WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION  
ORGANISATION MONDIALE DU COMMERCE  
ORGANIZACIÓN MUNDIAL DEL COMERCIO  IP/N/1/FIN/L/3 
9 February 2007 
 (07-0607) 
Council for Trade-Related Aspects 
of Intellectual Property Rights Original:   English/ 
 anglais/  inglés 
 
 
MAIN DEDICATED INTELLECTUAL PR OPERTY LAWS AND REGULATIONS 
NOTIFIED UNDER ARTICLE 63.2 OF THE AGREEMENT 
 
FINLAND
 
  The   present   document   reproduces    the   consolidated   text
1  of  the  Decree on the 
Exclusive Right in the Layout-Design (Topography) of an Integrated Circuit 14.6.1991/946 as amended up to 1999/694 incl., notified by Finland under Article 63.2 of the Agreement (see document 
IP/N/1/FIN/2). 
 
Conseil des aspects des droits de propriété 
intellectuelle qui touchent au commerce 
 
 
PRINCIPALES LOIS ET RÉGLEMENTATIONS CONSACRÉES À 
LA PROPRIÉTÉ INTELLECTUELLE NOTIFIÉES AU TITRE 
DE L'ARTICLE 63:2 DE L'ACCORD 
 
FINLANDE  
 
 Le présent document contient le texte actualisé1 du Décret  14.6.1991/946 sur le droit exclusif 
concernant le schéma de confi guration (topographie) d'un circuit intégré, modifié jusqu'en 1999 
(1999/694) inclusivement, notifié par la Finlande au titre de l'article 63:2 de l'Accord (voir le 
document IP/N/1/FIN/2). 
 
Consejo de los Aspectos de los Derechos de Propiedad 
Intelectual relacionados con el Comercio 
 
 
PRINCIPALES LEYES Y REGLAMENTOS DEDICADOS A LA 
PROPIEDAD INTELECTUAL NOTIFICADOS EN VIRTUD 
DEL PÁRRAFO 2 DEL ARTÍCULO 63 DEL ACUERDO 
 
FINLANDIA  
  En el presente documento se reproduce el texto
1 refundido del Decreto sobre los Derechos 
Exclusivos sobre los Esquemas de Trazado (Topografías) de los Circuitos Integrados 
N° 14.6.1991/946 y sus modificaciones hasta 1999 ( 1999/694) inclusive, notificado por Finlandia en 
virtud de lo dispuesto en el párrafo 2 del artícul o 63 del Acuerdo (véase el documento IP/N/1/FIN/2). 
                                                      
1 In English only. The text is available for co nsultation by interested Delegations at the WTO 
Secretariat in Finnish and Swedish./En anglais seulement.  Les délégations intéressées peuvent consulter le texte 
en finnois et suédois au Secrétariat de l'OMC./En inglés solamente.  Las delegaciones interesadas podrán 
consultar en la Secretaría de la OMC el texto en finlandés y sueco. IP/N/1/FIN/L/3 
Page 2  
 
  Decree on the Exclusive Right in the  Layout-Design (Topography) of an 
Integrated Circuit 14.6.1991/946 (Unofficial translation) 
 
(Amendments up to 1999/694 included) 
 
 
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 applica tion 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, do micile, address and, if the applicant has appointed a 
representative, also the repres entative’s name and address; 
 (2) the year in which the layout-design was creat ed 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 firs t distributed to the 
public;  (4) a concise title for the layout-design refe rred to in the regist ration application; 
 (5) an assurance to the effect that the layout-design is the resu lt 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 appoint ed a representative, the power of attorn ey issued to the 
representative; and  (3) if a person other than the applicant has created the layout-design, a document providing 
proof of the applicant’ s entitlement thereto.  IP/N/1/FIN/L/3 
 Page 3 
 
 
   
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 
accompanying the application, if the re gistering authority so requires. 
 
Section 4 
 
The application shall relate to  the layout-design in the form it has on the fili ng date of the 
application or, if the layout-des ign has been distributed to the public before the filing of the 
registration application, in the fo rm it had at the time it was first distributed to the public. 
 
Materials necessary for identi fication 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 in tegrated circuit has been or can be made; and 
 (3) the different layers of the integrated circuit.  For the identification of the la yout-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 ba sis of the layout-design. 
 If the layout-design to be registered is only a part of a whole on th e basis of which an 
integrated circuit has been or can be made, a st atement shall be given indicating which part of 
the area of the whole the layout-desi gn to be 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 ci rcuit, if the parts included in the application 
are sufficient to iden tify the layout-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). 
 IP/N/1/FIN/L/3 
Page 4  
 
  Sections 7 to 9  have been repealed (21.5.1999/694). 
 
Record of Applications 
 Section 10 
 
The registering authority makes a note of th e serial number and date of receipt on the 
registration application.  The registration application is deemed to have 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 register ing authority shall notify the a pplicant 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 seri al number of the application; 
 (2) the name, domicile and address of the applicant;  (3) if the applican t 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 resp ect 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-Des igns is given a registration 
number. The applicant shall be issu ed a certificate for the registration.  IP/N/1/FIN/L/3 
 Page 5 
 
 
   
Section 13  has been repealed (21.5.1999/694). 
 
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 applic ation and the registration number of the layout-
design;  (2) the name, domicile and address of the holde r 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 commencem ent of the protection, and the 
date of registration.  
Section 15 
 
Where anyone has submitted the registering authority a claim for invalidation of the registration of a layout-design or notified that he has brought an  action to have the 
registration transferred, an entry shal l be made thereof in the register. 
 When the registering authority has in the case referred to in secti on 1 made a decision in 
respect of the claim for invalid ation of the registration of a layout-design or when a copy of 
the decision of the court has be en sent to the registering au thority in compliance with the 
provisions of section 44 of the Act on the Exclusive Right in the Layout-Design of an 
Integrated Circuit, an entry is made thereof in the register. Once the decision has taken legal effect, it is entered in the Register of Layout-Des igns in such a manner that the main contents 
of the decision made on the cas e appear from the Register. 
 
Section 16 
 
The entry to be made on the transfer of the ex clusive right referred to in section 23 of the Act 
on the Exclusive Right in the La yout-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 reque st, indicating whether the right 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.  IP/N/1/FIN/L/3 
Page 6  
 
  The provisions of subsections 1 and 2 correspondingly apply to en tering 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 layou t-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 representati ves shall also be entered in the register. 
 
Section 18 
 
If the holder of the exclusive ri ght in a layout-design, in complia nce 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 co ncerning this exclusive 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-d esign is deleted from the register. 
 
Section 19 
 
When the registration has terminated, the regist ering 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 the 
layout-design has been transferred to anothe r by a final court decision, the registration 
authority shall make pub lic announcement thereof. 
 
Public announcement 
 Section 20 
 
Public announcements in matters concerning ex clusive rights in layout-d esigns 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. 
 
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