Ley Nº 16 de 6 marzo de 1995 (republicada) sobre la protección de las topografías (modificada hasta la Ley N° 332/2006), Rumania

Art. 1

Topographies of semiconductor products shall be protected on the territory of Romania by registration with the State Office for Inventions and Trademarks, under the conditions provided for by this law.

Art.2

For the purposes of this law, the terms and phrases below shall be

1

Republished within the meaning of Art. III of Law 337/2005 for amending and completing the Law 16/1995 on the protection of topographies of integrated circuits, published in the Official Gazette of Romania, Part I, no. 1094 of 5 December 2005, the text being given a new numbering.

Law 16/1995 on the protection of topographies of integrated circuits was published in the Official Gazette of Romania, Part I, no.45 of 9 March 1995 and amended and completed by:

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the Government Ordinance no. 41/1998 on the fees in the industrial property protection field and the conditions for using the same, published in the Official Gazette of Romania, Part I, no. 43 of 30 January 1998, approved with the corresponding amendments and completions by the Law no. 383/2002, published in the Official Gazette of Romania no. 471 of 2 July 2002 with the subsequent amendments and completions;

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the Emergency Government Ordinance no. 190/2005 concerning necessary measures to be taken within the European integration process, published in the Official Gazette of Romania, Part I, no.1179 of 28 December 2005, approved with the corresponding amendments and completions by the Law no. 332/2006, published in the Official Gazette of Romania, Part I, no. 629 of 20 July 2006.

defined as follows:

a) BOPI - Official Industrial Property Bulletin - Topography Section;

b) semiconductor product - the final or intermediate form of any product which

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comprises a substrate having a layer of semiconducting material and

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consists of one or several layers of conducting, insulating or semiconducting materials, said layers being arranged according to a predetermined three-dimension configuration and

- is intended to perform, exclusively or not, an electronic function;

c) topography of a semiconductor product - a series of related images, however fixed or encoded, which represents the three-dimension configuration of the layers which form a semiconductor product, and in which each image reproduces the pattern or a part of the pattern of a surface of the semiconductor product, in any manufacturing stage;

d) commercial exploitation - sale, rental, leasing or any other method of commercial distribution or offer made for these purposes. However, the commercial exploitation does not include the exploitation under conditions of confidentiality; it shall be applied on condition that no further distribution to third parties takes place, except where the exploitation of the topography takes place under conditions of confidentiality required by the necessary measures for the protection of the main national security interests.

Art.3

(1)

Under this law, the original topographies shall be protected. Topographies shall be deemed to be original if they are the result of an intellectual effort made by their creators and if, at the time of their creation, they were not commonplace among the creators of topographies and the manufacturers of semiconductor products.

(2)

A topography made up of a combination of commonplace elements and interconnections may be protected only if the whole combination is original, in the meaning of paragraph (1).

Art. 4

The rights of the owner of a protected topography in the semiconductor product shall not depend on whether the latter is incorporated or not in a product.

Art. 5

The protection granted according to Art. 3 shall be applied only to the actual topography, any concept, process, system, technique or encoded information embedded in said topography being excluded.

Chapter II

Right to Protection

Art. 6

(1)The following entities shall benefit by the protection granted by this law:

a) natural persons which are nationals of a Member State of the European Union or of the World Trade Organization, or which have their place of residence on the territory of such State;

b) companies or other legal persons having a real and effective industrial or commercial establishment on the territory of Romania or of a Member State of the European Union or of the World Trade Organization.

(2)

In case of negotiating international agreements with third States or in case of adopting internal provisions for the extension of protection granted by this law to other persons than those provided under paragraph (1), the European Commission shall be notified accordingly 30 days in advance.

(3)

The conclusion of the agreements or adoption of the provisions under paragraph (2) cannot take place in less than two months from the notification to the European Commission, if, within the time limit provided by the previous paragraph, it communicates to the Romanian State its intention to submit to the European Council a proposal as to the extension of protection to said persons or third States by all Member States.

(4)

If, during said period of two months, the European Commission submits such a proposal to the European Council, the conclusion of the agreements or adoption of the provisions provided under paragraph (2) cannot take place in less than 4 months from the date of submission of the proposal.

(5)

In the absence of such a communication from the part of the European Commission within the time limit provided under paragraph (3) or the submission of the proposal or the adoption of a decision by the European Council within the time limits provided under the paragraph (4), the Romanian State can conclude the agreements or can adopt the provisions provided

under the paragraph (2).

(6)

The decision of the European Council adopted based on the proposal of the European Commission shall not affect the conclusion of the agreements or the adoption of the provisions stipulated in paragraph (2), unless otherwise decided by the Council with a qualified majority.

Art.7

(1)

The person entitled to be granted the legal protection of a topography may be represented by a professional representative in the proceedings before the State Office for Inventions and Trademarks.

(2)

As regards the foreign natural and legal persons having their domicile or place of business, respectively, abroad, the representation by a professional representative having the domicile or place of business on the territory of Romania is compulsory.

Art. 8

(1)

The right to protection of a topography of a semiconductor product shall belong to the creator of the topography or to his successor in title. If there are several creators acting as joint authors, the rights shall belong to them jointly.

(2)

The right to protection shall also be granted to the persons mentioned under the Art. 6, which:

a) first commercially exploit in Romania or in the European Union a topography which has not yet been exploited commercially anywhere in the world; and

b) have been exclusively authorized to exploit commercially the topography on the territory of Romania or of the European Union by a person entitled to dispose of it.

Art. 9

(1)

Where the topography has been created by an employee in the course of his duties, the right to the protection of the topography shall belong to the employer of the creator of the topography.

(2)

Where the topography has been commissioned by a natural or legal person, the right to the protection of the topography shall belong to the person by whom the topography has been commissioned.

(3)

Where there are contract provisions contrary to the provisions in the previous paragraphs, it is the contract provisions that shall prevail.

Art.10

Where a topography has been exploited commercially, in Romania or abroad, said topography may benefit by protection under the conditions of this law, only if the registration application is filed with the State Office for Inventions and Trademarks within a two-year time limit from the date of the first commercial exploitation.

Art.11

Where a topography has not been exploited commercially for 15 years since it was created or first encoded, at the lapse of this time limit, the right to protection shall cease as follows:

a) if the topography has not been registered, it may no longer be the subject of an application for registration;

b) if the topography has been registered, the rights conferred by the registration become extinct.

Chapter III

Registration of Topographies

Art.12

(1)

The registration of a topography of a semiconductor product shall depend on the regular filing of an application for registration with the State Office for Inventions and Trademarks.

(2)

An application for registration shall have as an object only one topography, and a topography shall be registered only once.

Art.13

(1) An application for registration of a topography shall be deemed as having been regularly filed, if the following documents are filed:

a) a written request for the registration of the topography, specifying at least:

-creator’s (creators’) full name and address;

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applicant’s full name or designation and address , where the applicant is not the creator of the topography;

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indications with respect to the applicant’s right to register the topography;

- designation and destination of the semiconductor product to be manufactured by using the topography;

- date of fixation or of first encoding of the topography;

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date of the first commercial exploitation of the topography, where appropriate;

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full name or designation and address of the professional representative, where appropriate;

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signature of the applicant or of the professional representative, as the case may be;

b) a technical documentation comprising graphical material and texts providing sufficient information for allowing the identification of the topography and for pointing out the electronic function of the semiconductor product incorporating the topography;

c) two copies of the semiconductor product, if it was manufactured and commercially exploited; d) power of attorney, for the professional representative, where appropriate; e) proof of payment of legal fees

(2) All documents mentioned above shall be typed in Romanian and filed as such.

Art.14

(1)

The State Office for Inventions and Trademarks shall examine whether the applications for the registration of the topographies satisfy the legal requirements for regular filing and if it ascertains that the requirements are satisfied, it shall enter the topography in the National Register of Topographies, shall publish the topography registration as provided under Art.17 and shall issue to the entitled person a registration certificate within 3 months from the date of the regular filing.

(2)

The date of the regular filing shall be the date when the application is filed.

Art. 15

(1) Where, upon examining the application, deficiencies are found in relation to the documents provided for in Art. 13, the applicant shall be notified in writing within 15 days from the date of filing the application and a two-month time limit shall be given for making the necessary completions and rectifications.

(2) Where all said completions and rectifications have been made within the prescribed time limit, the State Office for Inventions and Trademarks shall follow the procedure provided for under Art.14.

(3)The date of the regular filing shall be, in this case, the date when all completions and rectifications are received.

(4) Where the required completions and rectifications have not been submitted within the prescribed time limit, the application shall be rejected and the grounds of rejection shall be notified in writing to the applicant.

Art.16

(1)

The decisions referring to applications for the registration of topographies may be appealed against by administrative means, in writing and on valid grounds, with the State Office for Inventions and Trademarks within 3 months since communication.

(2)

The appeal shall be examined, within 3 months from the lodging thereof, by the Board of Appeal in the Appeals Department of the State Office for Inventions and Trademarks.

(3)

The substantiated decision of the Board of Appeal shall be communicated to the parties within 15 days from the pronouncement thereof and may be appealed against with the Law Court of Bucharest within 3 months since communication.

(4)

The decision of the Law Court of Bucharest may be appealed against with the Court of Appeal of Bucharest within 15 days since communication.

(5)

The final and irrevocable decisions of the Board of Appeal shall be published in BOPI, within 60 days.

Art.17

(1)

The registration of topographies shall be published in BOPI within 2 months from the date of registration.

(2)

The owner shall be obliged to inform the State Office for Inventions and Trademarks, in the shortest time possible, of any changes in the name or designation of the owner or of the professional representative thereof. The State Office for Inventions and Trademarks shall enter the changes into the National Register of Topographies and shall publish them in BOPI within 3 months from the receiving thereof.

Art. 18

(1) After the publication of the registration, the documentation in the regular filing of the topographies shall be available to interested persons at the headquarters of the State Office for Inventions and Trademarks.

(2) Documents containing information declared by the applicant as trade secrets shall not be available to the public.

Art. 19

(1)

Any interested person may lodge a request in writing, on valid grounds, to the State Office for Inventions and Trademarks, for the revocation of the decision concerning the applications for the registration of the topographies of semiconductor products within 3 months from the publication thereof, if said decisions were made without observing the Art. 13.

(2)

The application for revocation shall be settled within 3 months from the lodging thereof with the State Office for Inventions and Trademarks, by the Board of Appeal in the Appeals Department of the State Office for Inventions and Trademarks.

(3)

The substantiated decision of the Board of Appeal shall be communicated to the parties within 15 days from the pronouncement , and the same means of appeal provided for under Art. 16, paragraphs (3) and (4) shall be available.

(4)

The final and irrevocable decisions referring to revocation shall be published in BOPI within 60 days.

Chapter IV

Rights

Art. 20

The exclusive rights shall become extinct 10 years from the earlier of the following dates:

a) the end of the calendar year in which the topography is first commercially exploited anywhere in the world;

b) the end of the calendar year in which the application for registration is regularly filed.

Art. 21

(1) The owner of a registered topography shall have, over the whole period of protection, the exclusive right to commercially exploit the topography as well as the exclusive right to authorize or prohibit the following acts:

a) reproduction of the topography in so far as it is protected under Art. 3, paragraph (1);

b) commercial exploitation or the importation for that purpose of a topography or of a semiconductor product manufactured by using the topography.

(2) The provisions of paragraph 1 shall not apply to: a) the reproduction of a topography privately for non-commercial aims; b) the reproduction for the purpose of analysing, evaluating or teaching

of concepts, processes, systems or techniques embodied in the topography or the topography itself;

c) the acts in relation to a protected topography created on the basis of an analysis and evaluation of another topography, carried out according to letter b).

(3) The exclusive right to authorize or prohibit the acts mentioned under paragraph (1), letter b) shall not apply to the acts committed after the topography or the semiconductor product has been put on the market in Romania or in the European Union by the owner or with his consent.

Art.22

The exclusive rights provided for under Art. 21 shall come into existence:

a) on the date when the registration application is regularly filed;

b) on the date when the topography is first commercially exploited anywhere in the world, if this date is earlier than the date under letter a).

Art.23

The owner shall be entitled to mark the semiconductor products manufactured on the basis of the protected topography by using the capital letter “T”.

Art. 24

Creators of topographies shall be entitled to have their name and their status as creators mentioned in the certificate of registration and in the publications of the State Office for Inventions and Trademarks relating to the registered topographies.

Art.25

Creators of topographies who are not topography owners according to Art. 9, shall have the right to a remuneration which is established by a contract concluded between them and the owner of the protected topography.

Art.26

(1)

The exploitation of a topography by the person who has purchased the semiconductor product in good faith, without possibly knowing that said semiconductor product embedded a protected topography which was illegally reproduced, shall not be deemed to be an infringement of the rights of the owner of the protected topography. Starting from the date when that person learned that the topography was protected, said person shall no longer have the right to purchase similar semiconductor products without the owner’s authorization, but he shall be allowed to further exploit the semiconductor products purchased or contracted before that date, subject to payment of a fair compensation to the owner.

(2)

The provisions under paragraph (1) shall also apply to the successors in title of the owner of the protected topography.

Art. 27

For the period prior to the coming into existence of the exclusive rights, according to the provisions of Art. 22, the person having the right to protection under this law, who can prove that a third party has fraudulently reproduced, commercially exploited or imported the topography for such purposes may claim damages according to the common law.

Chapter V

Transfer of Rights

Art.28

The right to protection and the rights deriving from the registration of a topography shall be transferable in whole or in part, by assignment and by legal or testamentary succession.

Art.29

The rights conferred by the registration of a topography may be transferred by granting exclusive or non-exclusive licenses.

Art. 30

The transfer of rights provided by Art. 28 and 29 shall have effects for third parties only starting with the date when the mention of the transfer registered with the State Office for Inventions and Trademarks has been published in BOPI.

Art.31

(1) The Law Court of Bucharest may grant a compulsory license for exploitation to persons who, despite their efforts, have not been able to obtain the owner’s authorization to exploit a protected topography, if:

a) the grant of the license is necessary in emergency cases referring to national defence and security, prevention or elimination of the effects of natural disasters, infringement of the Competition Law no.21/1996, as republished, or non-observance of national standards concerning environmental pollution;

b) at least 4 years have elapsed from the start of the protection period and the topography has not been commercially exploited on the territory of Romania.

(2)

Compulsory licenses are non-exclusive and may only be transferred with the assets intended for their application.

(3)

Granted compulsory licenses shall be communicated to the State Office for Inventions and Trademarks which shall enter them in the National Register of Topographies.

(4)

The beneficiary of the compulsory license shall pay a fair compensation to the owner.

(5)

The extent and duration of compulsory licenses shall be limited to the purposes for which they have been authorized.

(6)

The Government or third parties authorized by the Government may also be beneficiaries of compulsory licenses.

Art.32

(1)

At the justified request presented by the interested person, the Law Court of Bucharest may withdraw the compulsory license, when the circumstances leading to the grant thereof ceased to exist, provided that the legitimate interests of the licensee should be protected adequately.

(2)

The license shall not be withdrawn, if the circumstances which determined the grant thereof are likely to occur again.

(3) The decisions of the Law Court of Bucharest concerning the grant of a compulsory licence, as well as those concerning the withdrawal thereof may be appealed against with the Court of Appeal of Bucharest within 15 days since communication.

(4) The final and irrevocable decisions concerning the grant of a compulsory licence or the withdrawal of the compulsory licence, as the case may be, shall be communicated by the interested person to the State Office for Inventions and Trademarks which shall enter them into the National Register of Topographies and publish the mention of said decisions in BOPI within 30 days from the communication.

Art.33

The State Office for Inventions and Trademarks shall publish in BOPI all the assignments and licenses registered in respect of the protected topographies, as well as the changes thereupon, within 3 months since registration.

Chapter VI

Extinction of Rights

Art. 34

(1)

The rights conferred to the owner by the registration of the topography shall become extinct at the date of the expiry of the period of protection, when the topography enters the public domain and may be exploited by any person, without restrictions.

(2)

The rights of the owner shall become extinct before the expiry of the period of protection if the conditions provided by Art. 11, letter b) are fulfilled.

Art.35

The owner may renounce the protection of a registered topography any time during the period of protection; the renunciation results in the extinction of the owner’s rights, with all the consequences mentioned under Art.34, paragraph (1), starting with the date of publishing the renunciation request in BOPI.

Art. 36

(1)

Any interested person may apply to the Law Court of Bucharest for the cancellation of the registration of a topography in whole or in part, if the

failure to comply with the legal conditions for granting the protection is ascertained. The request for cancellation may be presented during the entire period of protection of the topography.

(2)

The decisions of the Law Court of Bucharest may be appealed against at the Court of Appeal of Bucharest within 30 days since communication.

(3)

The decisions of the Court of Appeal may be appealed against at the High Court of Cassation and Justice within 30 days since communication.

Art.37

The State Office for Inventions and Trademarks shall enter in the National Register of Topographies and shall publish in BOPI, any change concerning the protection of topographies, occurred as a consequence of applying the provisions under Art. 34 - 36.

Chapter VII

Defence of Rights

Art.38

(1)

Within the meaning of this law, the unauthorized commercial exploitation or production of a protected topography or semiconductor product embedding a protected topography or a circuit element embedding such a semiconductor product, as far as said element still contains a topography, shall constitute the offence of infringement.

(2)

The acts mentioned under paragraph (1) shall be deemed to be considered as an infringement when committed after the date of publication of the topography registration in the National Register of Topographies and shall be punishable with imprisonment from 3 months to 2 years or with a fine from 10,000 to 30,000 lei.

(3) The criminal action shall be initiated ex officio.

(4)

For the prejudice caused to him, the owner shall be entitled to damages, according to the common law, and may require to the competent jurisdiction to order the seizing or destroying of the counterfeited products, as the case may be; said provisions shall also apply to the equipment used directly for committing the infringement offence.

Art.39

Litigations concerning the topography authorship or ownership, as well as those concerning the rights deriving from the registration of topographies creator’s patrimonial rights included - or from the assignment or license contracts shall be settled by the law courts.

Art.40

Where a final and irrevocable court decision has established that a person, other than the owner of the registration certificate, is entitled to be granted the topography protection, the State Office for Inventions and Trademarks shall issue the registration certificate to the entitled person, shall enter the change of ownership in the National Register of Topographies and shall publish the same in BOPI.

Art.41

Where the rights on a registered topography have ceased for a certain period of time, as a consequence of the renunciation, the forfeiture of rights or the cancellation of the registration, the damages and the other patrimonial rights acquired by the owner for the above-mentioned period of time, shall be refunded to the persons from which they have been acquired.

Art.42

At the request of the law court, the State Office for Inventions and Trademarks shall be obliged to submit the papers, documents and information necessary for judging the cause entrusted to the law court, papers and documents to be returned at the end of the trial. Summoning to the court shall be made only for this purpose.

Art.43

(1)

The procedures concerning the applications and the certificates of registration of the topographies of semiconductor products shall be subject to the payment of fees, in the amount and the time limits specified by the law. The fees shall be paid to the account of the State Office for Inventions and Trademarks.

(2)

Fees owed by the natural or legal persons having their domicile or place of business, as the case may be, abroad, shall be paid in hard currency to the account of the State Office for Inventions and Trademarks.

(3) Failure to pay the fees within the time limits provided by the law shall cause the non-performance of the concerned procedure.

Chapter VIII

Final Provisions

Art. 44

This law shall enter into force 3 months after its publication in the Official Gazette of Romania, Part I.

This law transposes the Council Directive 87/54 EEC of 16 December 1986 on the legal protection of topographies of semiconductor products, published in the Official Journal of the Economic Communities no. L 024/27.01.1987.

Reproduced below is the Art. II of the Law no. 337/2005 which does not form part of the republished text of the Law . no. 16/1995 and is still applicable as provisions of the Law no.337/2005:

“Within 3 months from the publication of this law, the State Office for Inventions and Trademarks shall issue Norms for implementing the Law no 16/1995 on the Protection of Topographies of Integrated Circuits with all subsequent modifications, as well as with the amendments and completions brought by this law, which shall be published in the Official Gazette of Romania, Part I.

On the date of entering into force of the norms provided by paragraph 2, the Government Decision no. 535/1996 for the approval of the Implementing Regulations concerning the registration of topographies of integrated circuits, published in the Official Gazette of Romania, Part I, no. 172 of 1 August 1996 shall be abrogated.”

LEGE nr. 16 din 6 martie 1995 (*republicata*)1 privind protectia topografiilor produselor semiconductoare EMITENT: PARLAMENTUL; PUBLICAT IN: MONITORUL OFICIAL nr. 824 din 6 octombrie 2006; CAP. I

Obiectul protectiei

ART. 1

Topografiile produselor semiconductoare sunt protejate pe teritoriul Romaniei, prin inregistrarea la Oficiul de Stat pentru Inventii si Marci, in conditiile prevazute prin prezenta lege.

ART. 2

In intelesul prezentei legi, termenii si expresiile de mai jos se definesc dupa cum urmeaza:

a) B.O.P.I. - Buletinul Oficial de Proprietate Industriala Sectiunea Topografii;

b) produs semiconductor - forma finala sau intermediara a oricarui produs:

- compus dintr-un substrat ce comporta un strat de material semiconductor; si

- constituit din unul sau mai multe straturi de materiale conductoare, izolante ori semiconductoare, straturile fiind dispuse conform unei configuratii tridimensionale prestabilite; si

- destinat sa indeplineasca, in mod exclusiv sau nu, o functie electronica;

c) topografie a unui produs semiconductor - o serie de imagini legate intre ele, indiferent de modalitatea in care acestea sunt fixate sau codate, reprezentand configuratia tridimensionala a straturilor care compun un produs semiconductor si in care fiecare imagine reproduce desenul sau o parte din desenul unei suprafete a produsului semiconductor, in orice stadiu al fabricatiei sale;

d) exploatare comerciala - vanzarea, inchirierea, leasingul sau orice alta metoda de distribuire comerciala ori oferta facuta in aceste scopuri. Cu toate acestea exploatarea comerciala nu include exploatarea in conditii de confidentialitate; se aplica sub conditia ca nicio distribuire catre terti sa nu aiba loc in afara de situatia in care exploatarea topografiei se efectueaza in conditiile de confidentialitate cerute de masurile necesare in vederea protectiei intereselor esentiale pentru siguranta nationala.

Republicata in temeiul art. III din Legea nr. 337/2005 pentru modificarea si completarea Legii nr. 16/1995 privind protectia topografiilor circuitelor integrate, publicata in Monitorul Oficial al Romaniei, Partea I, nr. 1.094 din 5 decembrie 2005, dandu-se textelor o noua numerotare. Legea nr. 16/1995 privind protectia topografiilor produselor semiconductoare a fost publicata in Monitorul Oficial al Romaniei, Partea I, nr. 45 din 9 martie 1995 si a mai fost modificata si completata prin:

- Ordonanta Guvernului nr. 41/1998 privind taxele in domeniul protectiei proprietatii industriale si regimul de utilizare a acestora, publicata in Monitorul Oficial al Romaniei, Partea I, nr. 43 din 30 ianuarie 1998, aprobata cu modificari si completari prin Legea nr. 383/2002, publicata in Monitorul Oficial al Romaniei, Partea I, nr. 471 din 2 iulie 2002, cu modificarile si completarile ulterioare;

- Ordonanta de urgenta a Guvernului nr. 190/2005 pentru realizarea unor masuri necesare in procesul de integrare europeana, publicata in Monitorul Oficial al Romaniei, Partea I, nr. 1.179 din 28 decembrie 2005, aprobata cu modificari si completari prin Legea nr. 332/2006, publicata in Monitorul Oficial al Romaniei, Partea I, nr. 629 din 20 iulie 2006.

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ART. 3

(1) Sunt protejate, in conditiile prezentei legi, topografiile originale. Sunt originale topografiile care constituie rezultatul efortului intelectual al creatorilor lor si care, la data cand au fost create, nu erau uzuale pentru creatorii de topografii si pentru fabricantii de produse semiconductoare.

(2) O topografie constituita dintr-o combinatie de elemente si de interconexiuni uzuale poate fi protejata numai daca combinatia, luata in ansambul ei, este originala, in sensul alin. (1).

ART. 4

Drepturile titularului unei topografii protejate asupra produsului semiconductor nu sunt conditionate de faptul ca acesta este sau nu incorporat intr-un produs.

ART. 5

Protectia acordata, potrivit art. 3, se aplica numai topografiei propriu-zise, cu excluderea oricarui concept, procedeu, sistem, oricarei tehnici sau informatii codate incorporate in aceasta topografie.

CAP. II

Dreptul la protectie

ART. 6

(1) Pot beneficia de protectia oferita prin prezenta lege:

a) persoanele fizice care sunt resortisante ale unui stat membru al Uniunii Europene sau al Organizatiei Mondiale a Comertului ori care au resedinta obisnuita pe teritoriul unui astfel de stat;

b) societatile sau alte persoane juridice care desfasoara o activitate industriala ori comerciala, reala si efectiva, pe teritoriul Romaniei sau al unui stat membru al Uniunii Europene ori al Organizatiei Mondiale a Comertului.

(2) In cazul negocierii unor acorduri internationale cu state terte sau al adoptarii de dispozitii interne, prin care se intentioneaza extinderea protectiei acordate prin prezenta lege altor persoane decat cele prevazute la alin. (1), Comisia Europeana va fi informata cu 30 de zile in avans.

(3) Incheierea acordurilor sau adoptarea dispozitiilor prevazute la alin. (2) nu poate avea loc mai devreme de doua luni de la data informarii Comisiei Europene, in cazul in care aceasta comunica statului roman, in termenul prevazut la alineatul precedent, intentia de a prezenta Consiliului European o propunere in sensul extinderii protectiei de catre toate statele membre in ceea ce priveste persoanele sau statele terte respective.

(4) Daca in aceasta perioada de doua luni Comisia Europeana prezinta Consiliului European o astfel de propunere, incheierea acordurilor sau adoptarea dispozitiilor prevazute la alin. (2) nu poate avea loc mai devreme de 4 luni de la data prezentarii propunerii.

(5) In lipsa unei comunicari din partea Comisiei Europene in termenul prevazut la alin. (3) sau a prezentarii unei propuneri ori a adoptarii unei decizii a Consiliului European in termenele

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prevazute la alin. (4), statul roman poate incheia acordurile sau poate adopta dispozitiile prevazute la alin. (2).

(6) Decizia Consiliului European, adoptata in baza propunerii Comisiei Europene, nu impiedica incheierea acordurilor sau adoptarea dispozitiilor prevazute la alin. (2), cu exceptia cazului in care Consiliul decide in sens contrar, cu majoritate calificata.

ART. 7

(1) Persoana indreptatita sa obtina protectia legala a unei topografii poate fi reprezentata, in relatiile cu Oficiul de Stat pentru Inventii si Marci, prin mandatar.

(2) In cazul persoanelor fizice si al persoanelor juridice straine, cu domiciliul, respectiv sediul, in strainatate, reprezentarea prin mandatar este obligatorie, mandatarul trebuind sa aiba domiciliul sau sediul pe teritoriul Romaniei.

ART. 8

(1) Dreptul la protectia topografiei unui produs semiconductor apartine creatorului topografiei sau succesorului in drepturi al acestuia. In cazul in care sunt mai multi creatori, coautori, drepturile apartin acestora in comun.

(2) Dreptul la protectie este acordat si persoanelor prevazute la art. 6, care:

a) procedeaza la o prima exploatare comerciala a unei topografii, in Romania sau in Uniunea Europeana, ce nu a mai facut obiectul niciunei exploatari in lume; si

b) au primit din partea unei persoane in drept sa dispuna de topografie autorizatia exclusiva de a exploata comercial aceasta topografie pe teritoriul Romaniei sau in Uniunea Europeana.

ART. 9

(1) Daca topografia a fost creata de un salariat in cadrul sarcinilor de serviciu, dreptul la protectia topografiei apartine unitatii al carei salariat este creatorul topografiei.

(2) Daca topografia a fost creata la comanda unei persoane fizice sau persoane juridice, dreptul la protectia topografiei apartine persoanei care a comandat-o.

(3) In cazul in care exista dispozitii contractuale contrare celor de la alineatele precedente, se aplica aceste dispozitii contractuale.

ART. 10

Daca o topografie a fost exploatata comercial, in tara sau in strainatate, topografia poate beneficia de protectie, in conditiile prezentei legi, numai daca cererea de inregistrare a fost depusa la Oficiul de Stat pentru Inventii si Marci in termen de 2 ani de la data primei exploatari comerciale.

ART. 11

In situatia in care o topografie nu a fost exploatata comercial timp de 15 ani de la data la care a fost creata sau codata pentru prima oara, la implinirea acestui termen dreptul la protectie inceteaza, dupa cum urmeaza:

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a) daca topografia nu a fost inregistrata, ea nu mai poate face obiectul unei cereri de inregistrare;

b) b) daca topografia a fost inregistrata, drepturile conferite prin inregistrare se sting.

CAP. III

Inregistrarea topografiilor

ART. 12

(1) Inregistrarea unei topografii de produs semiconductor este conditionata de constituirea la Oficiul de Stat pentru Inventii si Marci a unui depozit reglementar al cererii de inregistrare.

(2) O cerere de inregistrare poate avea ca obiect o singura topografie, iar o topografie poate fi inregistrata numai o singura data.

ART. 13

(1) Depozitul cererii de inregistrare a unei topografii este reglementar constituit daca se depun urmatoarele:

a) o cerere scrisa prin care se solicita inregistrarea topografiei si care trebuie sa evidentieze cel putin:

- numele, prenumele si domiciliul creatorului/creatorilor topografiei;

- numele si prenumele sau denumirea si adresa solicitantului, daca acesta este altul decat creatorul topografiei;

- indicatii privind dreptul solicitantului de a inregistra topografia;

- denumirea si destinatia produsului semiconductor realizabil pe baza topografiei;

- data fixarii sau a primei codari a topografiei;

- data primei exploatari comerciale a topografiei, cand este cazul;

- numele si prenumele sau denumirea si adresa mandatarului, cand este cazul;

- semnatura solicitantului sau, dupa caz, a mandatarului;

b) o documentatie tehnica, constituita din materiale grafice si texte, care sa contina informatii suficiente pentru a permite identificarea topografiei si pentru a evidentia functiunea electronica a produsului semiconductor care incorporeaza topografia;

c) doua exemplare ale produsului semiconductor, daca acesta a fost realizat si exploatat comercial;

d) imputernicirea de reprezentare a mandatarului, dupa caz;

e) dovada de plata a taxelor prevazute de lege.

(2) Toate documentele mentionate mai sus se depun dactilografiate in limba romana.

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ART. 14

(1) Oficiul de Stat pentru Inventii si Marci examineaza cererile de inregistrare a topografiilor din punct de vedere al indeplinirii cerintelor legale pentru constituirea depozitului reglementar si, daca constata indeplinirea acestora, efectueaza inregistrarea topografiei in Registrul national al topografiilor, publica inregistrarea topografiei in conditiile prevazute la art. 17 si elibereaza persoanei indreptatite un certificat de inregistrare a topografiei, in termen de 3 luni de la data publicarii.

(2) Data depozitului reglementar este data inregistrarii cererii de protectie.

ART. 15

(1) In cazul in care, la examinarea cererii, se constata lipsuri sau deficiente ale actelor prevazute la art. 13, acestea se comunica in scris solicitantului, in termen de 15 zile de la data depunerii cererii, acordandu-i-se un termen de doua luni pentru a efectua completarile si rectificarile necesare.

(2) Daca in termenul acordat s-au efectuat toate aceste completari si rectificari, Oficiul de Stat pentru Inventii si Marci efectueaza procedura prevazuta la art. 14.

(3) Data depozitului reglementar va fi, in acest caz, data la care s-au primit toate completarile si rectificarile necesare.

(4) Daca in termenul acordat nu s-au efectuat completarile si rectificarile cerute, cererea este respinsa si se comunica in scris solicitantului motivele respingerii.

ART. 16

(1) Hotararile privind cererile de inregistrare a topografiilor pot fi contestate pe cale administrativa, in scris si motivat, la Oficiul de Stat pentru Inventii si Marci, in termen de 3 luni de la comunicare.

(2) Contestatia va fi examinata, in termen de 3 luni de la inregistrarea acesteia, de catre Comisia de reexaminare din cadrul Departamentului de apeluri al Oficiului de Stat pentru Inventii si Marci.

(3) Hotararea motivata a Comisiei de reexaminare se comunica partilor in termen de 15 zile de la pronuntare si poate fi atacata cu apel la Tribunalul Bucuresti, in termen de 3 luni de la comunicare.

(4) Hotararea Tribunalului Bucuresti poate fi atacata cu recurs la Curtea de Apel Bucuresti, in termen de 15 zile de la comunicare.

(5) Hotararile Comisiei de reexaminare ramase definitive si irevocabile se publica in B.O.P.I., in termen de 60 de zile.

ART. 17

(1) Inregistrarea topografiilor se publica in B.O.P.I., in termen de doua luni de la data inregistrarii.

(2) Titularul este obligat sa comunice, in cel mai scurt termen, Oficiului de Stat pentru Inventii si Marci orice modificari survenite in ceea ce priveste numele sau denumirea titularului ori a mandatarului acestuia. Oficiul de Stat pentru Inventii si Marci opereaza

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modificarile in Registrul national al topografiilor si le publica in B.O.P.I., in termen de 3 luni de la primirea comunicarii.

ART. 18

(1) Dupa publicarea inregistrarii, documentatia din depozitul reglementar al topografiilor poate fi consultata la sediul Oficiului de Stat pentru Inventii si Marci de catre persoanele interesate.

(2) Nu pot fi consultate documentele din depozitul reglementar, care contin informatii declarate de solicitantul protectiei ca fiind secrete comerciale.

ART. 19

(1) Orice persoana interesata are dreptul sa formuleze in scris si motivat la Oficiul de Stat pentru Inventii si Marci o cerere de revocare impotriva hotararilor privind cererile de inregistrare a topografiilor produselor semiconductoare, in termen de 3 luni de la publicarea acestora, daca hotararile au fost luate cu nerespectarea art. 13.

(2) Cererea de revocare va fi solutionata, in termen de 3 luni de la inregistrarea acesteia la Oficiul de Stat pentru Inventii si Marci, de catre Comisia de reexaminare din cadrul Departamentului de apeluri al oficiului.

(3) Hotararea motivata a Comisiei de reexaminare se comunica partilor in termen de 15 zile de la pronuntare si va fi supusa cailor de atac prevazute la art. 16 alin. (3) si (4).

(4) Hotararile privind revocarea, definitive si irevocabile, se publica in B.O.P.I., in termen de 60 de zile.

CAP. IV

Drepturi

ART. 20

Drepturile exclusive se sting la 10 ani de la prima dintre urmatoarele date:

a) sfarsitul anului in care topografia a facut obiectul unei exploatari comerciale pentru prima data in lume;

b) sfarsitul anului in care s-a constituit depozitul reglementar.

ART. 21

(1) Titularul unei topografii inregistrate are, pe toata durata de protectie, dreptul exclusiv de exploatare a topografiei, precum si dreptul exclusiv de a autoriza sau de a interzice urmatoarele acte:

a) reproducerea acelei topografii, in masura in care este protejata conform art. 3 alin. (1);

b) exploatarea comerciala sau importul in acest scop al unei topografii sau al unui produs semiconductor fabricat cu ajutorul acestei topografii.

(2) Se excepteaza de la dispozitiile alin. (1):

a) reproducerea unei topografii cu titlu privat in scopuri necomerciale;

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b) reproducerea in scop de analiza, evaluare sau invatamant privind concepte, procedee, sisteme ori tehnici incorporate in topografie sau privind topografia insasi;

c) actele privind o topografie protejata si care a fost creata plecand de la o analiza si o evaluare a unei alte topografii, efectuate potrivit lit. b).

(3) Dreptul exclusiv de a autoriza sau de a interzice actele prevazute la alin. (1) lit. b) nu este aplicabil actelor savarsite dupa ce topografia sau produsul semiconductor a fost pus pe piata in Romania sau in Uniunea Europeana, de catre titular sau cu consimtamantul acestuia.

ART. 22

Drepturile exclusive prevazute la art. 21 se nasc:

a) la data depozitului reglementar;

b) la data la care topografia a facut obiectul unei exploatari comerciale pentru prima data, oriunde in lume, daca aceasta este anterioara datei prevazute la lit. a).

ART. 23

Titularul are dreptul sa marcheze produsele semiconductoare fabricate pe baza topografiei protejate, cu majuscula T.

ART. 24

Creatorii de topografii au dreptul sa li se mentioneze numele si calitatea de creator al topografiei in certificatul de inregistrare a topografiei si in publicatiile efectuate de Oficiul de Stat pentru Inventii si Marci cu privire la topografiile inregistrate.

ART. 25

Creatorii de topografii, care, in virtutea prevederilor art. 9, nu sunt titulari, au dreptul la o remuneratie care se stabileste prin contract incheiat intre acestia si titularul topografiei protejate.

ART. 26

(1) Nu constituie o incalcare a drepturilor titularului unei topografii protejate exploatarea topografiei de catre persoana care a achizitionat cu buna-credinta produsul semiconductor, fara sa aiba posibilitatea de a sti ca produsul semiconductor respectiv incorporeaza o topografie protejata, reprodusa ilegal. Incepand de la data la care persoana in cauza a luat cunostinta ca topografia este protejata, ea nu mai are dreptul de a achizitiona, fara autorizatia titularului, produse semiconductoare similare, dar poate continua exploatarea comerciala a produselor semiconductoare, achizitionate sau contractate anterior acestei date, cu conditia platii catre titular a unei despagubiri echitabile.

(2) Dispozitiile alin. (1) sunt aplicabile si succesorilor in drepturi ai titularului topografiei protejate.

ART. 27

Pentru perioada anterioara nasterii drepturilor exclusive, in conformitate cu prevederile art. 22, persoana care are dreptul la protectie in temeiul prezentei legi si care poate dovedi

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ca un tert a reprodus in mod fraudulos sau a exploatat comercial ori a importat in aceste scopuri topografia poate solicita daune potrivit dreptului comun.

CAP. V

Transmiterea drepturilor

ART. 28

Dreptul la protectie si drepturile ce decurg din inregistrarea unei topografii pot fi transmise, in tot sau in parte, prin cesiune si prin succesiune legala sau testamentara.

ART. 29

Drepturile conferite prin inregistrarea unei topografii pot fi transmise prin acordarea de licente exclusive sau neexclusive.

ART. 30

Transmiterea drepturilor prevazute la art. 28 si 29 produce efecte fata de terti numai incepand cu data publicarii in B.O.P.I. a mentiunii transmiterii inregistrate la Oficiul de Stat pentru Inventii si Marci.

ART. 31

(1) Tribunalul Bucuresti poate acorda o licenta obligatorie de exploatare unor persoane care, cu toate eforturile depuse, nu au reusit sa obtina autorizatia titularului de a exploata o topografie protejata, daca:

a) acordarea licentei este necesara in situatii de urgenta care privesc apararea si siguranta nationala, prevenirea sau lichidarea efectelor unor calamitati naturale, incalcarea Legii concurentei nr. 21/1996, republicata, ori nerespectarea standardelor nationale privind poluarea atmosferei;

b) au trecut cel putin 4 ani de la inceperea perioadei de protectie si topografia nu a fost exploatata comercial pe teritoriul Romaniei.

(2) Licentele obligatorii sunt neexclusive si nu pot fi transmise decat impreuna cu patrimoniul afectat aplicarii lor.

(3) Licentele obligatorii acordate se comunica Oficiului de Stat pentru Inventii si Marci, care le inscrie in Registrul national al topografiilor.

(4) Beneficiarul licentei obligatorii datoreaza titularului o remuneratie echitabila.

(5) Intinderea si durata licentelor obligatorii vor fi limitate la scopurile pentru care acestea au fost acordate.

(6) Beneficiari ai licentei obligatorii pot fi inclusiv Guvernul sau tertii autorizati de acesta.

ART. 32

(1) La solicitarea motivata prezentata de persoana interesata, Tribunalul Bucuresti poate retrage licenta obligatorie atunci cand circumstantele care au condus la acordarea acesteia

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au incetat sa mai existe, cu conditia ca interesele legitime ale persoanei care a dobandit-o sa fie protejate intr-o maniera corespunzatoare.

(2) Licenta nu va fi retrasa daca exista iminenta repetarii circumstantelor care au determinat acordarea acesteia.

(3) Hotararile Tribunalului Bucuresti privind acordarea unei licente obligatorii, precum si cele privind retragerea acesteia vor putea fi atacate la Curtea de Apel Bucuresti, in termen de 15 zile de la comunicare.

(4) Hotararile judecatoresti definitive si irevocabile privind acordarea sau, dupa caz, retragerea licentei obligatorii se comunica de persoana interesata Oficiului de Stat pentru Inventii si Marci, care le inregistreaza in Registrul national al topografiilor si publica mentiunea acestor hotarari in B.O.P.I., in termen de 30 de zile de la comunicare.

ART. 33

Oficiul de Stat pentru Inventii si Marci publica in B.O.P.I. toate cesiunile si licentele inregistrate cu privire la topografiile protejate, precum si modificarile survenite in legatura cu acestea, in termen de 3 luni de la inregistrarea lor.

CAP. VI

Incetarea drepturilor

ART. 34

(1) Drepturile conferite titularului prin inregistrarea topografiei se sting la data expirarii perioadei de protectie, data la care topografia intra in domeniul public, putand fi exploatata de orice persoana fara nicio restrictie.

(2) Drepturile titularului se sting inainte de expirarea duratei de protectie, daca sunt indeplinite conditiile prevazute la art. 11 lit. b).

ART. 35

Titularul poate renunta la protectia unei topografii inregistrate oricand in cursul duratei de protectie; renuntarea are ca efect stingerea drepturilor titularului cu toate consecintele prevazute la art. 34 alin. (1), incepand de la data publicarii cererii de renuntare in B.O.P.I.

ART. 36

(1) Orice persoana interesata poate cere Tribunalului Bucuresti anularea in tot sau in parte a inregistrarii unei topografii, in cazul in care se constata ca nu au fost indeplinite conditiile legale pentru acordarea protectiei. Cererea de anulare poate fi formulata pe intreaga perioada de protectie a topografiei.

(2) Hotararile Tribunalului Bucuresti pot fi atacate cu apel la Curtea de Apel Bucuresti, in termen de 30 de zile de la comunicare.

(3) Hotararile Curtii de Apel Bucuresti pot fi atacate cu recurs la Inalta Curte de Casatie si Justitie, in termen de 30 de zile de la comunicare.

ART. 37

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Oficiul de Stat pentru Inventii si Marci inscrie in Registrul national al topografiilor si publica in B.O.P.I. toate modificarile privind protectia topografiilor survenite ca urmare a aplicarii dispozitiilor art. 34-36.

CAP. VII

Apararea drepturilor

ART. 38

(1) Constituie infractiune de contrafacere, in sensul prezentei legi, exploatarea comerciala sau producerea fara drept a unei topografii protejate ori a unui produs semiconductor in care este incorporata o topografie protejata sau a unui element de circuit care incorporeaza un astfel de produs semiconductor, in masura in care acest element continua sa contina o topografie. (2) Actiunile prevazute la alin. (1) sunt calificate contrafacere daca au fost savarsite dupa data publicarii inregistrarii topografiei in Registrul national al topografiilor si se pedepsesc cu inchisoare de la 3 luni la 2 ani sau cu amenda de la 10.000 lei la 30.000 lei.

(3) Actiunea penala se pune in miscare din oficiu.

(4) Pentru prejudiciile cauzate, titularul are dreptul la despagubiri, potrivit dreptului comun, si poate solicita instantei judecatoresti competente sa dispuna masura confiscarii sau, dupa caz, a distrugerii produselor contrafacute; aceste dispozitii se aplica si echipamentelor care au servit nemijlocit la savarsirea infractiunii de contrafacere.

ART. 39

Litigiile cu privire la calitatea de creator al topografiei sau de titular, precum si cele cu privire la drepturile nascute din inregistrarea topografiilor - inclusiv drepturile patrimoniale ale creatorilor - sau din contractele de cesiune sau licenta sunt de competenta instantelor judecatoresti.

ART. 40

In cazul in care, prin hotarare judecatoreasca definitiva si irevocabila, se constata ca o alta persoana decat titularul certificatului de inregistrare este indreptatita la obtinerea protectiei topografiei, Oficiul de Stat pentru Inventii si Marci elibereaza certificatul de inregistrare persoanei indreptatite, inscrie in Registrul national al topografiilor modificarea de titular si o publica in B.O.P.I.

ART. 41

In situatia in care drepturile asupra unei topografii inregistrate au incetat pentru o perioada de timp ca urmare a renuntarii la protectie, a decaderii din drepturi sau a anularii inregistrarii, despagubirile si celelalte drepturi patrimoniale dobandite de titular, corespunzator perioadei mentionate, se restituie de catre acesta persoanelor de la care au fost dobandite.

ART. 42

La cererea instantei judecatoresti, Oficiul de Stat pentru Inventii si Marci este obligat sa inainteze actele, documentele si informatiile necesare judecarii cauzei cu care a fost

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investita, acestea restituindu-se la incetarea procesului. Citarea in instanta se va face numai in acest scop.

ART. 43

(1) Procedurile privind cererile si certificatele de inregistrare a topografiilor produselor semiconductoare sunt supuse taxelor, in cuantumul si la termenele stabilite conform legii. Taxele se platesc in contul Oficiului de Stat pentru Inventii si Marci.

(2) Taxele datorate de persoanele fizice si persoanele juridice cu domiciliul sau, dupa caz, cu sediul in strainatate se platesc in valuta in contul Oficiului de Stat pentru Inventii si Marci.

(3) Neplata taxelor la termenele legale prevazute atrage neefectuarea procedurii respective.

CAP. VIII

Dispozitii finale

ART. 44

Prezenta lege intra in vigoare in termen de 3 luni de la data publicarii ei in Monitorul Oficial al Romaniei, Partea I2.

Prezenta lege transpune Directiva Consiliului nr. 87/54/CEE din 16 decembrie 1986 privind protectia juridica a topografiilor produselor semiconductoare, publicata in Jurnalul Oficial al Comunitatilor Europene nr. L 024 din 27 ianuarie 1987.

NOTA:Reproducem mai jos art. II din Legea nr. 337/2005 care nu este incorporat in textul republicat al Legii nr. 16/1995 si care se aplica, in continuare, ca dispozitii proprii ale Legii nr. 337/2005:

"Art. II. - Prezenta lege intra in vigoare la 3 luni de la data publicarii in Monitorul Oficial al Romaniei, Partea I. In termen de 3 luni de la publicarea prezentei legi, Oficiul de Stat pentru Inventii si Marci va adopta norme de aplicare a Legii nr. 16/1995 privind protectia topografiilor circuitelor integrate, cu modificarile ulterioare, precum si cu modificarile si completarile aduse prin prezenta lege, care se vor publica in Monitorul Oficial al Romaniei, Partea I.

La data intrarii in vigoare a normelor prevazute la alin. 2 se abroga Hotararea Guvernului nr. 535/1996 pentru aprobarea Regulamentului privind inregistrarea topografiilor circuitelor integrate, publicata in Monitorul Oficial al Romaniei, Partea I, nr. 172 din 1 august 1996."

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