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IC Layout-Design Protection

Chang Tsi & Partners provides full-cycle legal services for integrated circuit layout-design (ICLD) protection, serving IC design enterprises, semiconductor research institutions, and individual designers across Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, Macao SAR, and Taiwan. Drawing on both our patent agency qualification and law firm credentials, we handle ICLD registration applications and related follow-up matters, and provide comprehensive support in dispute resolution, litigation, and legal advisory.
     
ICLD protection operates under a distinct legal framework separate from the patent system, with its own examination standards—registration requires the applicant to demonstrate that the layout-design is the product of their own intellectual effort and possesses originality; moreover, the application must be filed within two years of first commercial exploitation or the right to register is forfeited. In dispute resolution, cancellation proceedings draw on our patent agency qualification while civil and administrative litigation rely on our law firm credentials, enabling seamless legal support from administrative rights confirmation through judicial remedies.

 

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Our Services

  • Full-process registration agency: originality assessment, document preparation, examination follow-up, and registration publication
  • Filing strategy planning: identify core circuit outputs and develop filing plans aligned with commercialisation timelines
  • Reexamination and office action responses
  • Registration certificate management: protection period tracking, expiry alerts, portfolio assessment, and maintenance recommendations
  • ICLD database searches, originality assessments, and similar layout-design identification
  • FTO legal assessments and competitor layout-design registration monitoring
  • ICLD exclusive rights cancellation proceedings (filing and defence)
  • Administrative complaints and enforcement assistance: file complaints with CNIPA and provincial IP authorities to curb infringement through administrative channels; e-commerce platform and trade fair takedowns
  • Civil litigation: infringement litigation, preliminary injunctions, ownership disputes, mediation and settlement
  • Administrative litigation: challenge reexamination or cancellation decisions
  • Licence agreement drafting and negotiation (exclusive/non-exclusive)
  • ICLD exclusive right assignments: due diligence, agreement drafting, CNIPA registration and recordation
  • Infringement dispute settlement negotiations and compliance arrangements

 

Professional Team

At the rights acquisition stage, we provide full-process agency services for ICLD registration applications and related follow-up matters, together with legally-led search and assessment services, helping clients establish effective IP protection from the chip R&D stage.

Our Services

  • Full-process registration agency: originality assessment, document preparation, examination follow-up, and registration publication
  • Filing strategy planning: identify core circuit outputs and develop filing plans aligned with product commercialisation timelines (noting the statutory two-year deadline from first commercial exploitation)
  • Reexamination and office action responses: analyse examination opinions, draft amendment documents, and follow through to registration or final decision
  • Registration certificate management: protection period tracking (ICLD exclusive rights last 10 years), expiry alerts, portfolio assessment, and maintenance recommendations
  • ICLD database searches, originality assessments, and similar layout-design identification
  • FTO legal assessments: identify layout-design right risks in target IC product distribution
  • Competitor layout-design registration monitoring and validity assessments

 

Professional Team

In ICLD dispute resolution, cancellation proceedings draw on our patent agency qualification, while civil litigation, administrative litigation, and administrative complaints rely on our law firm credentials. The combination of both qualifications enables us to provide seamless legal support—from administrative rights confirmation through judicial remedies.

Our Services

  • Cancellation proceedings for ICLD exclusive rights: file or defend cancellations on statutory grounds such as lack of originality or missed registration deadlines.
  • Administrative complaints and enforcement assistance: file complaints with CNIPA and provincial IP authorities to curb infringement through administrative channels; e-commerce platform and trade fair takedowns.
  • Civil litigation: infringement litigation, preliminary injunctions, ownership disputes, mediation and settlement.
  • Administrative litigation: challenge reexamination or cancellation decisions before the competent court.
  • Infringement investigation and evidence preservation: market investigations, technical appraisal assistance, and notarised evidence collection.

 

Professional Team

We assist clients in realising the commercial value of their ICLD exclusive rights through licence agreement drafting and negotiation, assignment transaction support, and infringement dispute settlement.

Our Services

  • Draft, review, and negotiate ICLD exclusive right licence agreements (exclusive/non-exclusive).
  • Infringement dispute settlement negotiations: cessation of infringement, compensation, and post-settlement compliance arrangements.
  • ICLD exclusive right assignments: due diligence, agreement drafting, registration and recordation.
  • Resolve ownership or benefit-sharing disputes arising from chip R&D collaborations.

 

Professional Team