On January 15, 2025, the Layout-design (Topography) of Integrated Circuits (Designation of Qualifying Countries, Territories or Areas) (Amendment) Regulation 2024 (the ‘Regulation’) passed in the Legislative Council (LegCo), amending the schedules of the principal Ordinance to update the list of jurisdictions recognized for reciprocal protection of integrated circuit layout-design rights.
This article was generated using SAMS, an AI technology by Timothy Loh LLP.
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On January 15, 2025, the Layout-design (Topography) of Integrated Circuits (Designation of Qualifying Countries, Territories or Areas) (Amendment) Regulation 2024 (the ‘Regulation’) passed in LegCo, updating the schedules within the Ordinance concerning the designation of qualifying countries, territories, or areas for integrated circuit layout-design protection. This legislative action ensures Hong Kong’s alignment with international standards and facilitates ongoing trade partnerships through the revised recognition of jurisdictions offering reciprocal protection of 'integrated circuit layout-designs’.
Specifically, the Regulation amends Schedule 5.2, Schedule 5.8, and Schedule 10 of the principal legislation. The amendments broadly expand the list of designated jurisdictions to include Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo (Dem. Rep.), Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, European Union, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Korea, Democratic People's Republic of, Korea, Republic of, Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao Special Administrative Region, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Mexican States, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
The Regulation will come into operation on February 14, 2025.
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