WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION  
ORGANISATION MONDIALE DU COMMERCE  
ORGANIZACIÓN MUNDIAL DEL COMERCIO 
IP/N/1/FIN/L/5 
16 February 2012 
 (12-0890) 
Council for Trade-Related Aspects 
of Intellectual Property Rights Original:   English/ 
 anglais/  inglés 
 
  
MAIN DEDICATED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY 
LAWS AND REGULATIONS NOTIFIED UNDER 
ARTICLE 63.2 OF THE AGREEMENT 
 
FINLAND 
  The present document reproduces the text
1 of the Decree on the Exclusive Right in the 
Layout-Design (Topography) of an Integrated Circ uit, as notified by Finland on 10 February 2011 
under Article 63.2 of the Agreement (see document IP/N/1/FIN/3). 
 
 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
1 du Décret sur le droit exclusif sur le schéma de 
configuration (topographie) d'un circuit intégré, no tifié par la Finlande le 10 février 2011 au titre de 
l'article 63:2 de l'Accord (voir le document IP/N/1/FIN/3). 
 
 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 del Decreto sobre el derecho exclusivo al 
esquema de trazado (topografía) de un circuito integr ado, notificado por Finlandia el 10 de febrero 
de 2011 en virtud del párrafo 2 del artículo 63 del Acuerdo (véase el documento IP/N/1/FIN/3). 
                                                      
1 In English only./En anglais seulement./En inglés solamente.   
   IP/N/1/FIN/L/5 
 Page 3 
 
 
   
    
 
    
 
  
MAIN DEDICATED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAWS 
AND REGULATIONS 
(in English) 
   
Unofficial translations 
 
 
  
LAYOUT–DESIGNS (TOPOGRAPHIES) ON INTEGRATED CIRCUITS 
 
   
   IP/N/1/FIN/L/5 
 Page 5 
 
 
  DECREE ON THE EXCLUSIVE RIGHT IN THE LAYOUT-DESIGN (TOPOGRAPHY) OF 
AN INTEGRATED CIRCUIT   (Unofficial translation) 
 (946/1991; amendments up to 694/1999 included)  
 
Application for Registration  
 
Section 1  
 
Registration of layout-designs (topographies) is a pplied 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 a pplicant 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 address;  
 (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 referre d to in the registration application;  
 
(5) an assurance to the effect that the layout -design is the result of creative and original 
intellectual work and that it has not been c opied 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 id entification of the layout-design;  
 (2) if the applicant has appointed a representa tive, the power of attorney 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.  
 
The application document shall be accompanied by a proof of payment of the registration fee.  
 IP/N/1/FIN/L/5 
Page 6  
 
  Section 3  
 
The application shall be written in Finnish or Sw edish 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 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 the filing of the registration 
application, in the form it had at the time it was first distributed to the public.   
Materials necessary for identific ation of layout-designs  
 
Section 5  
 
The materials necessary for the identification of layo ut-designs shall contain dr awings 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 layout-design, data ca rriers 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 basis 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 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 circuit, if the parts included in the application are 
sufficient to identify the layout-design.  
 
Section 6  
 
The materials necessary for identif ying the layout-design shall be submitted in two copies. The 
drawings and other written material shal l be of A4 size (210 mm x 297 mm).  
 
Sections 7 to 9  
 
Sections 7 to 9 have been repealed by decree 694/1999.    IP/N/1/FIN/L/5 
 Page 7 
 
 
  Record of Applications  
 
Section 10  
 
The registering authority makes a note of the seri al number and date of receipt on the registration 
application.  
 The registration application is de emed to have been received onl y 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 
registering authority shall notify th e applicant of the confirmed date of receipt of the application.  
 
Section 11  
 
The registering authority shall keep a record of re gistration applications filed. The record shall be 
accessible to the public.  
 The following particulars shall be entere d 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 representativ e, the name 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 cer tificate 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.   IP/N/1/FIN/L/5 
Page 8  
 
  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  
 Where anyone has submitted the registering authorit y a claim for invalidation of the registration of a 
layout-design or notified that he has brought an acti on to have the registration transferred, an entry 
shall be made thereof in the register.   When the registering authority has in the case referred to in section 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 complianc e with the provisions of section 44 of the Act on 
the Exclusive Right in the Layout-Design of an Integr ated Circuit, an entry is made thereof in the 
register. Once the decision has taken legal effect, it  is entered in the Register of Layout-Designs in 
such a manner that the main contents of the d ecision made on the case appear from the Register.  
 Section 16  
 
The entry to be made on the transfer of the exclus ive right referred to in section 23 of the Act on the 
Exclusive Right in the Layout-Design of an Integrat ed Circuit shall contain the name, domicile and 
address of the right holder, and the date of the transf er. In respect of a licence, an entry shall be made, 
on request, 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.  
 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 Exclus ive Right in the Layout-Design of an Integrated 
Circuit.   
Section 17  
 
If the exclusive right in a layout-design has been di strained, 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 18  
 
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 exclusive ri ght has been entered in the register, the person 
whom the licence has been assigned to shall be notif ied of the renunciation of the registration and he  IP/N/1/FIN/L/5 
 Page 9 
 
 
  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 registeri ng authority shall delete the layout-design from the 
register.   When the layout-design has been deleted from the regist er or when the exclusive right in the layout-
design has been transferred to another by a final co urt decision, the registration authority shall make 
public announcement thereof.  
 
Public announcement  
 
Section 20  
 
Public announcements in matters concerning exclus ive 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.   
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