Protection of semiconductor topographies

Council Directive 87/54/EC of 16 December 1986 on the legal protection of topographies of semiconductor products (OJ L24 of 27.01.1987, p. 36) is the first harmonisation directive adopted by the Community in the field of intellectual property. The Directive recognises that the development of semiconductors requires a considerable investment while the topographies of such products can be copied at a fraction of the cost needed to develop them independently. It harmonises the basic principles governing the legal protection of original, not commonplace, topographies of semiconductor products.

Council Decision 94/824/EC of 22 December 1994 extends the legal protection provided by Directive 87/54/EC to persons from a Member of the World Trade Organisation (OJ L349 of 31.12.1994, p. 201).

Council Decision 96/644/EC of 11 November 1996 extends the legal protection provided by Directive 87/54/EC to persons from the Isle of Man (OJ L293 of 16.11.1996, p. 18).