Washington Treaty

Washington Treaty 

Adopted in 1989, this Treaty concerns the protection of layout designs of integrated circuits. It has been ratified by a few countries but has not yet entered into force.

Protection applies only to layout designs that are original, not commonplace among creators or manufacturers at the time of creation.

The treaty contains provisions on registration, exploitation, national treatment (treating foreign applicants equally), exceptions for innocent infringement, and the possible exhaustion of rights after authorised sale. 

Signatory countries must ensure national legal protection for these layout designs, whether the integrated circuit is incorporated into a product or not.

As of now, the Treaty has not entered into force due to insufficient ratifications, though a small number of countries have signed or acceded to it. 

Contracting Parties: 

Bosnia and Herzegovina - China - Egypt - Ghana - Guatemala - India - Liberia - Saint Lucia - Serbia - Zambia.