Editing Integrated circuit (section)

== Intellectual property ==
{{Main|Integrated circuit layout design protection}}

The possibility of copying by photographing each layer of an integrated circuit and preparing [[photomasks]] for its production on the basis of the photographs obtained is a reason for the introduction of legislation for the protection of layout designs. The US [[Semiconductor Chip Protection Act of 1984]] established intellectual property protection for photomasks used to produce integrated circuits.<ref name="USC-circ100">{{cite web|title=Federal Statutory Protection for Mask Works|url=https://copyright.gov/circs/circ100.pdf|website=United States Copyright Office|access-date=22 October 2016}}</ref>

A diplomatic conference held at Washington, D.C., in 1989 adopted a Treaty on Intellectual Property in Respect of Integrated Circuits,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wipo.int/treaties/en/ip/washington/index.html|title=Washington Treaty on Intellectual Property in Respect of Integrated Circuits|website=www.wipo.int}}</ref> also called the Washington Treaty or IPIC Treaty. The treaty is currently not in force, but was partially integrated into the [[TRIPS]] agreement.<ref>On 1 January 1995, the ''Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights'' (TRIPs) (Annex 1C to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement), went into force. Part II, section 6 of TRIPs protects semiconductor chip products and was the basis for Presidential Proclamation No. 6780, 23 March 1995, under SCPA § 902(a)(2), extending protection to all present and future WTO members.</ref>

There are several United States patents connected to the integrated circuit, which include patents by [[Jack Kilby|J.S. Kilby]] {{US patent|3138743|US3,138,743}}, {{US patent|3261081|US3,261,081}}, {{US patent|3434015|US3,434,015}} and by R.F. Stewart {{US patent|3138747|US3,138,747}}.

National laws protecting IC layout designs have been adopted in a number of countries, including Japan,<ref>Japan was the first country to enact its own version of the SCPA, the Japanese "Act Concerning the Circuit Layout of a Semiconductor Integrated Circuit" of 1985.</ref> the [[European Economic Community|EC]],<ref>In 1986 the EC promulgated a directive requiring its members to adopt national legislation for the protection of semiconductor topographies. Council Directive 1987/54/EEC of 16 December 1986 on the ''Legal Protection of Topographies of Semiconductor Products'', art. 1(1)(b), 1987 O.J. (L 24) 36.</ref> the UK, Australia, and Korea. The UK enacted the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, c. 48, § 213, after it initially took the position that its copyright law fully protected chip topographies. See [[British Leyland Motor Corp. v. Armstrong Patents Co.]]

Criticisms of inadequacy of the UK copyright approach as perceived by the US [[semiconductor industry|chip industry]] are summarized in further chip rights developments.<ref>{{cite journal|doi=10.1109/MM.1985.304489|title=MicroLaw|journal=IEEE Micro|volume=5|issue=4|pages=90–92|year=1985|last1=Stern|first1=Richard}}</ref>

Australia passed the Circuit Layouts Act of 1989 as a ''sui generis'' form of chip protection.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Radomsky |first1=Leon |title=Sixteen Years after the Passage of the U.S. Semiconductor Chip Protection Act: Is International Protection Working |journal=Berkeley Technology Law Journal |date=2000 |volume=15 |page=1069 |url=https://heinonline.org/HOL/P?h=hein.journals/berktech15&i=1059 |access-date=13 September 2022}}</ref> Korea passed the ''Act Concerning the Layout-Design of Semiconductor Integrated Circuits'' in 1992.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Kukkonen |first1=Carl A. III |title=The Need to Abolish Registration for Integrated Circuit Topographies under Trips |journal=IDEA: The Journal of Law and Technology |date=1997–1998 |volume=38 |page=126 |url=https://heinonline.org/HOL/P?h=hein.journals/idea38&i=115 |access-date=13 September 2022}}</ref>