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Protection of semiconductor topographies
Semi-conductor products (chips) can be protected by means of patents and are subjected in this respect to the same conditions as inventions in other fields.
Many countries have judged it useful to provide a title of protection specially adapted to semiconductor products. This new form of protection enables the layout of a circuit to be protected at a reasonable cost, independent of its achieved function.
The filing of semiconductor topographies is cost-effective and enables efficient protection against slavish infringement and reverse-engineering. The register of topographies is public, so that the characteristics of the field circuits cannot subsequently be patented. The topographies thus protect, with minimal formalities, against the risk of third-party infringement of patents subsequently filed.
Although the number of topographies filed remains modest to date, an increase is to be expected when the manufacturers and their counsels become better acquainted with this new title of protection.
