China has revised its regulations on the protection of chip layout designs, a move framed as critical to advancing technological self-sufficiency in the face of US export controls. Premier Li Qiang signed a State Council decree to promulgate the revised rules on the protection of layout designs of integrated circuits, Xinhua reported, with the new regime set to take effect on October 15.
The revision tightens design protection while clarifying financial penalties for infringement as well as licensing, transfer and co-ownership rights, aiming to accelerate the commercialisation of new chip designs. By sharpening both enforcement tools and the rules governing how layout-design rights can be shared and monetised, policymakers hope to spur innovation across China's semiconductor ecosystem.
The update arrives as US restrictions on advanced chipmaking technology continue to constrain China's semiconductor ambitions. For firms across the supply chain, the revision signals a hardening of China's legal framework around chip intellectual property, potentially reshaping how licensing, co-ownership and liability are negotiated in an increasingly fragmented industry.