Overview

Pakistan protects the layout of integrated circuits separately from patents and copyright. Protection depends on registration with the Patent Office, where the Controller of Patents maintains the Register of Layout-Designs.

Requirements

The layout-design must be original: the result of the creator's own intellectual effort and not commonplace among creators and manufacturers (section 3).
A separate written application is needed for each layout-design (section 7(1)).
Filing deadline: an application can be filed only while the layout-design is unexploited, or within two years of its first commercial exploitation (section 7(2)). After that, it can no longer be registered.
The application must include the applicant's details, a copy or drawing of the layout-design, a sample of the integrated circuit with information on its electronic function, the date of first commercial exploitation anywhere in the world, particulars of entitlement, a power of attorney if represented, and the fee (section 7(3)).

Source: Registered Layout-Designs of Integrated Circuits Ordinance, 2000 (IPO-Pakistan copy).

Rights and term

The owner can stop unauthorised reproduction, and the import, sale or distribution of the layout-design or of integrated circuits incorporating it (section 5).
Protection runs from the date of first commercial exploitation anywhere in the world and ends at the end of the tenth calendar year from that date (section 6).
Exceptions include reproduction for evaluation, analysis, research or teaching, independent creation, and innocent acquisition, subject to a reasonable royalty after notice (section 5(2)).
Remedies include injunctions and damages in the District Court (section 15); knowing infringement is an offence punishable by up to two years' imprisonment, a fine of at least Rs. 200,000, or both (section 16).