DECREE ON THE EXCLUSIVE RIGHT IN THE LAYOUT -DESIGN 
(TOPOGRAPHY) OF AN INTEGRATED CIRCUIT 14.6.1991/946  
 
 
Application for Registration  
 
Section 1  
 
Registration of layout -designs (topographies) is applied for from the National Board of 
Patents and Registration, hereinafter the ‘registering authority’.  
 
Section 2  
 
Applications for registration shall consist of an application document and accompanying  
documents.  
 
The application document shall be signed by the applicant or his representative and it shall 
contain:  
 
(1) the applicant’s name, domicile, address and, if the applicant has appointed a 
representative, also the representative’s name and addre ss;  
 
(2) the year in which the layout -design was created and the creator’s name and address and, 
if he is not a Finnish citizen or is not domiciled in Finland, also his citizenship and habitual 
residence;  
 
(3) if the layout -design has been distributed to  the public before filing a registration 
application, an indication of the date when the layout -design was first distributed to the 
public;  
 
(4) a concise title for the layout -design referred to in the registration application;  
 
(5) an assurance to the e ffect that the layout -design is the result of creative and original 
intellectual work and that it has not been copied directly from another layout -design; and  
 
(6) a list of the documents accompanying the application document.  
 
The application document shall be accompanied by:  
 
(1) all materials necessary for the identification of the layout -design;  
 
(2) if the applicant has appointed a representative, the power of attorney issued to the 
representative; and  
 
(3) if a person ot her than the applicant has created the layout -design, a document providing 
proof of the applicant’s entitlement thereto.  
 
The application document shall be accompanied by a proof of payment of the registration 
fee.   
 
 
Section 3  
 
The application shall be  written in Finnish or Swedish in compliance with the applicable 
language laws. The title of the layout -design shall be given both in Finnish and Swedish.  
A translation into Finnish or Swedish shall be provided of any document in a foreign 
language accomp anying the application, if the registering authority so requires.  
 
Section 4  
 
The application shall relate to the layout -design in the form it has on the filing date of the 
application or, if the layout -design has been distributed to the public before th e filing of the 
registration application, in the form it had at the time it was first distributed to the public.  
Materials necessary for identification of layout -designs  
 
Section 5  
 
The materials necessary for the identification of layout -designs shall contain drawings or 
photographs of:  
 
(1) the layout -design;  
 
(2) the mask, or the part of it, of which an integrated circuit has been or can be made; and  
 
(3) the different layers of the integrated circuit.  
 
For the identification of the layout -design, data carriers may also be given on which data has 
been stored on the layout -design in a computer -readable form, as well as printouts of such 
files, further clarifications, and integrated circuits made on the bas is of the layout -design.  
 
If the layout -design to be registered is only a part of a whole on the basis of which an 
integrated circuit has been or can be made, a statement shall be given indicating which part 
of the area of the whole the layout -design to b e registered corresponds to.  
 
No drawing or other clarification needs to be submitted on any such part of the layout -
design as relates to the way of making the integrated circuit, if the parts included in the 
application are sufficient to identify the lay out-design.  
 
Section 6  
 
The materials necessary for identifying the layout -design shall be submitted in two copies. 
The drawings and other written material shall be of A4 size (210 mm x 297 mm).  
 
Sections 7 to 9  
 
Sections 7 to 9 have been repealed by decree 694/1999.  
 Record of Applications  
 
 
 
Section 10  
 
The registering authority makes a note of the serial number and date of receipt on the 
registration application.  
 
The registration application is deemed to ha ve been received only when the application 
document containing the information referred to in section 2(2)(1 -5), a proof of payment of 
the registration fee and the material referred to in section 5(1) have been received by the 
registering authority. The re gistering authority shall notify the applicant of the confirmed 
date of receipt of the application.  
 
Section 11  
 
The registering authority shall keep a record of registration applications filed. The record 
shall be accessible to the public.  
 
The following particulars shall be entered in the record for each application:  
(1) the date of receipt and serial number of the application;  
(2) the name, domicile and address of the applicant;  
(3) if the applicant has appointed a representative, the na me and address of the 
representative;  
(4) the title of the layout -design;  
(5) the documents filed and fees paid in respect of the application; and  
(6) decisions taken in respect of the application.  
  
Processing of registration applications  
 
Section 12  
 
A layout -design is entered in the Register of Layout -designs, if:  
 
(1) the application relates to the layout -design of an integrated circuit; and  
 
(2) on the basis of the information given, the application meets the requirements set out in 
sections 4, 5 and 6(3) as well as 14 and 15 of the Act on the Exclusive Right in the Layout -
Design of an Integrated Circuit (No. 32/1991).  
 
A layout -design to be entered in the Register of Layout -Designs is given a registration 
number. The applicant shall be issued a  certificate for the registration.  
 
Section 13  
 
Section 13 has been repealed by decree 694/1999.  
 
Register of Layout -Designs   
Section 14  
 
A Register of Layout -Designs shall be kept of layout -designs registered.  
The following particulars shall be entered in the register:  
 
(1) the serial number of the registration application and the registration number of the 
layout -design;  
 
(2) the name, domicile and address of the holder of the registration and, if the holder has 
appointed a representative, the name and address of the representative;  
 
(3) the title of the layout -design; and  
 
(4) the date of receipt of the application, the date of commencement of the protection, and 
the date of registration.  
Section 15  (18.7.2013/582)  
When a claim for invalidation of the registration of a layout -design has been made to the 
registering authority or the registering authority has been  notifi ed of the bringing of a claim  
to have the registration transferred, an entry  thereo f shall b e made in the Register of Layout -
Designs.  
When the registering authority has in the case referred to in subsection 1 made a decision in  
respect of the claim for invalidation of the registration of a layout -design or when a copy  of 
the decision of the court has been sent to the registering authority in compliance with  chapter 
4, section 23 of the Market Court Proceedings Act or  section 44 of the Act on the Exclusive 
Right in the Layout -Design of an  Integrated Circuit, an entry  thereof shall be made in the 
Register of Layout -Designs. Once the decision has taken  legal effect an entry of its main 
contents shall furthermore be made in the Register.  
Section 16  
 
The entry to be made on the transfer of the exclusive right referred to in section 23 of the 
Act on the Exclusive Right in the Layout -Design of an Integrated Circuit shall contain the 
name, domicile and address of the right holder, and the date of the transfer. In respect of a 
licence, an entry shall be made, on request, indicating whether the righ t holder’s right to 
grant other licences is restricted.  
If the question of making an entry cannot be solved immediately, an entry shall nevertheless 
be made in the register that a request for an entry has been made.  
 
The provisions of subsections 1 and 2  correspondingly apply to entering in the register of the 
right referred to in section 30(3) of the Act on the Exclusive Right in the Layout -Design of 
an Integrated Circuit.  
 
Section 17  
 If the exclusive right in a layout -design has been distrained, an entry shall be made thereof 
in the Register of Layout -Designs on the basis of a notice.  
 
Any notices of changes concerning representatives shall also be entered in the register.  
 
Section 1 8  
 
If the holder of the exclusive right in a layout -design, in compliance with section 31(1) of 
the Act on the Exclusive Right in a Layout -Design, declares in writing that he renounces the 
registration and if an assignment of licence concerning this exclu sive right has been entered 
in the register, the person whom the licence has been assigned to shall be notified of the 
renunciation of the registration and he shall be reserved a reasonable period for asserting his 
right in the matter before the layout -design is deleted from the register.  
 
Section 19  
 
When the registration has terminated, the registering authority shall delete the layout -design 
from the register.  
 
When the layout -design has been deleted from the register or when the exclusive right in th e 
layout -design has been transferred to another by a final court decision, the registration 
authority shall make public announcement thereof.  
 
Public announcement  
 
Section 20  
 
Public announcements in matters concerning exclusive rights in layout -designs  shall be 
given in a gazette published by the registering authority.  
 
Entry into force  
 
Section 21  
 
This Decree enters into force on 1 July 1991.  
Entry into force and application of amendment regulations:  
21.5.1999/694:  
 
This Decree enters into force  on 1 December 1999.