Provides automatic protection of original layout designs for integrated circuits, computer chips and the like. The owner of the original circuit layout has the exclusive right to copy the layout in a material form, making integrated circuits from the layout, and exploit it commercially by way of importation, sale, hire, license or distribution of a layout or integrated circuit made according to the layout.

There are no requirements to register a circuit layout to be protected.

Circuit layout rights are administered by the Federal Attorney-General's Department. Visit their website for more information.

What's next...

• Do your market research before commercialising your product.
• Hiring a patent or trade mark lawyer