About Intellectual Property IP Training Respect for IP IP Outreach IP for… IP and... IP in... Patent & Technology Information Trademark Information Industrial Design Information Geographical Indication Information Plant Variety Information (UPOV) IP Laws, Treaties & Judgements IP Resources IP Reports Patent Protection Trademark Protection Industrial Design Protection Geographical Indication Protection Plant Variety Protection (UPOV) IP Dispute Resolution IP Office Business Solutions Paying for IP Services Negotiation & Decision-Making Development Cooperation Innovation Support Public-Private Partnerships AI Tools & Services The Organization Working with WIPO Accountability Patents Trademarks Industrial Designs Geographical Indications Copyright Trade Secrets WIPO Academy Workshops & Seminars IP Enforcement WIPO ALERT Raising Awareness World IP Day WIPO Magazine Case Studies & Success Stories IP News WIPO Awards Business Universities Indigenous Peoples Judiciaries Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Traditional Cultural Expressions Economics Finance Intangible Assets Gender Equality Global Health Climate Change Competition Policy Sustainable Development Goals Frontier Technologies Mobile Applications Sports Tourism PATENTSCOPE Patent Analytics International Patent Classification ARDI – Research for Innovation ASPI – Specialized Patent Information Global Brand Database Madrid Monitor Article 6ter Express Database Nice Classification Vienna Classification Global Design Database International Designs Bulletin Hague Express Database Locarno Classification Lisbon Express Database Global Brand Database for GIs PLUTO Plant Variety Database GENIE Database WIPO-Administered Treaties WIPO Lex - IP Laws, Treaties & Judgments WIPO Standards IP Statistics WIPO Pearl (Terminology) WIPO Publications Country IP Profiles WIPO Knowledge Center WIPO Technology Trends Global Innovation Index World Intellectual Property Report PCT – The International Patent System ePCT Budapest – The International Microorganism Deposit System Madrid – The International Trademark System eMadrid Article 6ter (armorial bearings, flags, state emblems) Hague – The International Design System eHague Lisbon – The International System of Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications eLisbon UPOV PRISMA UPOV e-PVP Administration UPOV e-PVP DUS Exchange Mediation Arbitration Expert Determination Domain Name Disputes Centralized Access to Search and Examination (CASE) Digital Access Service (DAS) WIPO Pay Current Account at WIPO WIPO Assemblies Standing Committees Calendar of Meetings WIPO Webcast WIPO Official Documents Development Agenda Technical Assistance IP Training Institutions COVID-19 Support National IP Strategies Policy & Legislative Advice Cooperation Hub Technology and Innovation Support Centers (TISC) Technology Transfer Inventor Assistance Program WIPO GREEN WIPO's Pat-INFORMED Accessible Books Consortium WIPO for Creators WIPO Translate Speech-to-Text Classification Assistant Member States Observers Director General Activities by Unit External Offices Job Vacancies Procurement Results & Budget Financial Reporting Oversight
Arabic English Spanish French Russian Chinese
Laws Treaties Judgments Browse By Jurisdiction

Layout-design (Topography) of Integrated Circuits Ordinance (Chapter 445), Hong Kong, China

Back
Superseded Text  Go to latest Version in WIPO Lex
Details Details Year of Version 1997 Dates Adopted: March 31, 1994 Type of Text Main IP Laws Subject Matter Layout Designs of Integrated Circuits, Enforcement of IP and Related Laws Notes The notification by Hong Kong to the WTO under article 63.2 of TRIPS states:
'This Ordinance provides a sui generis intellectual property regime for the protection of layout designs (topographies) of integrated circuits and for legal remedies against infringement'.

Available Materials

Main Text(s) Related Text(s)
Main text(s) Main text(s) English Layout-design (Topography) of Integrated Circuits Ordinance (Chapter 445)        
 Cap. 445 LAYOUT-DESIGN (TOPOGRAPHY) OF INTEGRATED CIRCUITS ORDINANCE

Cap. 445 LAYOUT-DESIGN

(TOPOGRAPHY) OF

INTEGRATED CIRCUITS

ORDINANCE

30/06/1997

An Ordinance to establish an intellectual property regime for the protection

of layout-designs (topographies) of integrated circuits.

[31 March 1994]

1. Short title

This Ordinance may be cited as the Layout-design (Topography) of

Integrated Circuits Ordinance.

2. Interpretation

(1) In this Ordinance, unless the context otherwise requires—

“commercially exploit” (商業開發) includes, by way of trade—

(a) to sell, let for hire or otherwise dispose of;

(b) to offer or expose for sale or hire or otherwise offer to

dispose of or expose for the purpose of disposing of; or

(c) to import for the purpose of sale, letting for hire or other

disposition;

“court” (法院) in sections 20 to 23 means the High Court of Justice;

“designer” (設計師), in the case of a computer aided design of a layout-design (topography), means the person who made the

arrangements for the creation of the layout-design

(topography);

“exclusive licence” (專用特許) means a licence in writing signed by or on behalf of a qualified owner authorizing the licensee to

the exclusion of all other persons, including the person

granting the licence, to exercise a right that would otherwise

be exercisable exclusively by the qualified owner;

“Government use” (政府徵用) means the doing of anything by virtue of the application of sections 19 to 23 that, but for the

application of those sections, would be an infringement of a

qualified owner’s rights under this Ordinance;

“integrated circuit” (集成電路) means a product, in its intermediate or final 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 on, or in or on, a piece of material

and which is intended to perform an electronic function;

“layout-design (topography)” (布圖設計 (拓撲圖 )) means the 3-dimensional disposition, however expressed, of the elements

of an integrated circuit (at least one of which is an active

element) and of some or all of the interconnections of an

integrated circuit, or such a 3-dimensional disposition

prepared for an integrated circuit intended for manufacture;

“protected layout-design (topography)” (受保護的布圖設計(拓撲 圖 )) means a layout-design (topography) that is protected under section 3 and, in sections 19 to 23, includes an

integrated circuit in which the protected layout-design

(topography) is incorporated;

“qualified owner” (合資格擁有人) means—

(a) a qualified person who, under subsection (2), is the

owner of a layout-design (topography); or

(b) a person who, under subsection (2), is the owner of a

layout-design (topography) which was not commercially

exploited anywhere else in the world before it was

commercially exploited in Hong Kong or in a qualifying

country, territory or area,

and includes a person, whether or not he is a qualified person,

who is a successor in title to a qualified owner of the layout-

design (topography);

“qualified person” (合資格的人) means—

(a) a natural person—

(i) who is domiciled or ordinarily resident or has the

right of abode in Hong Kong or in a qualifying

country, territory or area; or

(ii) who has a real and effective industrial or

commercial establishment for the creation of

layout-designs (topographies) or for the production

of integrated circuits in Hong Kong or in a

qualifying country, territory or area; or

(b) a person other than a natural person—

(i) the domicile, place of incorporation or place of

formation of which is in Hong Kong or in a

qualifying country, territory or area; or

(ii) which has a real and effective industrial or

commercial establishment for the creation of

layout-designs (topographies) or for the production

of integrated circuits in Hong Kong or in a

qualifying country, territory or area,

and includes the Government of Hong Kong and the

government of a qualifying country, territory or area;

“qualifying country, territory or area” (合資格國家、領域或地方) means a country, territory or area designated by the Governor

under section 24;

“reproduce” (複製), in relation to a layout-design (topography), includes copying the layout-design (topography) so as to make

an integrated circuit exactly or substantially to that layout-

design (topography).

(2) Subject to an agreement to the contrary, the owner of a layout-

design (topography) shall be determined as follows—

(a) where the layout-design (topography) is not created in

pursuance of a commission or in the course of

employment, the designer of the layout-design

(topography) is the owner;

(b) where the layout-design (topography) is created in

pursuance of a commission, the person who

commissioned the layout-design (topography) is the

owner; and

(c) where the layout­design (topography) is not created in

pursuance of a commission but is created by an

employee in the course of his employment, the employer

is the owner.

(3) A qualified person can be a qualified owner even if he shares

ownership with a person who is not a qualified person.

3. Protected layout­designs (topographies)

(1) This Ordinance protects a layout­design (topography) that is

owned by a qualified owner and—

(a) is original in the sense that it is the result of its creator’s

own intellectual effort and is not commonplace among

creators of layout­designs (topographies) and

manufacturers of integrated circuits at the time of its

creation; or

(b) in the case of a layout­design (topography) that consists

of a combination of elements and interconnections that

are commonplace, the combination, taken as a whole, is

original in the sense that it is the result of its creator’s

own intellectual effort and is not commonplace among

creators of layout­designs (topographies) and

manufacturers of integrated circuits at the time of its

creation.

(2) This Ordinance does not protect a layout­design (topography)

that is created before the commencement of this Ordinance.

(3) This Ordinance protects all independently created layout­

designs (topographies) referred to in subsection (1), even if

they are identical and, subject to section 6, regardless of when

they are, on or after the commencement of this Ordinance,

created.

(4) A layout­design (topography) shall be deemed not to have

been created until it has been recorded in documentary form or

incorporated into an integrated circuit.

4. Rights of a qualified owner

(1) A qualified owner has the right—

(a) to reproduce, whether by incorporation into an integrated

circuit or otherwise, all or part of his protected layout­

design (topography); or

(b) to commercially exploit his protected layout­design

(topography), an integrated circuit in which his protected

layout­design (topography) is incorporated or an article

that contains an integrated circuit in which his protected

layout­design (topography) is incorporated.

(2) It is an infringement of a qualified owner’s right in a protected

layout­design (topography) for any person other than the

qualified owner to do the acts referred to in subsection (1).

5. Non­infringing acts

Despite section 4(2), it is not, for the purposes of this Ordinance, an

infringement of a qualified owner’s right in a protected layout­

design (topography)—

(a) if the reproduction or commercial exploitation is done

with the qualified owner’s consent;

(b) if the reproduction is done privately not for the purpose

of commercial exploitation;

(c) if the reproduction is done for the sole purpose of

evaluation, analysis, research or teaching;

(d) to use the results of an evaluation, analysis or research of

the layout­design (topography) to create a different

layout­design (topography) that would be a protected

layout­design (topography);

(e) for a qualified owner of a protected layout­design

(topography) that is, as referred to in section 3(3),

identical to the qualified owner’s protected layout­design

(topography) to do the acts referred to in section 4(1); or

(f) to commercially exploit an integrated circuit in which the

layout­design (topography) is incorporated or an article

that contains an integrated circuit in which the layout­

design (topography) is incorporated after that integrated

circuit or that article has been put on the market

anywhere in the world with the qualified owner’s

consent.

6. Duration of layout­design (topography) protection

(1) A layout­design (topography) ceases to be a protected layout­

design (topography) 10 years after the end of the year in which

it was first commercially exploited, with the qualified owner’s

consent, anywhere in the world.

(2) Where a layout­design (topography) has not been

commercially exploited, with the qualified owner’s consent,

anywhere in the world, within 15 years after the end of the

year in which it was created, it ceases to be a protected layout­

design (topography) at the end of that time.

7. Civil remedies for infringement

(1) A qualified owner may take whatever proceedings and seek

whatever remedy by way of damages, injunctions, accounts or

otherwise with respect to an infringement of his rights in a

protected layout­design (topography) as are available with

respect to any other property rights.

(2) In any proceeding in which damages may be awarded, the

court may, having regard to all of the circumstances of the

case including the flagrancy of the infringement and any

benefit accruing to the defendant by reason of the

infringement, award additional damages.

8. Order for delivery up

(1) Where a person has in his possession, custody or control—

(a) for commercial exploitation purposes an integrated

circuit in which a protected layout­design (topography) is

incorporated; or

(b) anything specifically designed or adapted for making

integrated circuits to a particular layout­design

(topography), knowing or having reason to believe that it

has been or is to be used to make an integrated circuit in

which a protected layout­design (topography) is

incorporated,

a qualified owner of the protected layout­design (topography)

may apply to the court for an order that the integrated circuit

or the thing referred to in paragraph (b) be delivered to the

qualified owner or to another person that the court specifies.

(2) The court shall not make an order for delivery up unless it also

makes, or it appears to the court that there are grounds for

making, an order under section 9.

(3) An application for an order under this section shall not be

made after 6 years after the integrated circuit or the thing

referred to in subsection (1)(b) was made.

(4) Despite subsection (3), if during the whole or any part of the 6

years the qualified owner is under a disability or is prevented

by fraud or concealment from discovering the facts entitling

him to apply for an order, an application may be made at any

time before the end of 6 years after the date on which he

ceased to be under a disability or, as the case may be, could

with reasonable diligence have discovered the facts.

(5) A person to whom an integrated circuit or the thing referred to

in subsection (1)(b) is delivered up shall, if an order under

section 9 is not made at the time of the order under this

section, retain the integrated circuit or thing pending the

making of an order, or a decision not to make an order, under

section 9.

9. Order for disposal

(1) An application may be made to the court for—

(a) an order that the integrated circuit or the thing delivered

up under section 8 be forfeited to the qualified owner,

destroyed or disposed of as it specifies; or

(b) a decision that no order be made under paragraph (a).

(2) In deciding what order or decision to make under subsection

(1), the court shall consider whether other remedies available

to the qualified owner would be adequate to compensate or

protect his interest.

(3) Where there is more than one person who is an owner of the

layout­design (topography), the court may make whatever

order it considers appropriate under subsection (1) in order to

do justice between the owners and it may, in particular, direct

that the integrated circuit or the thing referred to in section

8(1)(b) be disposed of and the proceeds be divided among the

owners as the court directs.

(4) If the court decides that no order should be made under this

section, the person in whose possession, custody or control the

integrated circuit or the thing was before being delivered up is

entitled to its return.

10. Innocent infringement

(1) It is a defence in a proceeding to enforce a qualified owner’s

rights under this Ordinance for a person who commercially

exploits a protected layout­design (topography), an integrated

circuit in which a protected layout­design (topography) is

incorporated or an article that contains an integrated circuit in

which a protected layout­design (topography) is incorporated

to prove that he did not know, and had no reasonable grounds

to know, when he acquired the layout­design (topography),

integrated circuit or article that it was a protected layout­

design (topography), that the integrated circuit incorporated a

protected layout­design (topography) or that the article

contained an integrated circuit in which a protected layout­

design (topography) is incorporated.

(2) Where a person referred to in subsection (1) has become aware

that the layout­design (topography) is a protected layout­

design (topography), that the integrated circuit incorporates a

protected layout­design (topography) or that the article

contains an integrated circuit in which a protected layout­

design (topography) is incorporated he may commercially

exploit the protected layout­design (topography), the

integrated circuit in which the protected layout­design

(topography) is incorporated or the article that contains the

integrated circuit in which the layout­design (topography) is

incorporated but he is liable to pay to the qualified owner an

amount of royalty that would be payable under a freely

negotiated licence for the layout­design (topography).

(3) The right to commercially exploit under subsection (2) applies

only to a protected layout­design (topography), integrated

circuit or article that came into the possession, custody or

control of or was ordered by the person before he became

aware that the layout­design (topography) is a protected

layout­design (topography), that the integrated circuit

incorporated a protected layout­design (topography) or that the

article contained an integrated circuit in which a protected

layout­design (topography) is incorporated.

11. Presumption of protection and ownership

In a proceeding to enforce a qualified owner’s rights under this

Ordinance it shall be presumed, unless a defendant puts the matter

in issue, that in respect of the layout­design (topography) that is the

subject­matter of the proceedings—

(a) the plaintiff is a qualified owner of the layout­design

(topography); and

(b) the layout­design (topography) is a protected layout­

design (topography).

12. Affidavit evidence

(1) In a proceeding to enforce a qualified owner’s rights under this

Ordinance evidence may be submitted by affidavit asserting

facts relevant to show that—

(a) the plaintiff is a qualified owner of the layout­design

(topography); and

(b) the layout­design (topography) is a protected layout­

design (topography).

(2) Where the court considers, on the application of a party, that

the deponent to an affidavit should be available to be cross-

examined with respect to matters asserted in the affidavit, it

shall exclude the admission of the affidavit without the

appearance of the deponent.

13. Groundless threat of proceedings

(1) Where a person, by means of circulars, advertisements or

otherwise, threatens another person with proceedings in

respect of an infringement of a right under this Ordinance,

then, whether or not the person making the threat is a qualified

owner, the court may, on the application of a person aggrieved,

do one or more of the following—

(a) declare that the threat is unjustified;

(b) grant an injunction against the continuance of the threat;

(c) award compensation for damage sustained.

(2) The court shall not make any order under subsection (1) if the

defendant satisfies the court that the acts in respect of which

the proceeding was threatened constituted, or would

constitute, an infringement of a qualified owner’s right under

this Ordinance.

(3) The mere notification of the existence of a right under this

Ordinance does not constitute a threat of a proceeding for the

purposes of subsection (1).

(4) An application may not be brought under this section where

the threat is to bring a proceeding for an infringement that is

alleged to consist of making or importing anything.

Dealings with a layout-design (topography) right

14. Assignments and licences of layout-design (topography)

(1) A right in a layout-design (topography) is movable property

and is therefore transmissible by any means by which such

property may be lawfully transmitted including assignment,

licence, testamentary instrument and operation of law.

(2) An assignment or transmission may be total or partial.

(3) An assignment is ineffective unless it is in writing and signed

by or on behalf of the assignor.

(4) A licence granted in respect of a layout-design (topography)

right by a qualified owner binds each successor in title to his

interest in the right, except a purchaser in good faith for value

without notice (actual or constructive) of the licence and a

person who derives title from the purchaser.

15. Prospective ownership of layout-design (topography)

(1) Where, by an agreement made in relation to a future right in a

layout-design (topography) that is signed by or on behalf of

the person who would be the owner of the right on its coming

into existence, the person purports to assign the future right in

the layout-design (topography), wholly or partially, to an

assignee, the right, on coming into existence, vests in the

assignee or his successor in title.

(2) A licence granted in respect of a future layout-design

(topography) right by a prospective qualified owner binds each

successor in title to his interest (or prospective interest) in the

right, except a purchaser in good faith for value without notice

(actual or constructive) of the licence and a person who

derives title from the purchaser.

16. Exclusive licence

(1) An exclusive licensee has the same rights against a successor

in title to the qualified owner as he has against the grantor of

the licence.

(2) An exclusive licensee has, except against the qualified owner,

the same rights and remedies in respect of matters occurring

after the grant of the exclusive licence as if the licence had

been an assignment.

(3) An exclusive licensee’s rights and remedies are concurrent

with those of the qualified owner.

(4) In a proceeding brought by an exclusive licensee a defendant

may avail himself of any defence that would have been

available to him if the proceeding had been brought by the

qualified owner.

17. Exercise of concurrent rights

(1) Where a proceeding for infringement of a qualified owner’s

right in a layout-design (topography) is brought by a qualified

owner or an exclusive licensee and the proceeding relates

wholly or partly to an infringement in respect of which they

have concurrent rights of action, neither of them, without

leave of the court, may continue with the proceeding unless

the other is joined as a plaintiff or added as a defendant.

(2) A qualified owner shall, by post or otherwise, notify any

exclusive licensee who has concurrent rights of action in

respect of an infringement of a layout-design (topography)

before applying for an order for delivery up under section 8,

and the court may on the application of the licensee make a

delivery up order that it considers just having regard to the

terms of the licence.

(3) Subsection (1) does not apply to an application by a qualified

owner or exclusive licensee for interlocutory relief.

(4) A qualified owner or exclusive licensee who is added as a

defendant pursuant to subsection (1) is not liable for costs in

the proceeding unless he takes part in the proceeding.

(5) Where a proceeding for infringement of a qualified owner’s

right in a layout-design (topography) is brought and the

proceeding relates wholly or partly to an infringement in

respect of which a qualified owner and an exclusive licensee

have concurrent rights of action—

(a) the court shall, in assessing damages, take into account

the terms of the licence and any pecuniary remedy

previously awarded or available to either of them in

respect of the infringement;

(b) the court shall, if an account of profits is directed,

apportion the profits between them as the court considers

just, subject to any agreement between them; and

(c) the court shall not, if an award of damages has been

made or an account of profits has been directed in favour

of either of them, direct that an account of profits be

made in favour of the other in respect of the

infringement.

(6) Subsection (5) applies whether or not the qualified owner and

the exclusive licensee are both parties to the proceeding.

Government use of protected layout-designs (topographies)

18. Declaration of extreme urgency

The Governor in Council may, for the purposes of applying sections

19 to 23, by regulation declare a period of extreme urgency

whenever he considers it necessary or expedient—

(a) for the maintenance of supplies and services essential to

the life of the community; or

(b) for securing sufficient supplies and services essential to

the life of the community.

19. Government use of protected layout-designs (topographies)

(1) During a period of declared extreme urgency a public officer

authorized in writing by the Governor may without the

consent of a qualified owner—

(a) do anything for the purpose of acquiring protected

layout-designs (topographies) for the non-exclusive use

of the Government for use in Hong Kong; or

(b) dispose of protected layout-designs (topographies).

(2) A person who acquires from a public officer a protected

layout-design (topography) disposed of under subsection (1)

may deal with it in the same manner as if the Government

were the owner of the protected layout-design (topography).

20. Terms for Government use

(1) Where Government use is made of a protected layout-design

(topography) the Government shall, unless the identity or

whereabouts of the qualified owner cannot be ascertained on

reasonable inquiry, by post or otherwise, notify the qualified

owner as soon as practicable and give him information from

time to time if the situation changes as to the extent of the

Government use of the protected layout-design (topography).

(2) Government use of the protected layout-design (topography)

shall be on terms that are, either before or after the use, agreed

to between the Government and the qualified owner or, where

no agreement is reached, on terms determined by the court.

21. Rights of third parties in case of Government use

(1) The provisions of a licence, assignment or agreement made

between a qualified owner (or any person deriving title from

him or from whom he derives title) and any person other than

the Government are of no effect in relation to Government use

of the qualified owner’s protected layout-design (topography)

so far as the provisions—

(a) restrict or regulate anything done in relation to the

protected layout-design (topography); or

(b) provide for the making of payments in respect of the use

or calculated by reference to the use.

(2) Where an exclusive licence is in force in respect of the

protected layout-design (topography)—

(a) if the licence was granted for royalties (including any

benefit determined by reference to the use of the

protected layout-design (topography))—

(i) any agreement between the qualified owner and the

Government under section 20 requires the consent

of the licensee; and

(ii) the licensee is entitled to recover from the qualified

owner whatever portion of the payment for

Government use under section 20 as they have

agreed or, in the absence of an agreement, as

determined by the court; and

(b) if the licence was granted otherwise than for royalties—

(i) section 20 applies in relation to anything done

which but for subsection (1) and section 19 would

be an infringement of the rights of the licensee,

with the substitution in those provisions of

references to the qualified owner with references to

the licensee; and

(ii) section 20 does not apply in relation to anything

done by the licensee by virtue of an authority given

under section 19.

(3) Where the protected layout-design (topography) has been

assigned to the qualified owner for royalties, section 20

applies in relation to Government use of the protected layout-

design (topography) as if the references to the qualified owner

included the assignor, and any payment for Government use

under section 20 shall be divided between them in whatever

proportion they have agreed or, in the absence of an

agreement, as determined by the court.

22. Compensation for loss of profit due to Government use

(1) Where Government use is made of a protected layout-design

(topography) the Government shall pay—

(a) to the qualified owner; or

(b) if there is an exclusive licence in respect of the protected

layout-design (topography), to the exclusive licensee,

compensation for any loss resulting from his not being

awarded a contract to supply integrated circuits in which the

protected layout-design (topography) is incorporated.

(2) Compensation is payable only to the extent that a contract

could have been fulfilled from the qualified owner’s or

exclusive licensee’s existing production capacity, but is

payable despite the existence of circumstances that would

render him ineligible for the award of such a contract.

(3) In determining the loss, regard shall be had to the profit which

would have been made on such a contract and to the extent to

which any production capacity was under-used.

(4) No compensation is payable in respect of any failure to secure

contracts for the supply of integrated circuits in which the

protected layout-design (topography) is incorporated,

otherwise than for the services of the Government.

(5) The amount payable is in addition to any amount payable

under section 20 or 21.

(6) The amount payable shall be determined by the court if it is

not agreed between the qualified owner or exclusive licensee

and the Government.

23. Determination of matters by the court

(1) A dispute as to any matter which is to be determined by the

court under section 20, 21 or 22 may be referred to the court

by application of any party to the dispute.

(2) In determining a dispute between the Government and any

person as to the terms for Government use of the protected

layout-design (topography), the court shall have regard to—

(a) any money which that person or a person from whom he

derives title has received or is entitled to receive, directly

or indirectly, from the Government in respect of the

protected layout-design (topography); and

(b) whether that person or a person from whom he derives

title has in the court’s opinion, without reasonable cause,

failed to comply with a request of the Government for

the use of the protected layout-design (topography) on

reasonable terms.

(3) One of 2 or more joint qualified owners of the protected

layout-design (topography) may, with the agreement of the

others, refer a dispute to the court under this section, but shall

not do so unless the others are made parties, and none of those

others is liable for any costs unless he takes part in the

proceedings.

(4) Where the consent of an exclusive licensee is required by

section 21(2)(a)(i), a determination by the court of the amount

of any payment to be made for Government use is ineffective

unless the licensee has been notified of the reference to the

court and given an opportunity to be heard.

(5) On the reference of a dispute under section 21(2)(a)(ii) as to

the portion recoverable, the court shall determine what is just

having regard to any expenditure incurred by the licensee—

(a) in developing the protected layout-design (topography);

or

(b) in making payments to the qualified owner in

consideration of the licence (other than royalties or other

payments determined by reference to the use of the

protected layout-design (topography)).

24. Designation of qualifying countries

(1) In this section “qualified owner” (合資格擁有人) means a person who is a qualified owner by virtue of relationship to

Hong Kong under the definition of qualified person.

(2) The Governor may, by regulation, designate a country,

territory or area as a qualifying country, territory or area if he

considers that provisions have been or will be made under the

laws of that country, territory or area that will give to a

qualified owner under this Ordinance adequate protection in

that country, territory or area.


Legislation Is superseded by (3 text(s)) Is superseded by (3 text(s)) WTO Document Reference
IP/N/1/HKG/L/1
No data available.

WIPO Lex No. HK016