrated circuit intended for manufacture.”
SEC. 113. Substantive Conditions for Protection. – 113.1. Only industrial designs that are new or ornamental shall benefit from protection under this Act.
113.2. Industrial designs dictated essentially by technical or functional considerations to obtain a technical result or those that are contrary to public order, health or morals shall not be protected.
113.3. Only layout-designs of integrated circuits that are original shall benefit from protection under this Act. A layout-design shall be considered original if it is the result of its creator’s own intellectual effort and is not commonplace among creators of layout-designs and manufacturers of integrated circuits at the time of its creation.
113.4. A layout-design consisting of a combination of elements and interconnections that are commonplace shall be protected only if the combination, taken as a whole, is original.”
SEC. 114. Contents of the Application. – 114.1. Every application for registration of an industrial design or layout-design shall contain:
(a) A request for registration of the industrial design or layout-design;
(b) Information identifying the applicant;
(c) An indication of the kind of article of manufacture or handicraft to which the industrial design or layout-design shall be applied;
(d) A representation of the article of manufacture or handicraft by way of drawings, photographs or adequate graphic representation of the industrial design or of the layout-design as applied to the article of manufacture or handicraft which clearly and fully discloses those features for which protection is claimed; and
(e) The name and address of the creator, or where the applicant is not the creator, a statement indicating the origin of the right to the industrial design or layout-design registration.
114.2. The application may be accompanied by a specimen of the article embodying the industrial design or layout-design and shall be subject to the payment of the prescribed fee.”
SEC. 116. Examination. – 116.1. The Office shall accord as the filing date the date of receipt of the application containing indications allowing the identity of the applicant to be established and a representation of the article embodying the industrial design or the layout-design or a pictorial representation thereof.
116.2. If the application does not meet these requirements, the filing date should be that date when all the elements specified in Sec. 114 are filed or the mistakes corrected. Otherwise, if the requirements are not complied within the prescribed period, the application shall be considered withdrawn.
116.3. After the application has been accorded a filing date and the required fees paid on time, the applicant shall comply with the requirements of Sec. 114 within the prescribed period, otherwise the application shall be considered withdrawn.
116.4. The Office shall examine whether the industrial design or layout-design complies with requirements of Sec. 112 (Definitions) and Sec. 113 (Substantive Conditions for Protection).”
SEC. 117. Registration. – 117.1 Where the Office finds that the conditions referred to in Sec. 113 are fulfilled, it shall order that registration be effected in the industrial design or layout-design register and cause the issuance of an industrial design or layout-design certificate of registration; otherwise, it shall refuse the application.
117.2. The form and contents of an industrial design or layout-design certificate shall be established by the Regulations: Provided, that the name and address of the creator shall be mentioned in every case.
117.3. Registration shall be published in the form and within the period fixed by the Regulations.
117.4. The Office shall record in the register any change in the identity of the proprietor of the industrial design or layout-design or his representative, if proof thereof is furnished to it. A fee shall be paid, with the request to record the change in the identity of the proprietor. If the fee is not paid, the request shall be deemed not to have been filed. In such case, the former proprietor and the former representative shall remain subject to the rights and obligations as provided in this Act.
117.5. Anyone may inspect the Register and the files of registered industrial designs or layout-designs including files of cancellation proceedings.”
SEC. 118. The Term of Industrial Design or Layout-Design Registration. – 118.1. The registration of an industrial design shall be for a period of five (5) years from the filing date of the application.
118.2. The registration of an industrial design may be renewed for not more than two (2) consecutive periods of five (5) years each, by paying the renewal fee.
118.3. The renewal fee shall be paid within twelve (12) months preceding the expiration of the period of registration. However, a grace period of six (6) months shall be granted for payment of the fees after such expiration, upon payment of a surcharge.
118.4. The Regulations shall fix the amount of renewal fee, the surcharge and other requirements regarding the recording of renewals of registration.
118.5. Registration of a layout-design shall be valid for a period of ten (10) years, without renewal, and such validity to be counted from the date of commencement of the protection accorded to the layout-design. The protection of a layout-design under this Act shall commence:
a) on the date of the first commercial exploitation, anywhere in the world, of the layout-design by or with the consent of the right holder: Provided, That an application for registration is filed with the Intellectual Property Office within two (2) years from such date of first commercial exploitation; or
b) on the filing date accorded to the application for the registration of the layout-design if the layout-design has not been previously exploited commercially anywhere in the world.”
