WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION 
ORGAN]SAT~:ON MONDIALE DU COMMERCE 
ORGANIZACION MONDIAL DEL COMERCIO 
COimcH for Trade-Rdated Aspects of 
Intellectnal Property Rights IP/NIVJOR/IJl 
7 December 2000 
(00-5300) ---
Original: English! 
anglais/ 
ingles 
MAIN DEDICATED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY 
LAWS AND REGULATIONS NOTIFIED UNDER 
ARTICLE 63.2 OF THE AGREEMENT 
JORDAN 
The present document reproduces the text1 of the Law on the Protection of Layout-Designs of 
Integrated Circuits, N° (10) of 2000, as notified by Jordan under Article 63.2 of the Agreement (see 
document IP/N/lIJORll). 
ConseH des aspects des droits de propriete 
inteHechaeUe qni toncnent an commerce 
PRINCIP ALES LOtS ET REGLEMENTATIONS CONSACREES A LA 
PROPR:ntnt INTELLECTUELLE NOTIFIEES AU TITRE 
DE L'ARTICLE 63:2 DE L'ACCORD 
JORDAN lE 
Le present document contient le texte1 de la Loi nO (to) de 2000 sur la protection des schemas 
de configuration de circuits integres, notifiee par la lordanie au titre de Particle 63:2 de l'Accord (voir 
le document IPIN!1/JORIl). 
Conse.io de los Aspectos de los Derecnos de Propiedad 
'hRtelectual re~adomndos COil cl Comerdo 
PRINCIPALES LEYES Y REGLAMENTOS DEDICADOS A LA 
PROPIEDAD INTELEC'fUAL NOTIFICADOS EN VIRTUD 
DEL PARRAFO :2 DEL ARTiCULO 63 DEL ACUERDO 
JORDANIA 
En cl presente documento se reproduce cl textol de la Ley de protecci6n de los esquemas de 
trazado de 10s circuitos integrados N° (10) de 2000, l10tificada por Jordania en virtud de 10 dispuesto 
en cl parrafo 2 del articulo 63 del Acucrdo (vease el documento IPINI1!JORll). 
I In English only. The text in the original language is available for consultation by interested 
Delegations at the WTO Secretariat./En anglais seulement. Les delegations interessees peuvent consulter le 
texte dans sa langue d'origine, au Secretariat de I'OMC.iEn ingJes solamente. Las delegaciones interesadas 
podnin consuttar en la Secretaria de la OMC el texto en su idioma original. IPINIl/JORlLIl 
Page 2 
Article (I} Law No. (10) For The Year 2000 
The Protection of 
Layout-Designs of Integrated Circuits Law 
This law shall be known as "The Protection of Layout-Designs ofIntegrated Circuits 
Law for the year 2000", and shall come into force thirty days after the date of its 
publication in the Official Gazette. 
Article (2) 
The following words and phrases, wherever mentioned in this Law shall have the 
meanings designated hereunder, unless otherwise indicated by context: 
Ministry: Ministry of Industry and Trade. 
Minister: Minister ofIndustry and Trade. 
Integrated Circuit: A product, in its final form or intermediate form, in which the 
elements, at least one of which is an active element, and whereby 
the interconnections are integra11y formed in andlor 011 a piece of 
material, which is intended to perform an electronic function. 
Layout-Design: A three-dimensional disposition of the elements composing an 
integrated circuit, or a three-dimensional disposition specifically 
prepared to produce an integrated circuit intended for manufacture. 
Protected Lavout-Design: A layout-design that is accorded protection pursuant to the 
provisions of this Law. 
Hight Holder: The creator of a protected layout-design or his successor in title. 
Registrar: The Registrar of Layout- Designs of Integrated Circuits in the Ministry, 
nominated by the Minister. 
Register: The Register of Layout Designs of Integrated Circuits. 
Article (3) 
The Register 
A-A Register known as the (Layout-Designs ofIntegratcd Circuits Register) shall be IPINfl!JORIUI 
Page 3 
established at the Ministry, under the supervision of the Registrar, in which records 
shall be maintained of all the information related to layout-designs, names of right 
holders, their addresses, certificates issued therein, and any changes thereto 
resulting from procedures and legal acts thereof, including the following: 
1-Any assignment, transfer of ownership, or license granted by the right holder to 
others. 
2-The hypothecation or attachment placed upon a layout-design or any 
restriction on its use. 
B-The Register shall be available for the public, in accordance with Instructions issued 
by the Minister for this purpose, which shaH be published in the Official Gazette. 
c-The Ministry may maintain computerised records for the registrati09, of layout­
designs and related data thereto. Such data and documents retrieved therefrom and 
certified by the Registrar, shall be valid proof against others, unless proven 
otherwise by the interested party. 
Registration of Lay~Out Designs 
Article (4) 
A layout-design may be registered if the following conditions are met: 
A-If it is original, in the sense that it is the result of its creator's own intellectual 
effort, and which is not commonplace among creators of layout-designs and 
manufacturers of integrated circuits at the time of its creation. 
B-If an application for the registration of a lay-out design is filed in the Kingdom 
within two years from the date of the first commercial exploitation thereof, 
anywhere in the world. 
Article (5) 
The right of registering a Layout Design of Integrated Circuits shan be as follows: 
A-To the creator or to whomever the right of the layout design passes thereafter. 
B-To the persons participating in the creation, if it is the result of their joint effort, 
provided that it is registered jointly and equally, unless they agree otherwise. 
c-To the creator who is the first to file an application for registration, if the creation 
of the layout design is independently made by more than ODe person. 
D-To the employer, if the creation is a result of an employment contract, which 
requires the employee to accomplish such a creation, unless otherwise stipulated 
by contract. IPINIIIJOR/Lll 
Page 4 
Article (6) 
An application for the registration ofa layout-design shall be submitted to the Registrar, 
on the form designated for this purpose, attached with all the required information, 
samples, and drawings needed. The application for registration of a layout-design shall 
relate to only one layout-design. 
Article (7) 
A-The date the Registrar receives the application shall be considered the filing date, 
provided that the application fulfills all the legal requirements, and attached 
thereto all the data identifying the identity ofthe applicant, and the illustrative 
data of the layout design. 
B-Where the Registrar finds that the application has not fblfilled the requirements 
stated in paragraph CA) ofthis Article, he shall invite the applicant to fulfill such 
requirements, or make the necessary amendments, provided that such 
amendments do not exceed the information disclosed in the original application, 
and within the period determined in the Regulation issued in accordance with the 
provisions of this Law. The date offulfilling or amending such requirements shall 
be the date of filing the application. Otherwise, the Registrar shall issue a decision 
in this regard that would deem the applicant to have abandoned the application. 
The Registrar's decision may be appealed to the High Court of Justice within 
sixty days from the date of its notification. 
Article (8) 
A- the application for the registration of the layout-design fulfils the entire legal 
conditions and requirements, the Registrar shall issue his decision accepting the 
application, and collect the prescribed fees. 
B-The Registrar shall announce the acceptance of the application in the Official 
Gazette. Others may oppose such acceptance within ninety days from the date of 
publication. The procedures of opposition shall be determined in a Regulation 
issued pursuant to this Law. 
c-If no opposition is submitted against the acceptance of the application for 
registration, the Registrar shall adopt a decision for registering the layout design, 
and issue a certificate thereto, after collecting the prescribed fees. 
Protection of Lay-Out Designs 
Article (9) 
A-The right-holder in a layout-design, after registration thereof, shall have the right to 
protect the layout-design, by preventing others not having his consent from 
committing the following: IPlNll/JORlLI I 
Page 5 
1. The act of reproducing, whether by incorporation in an integrated circuit or 
otherwise, a protected layout-design, in its entirety or any part thereof 
2. The act of importing, selling or otherwise distributing, for commercial 
purposes, a protected layout-design, or an integrated circuit in which a 
protected layout-design is incorporated, or any article incorporating such 
a circuit in as much as it contains in a constant manner an unlawfully 
reproduced layout-design. 
B-Any person committing any of the acts stated in Paragraph (A) of this Article shall 
be considered committing an act of infringement upon the right holder's rights and 
shall be subject to legal liability. 
C-A lay-out design that consists of a combination of elements and interconnections 
that are commonplace, taken as a whole, had fulfilled the originality requirements 
I and other conditions stated in this Law, shall be accorded the protection stated in 
Paragraph (A) of this Article. 
Article (10) 
Notwithstanding what is stated in Article (9) of this Law, the follo\ving acts shall not 
considered an infringement of the tights of the right holder in a protected layout-design, 
without the authorisation thereof: 
A-To perform the act of reproduction referred to in Clause (1) Paragraph (A) of Article 
(9) in any of the following cases: 
! -Where the act of reproduction is performed for personal purposes, or for the sole 
purpose of evaluation, analysis, research, or teaching. 
2~Where the act of reproduction relates to a part ofthe layout~ design, which does 
not meet the requirement of originality. 
B-If the act relates to the following: 
1-Another layout-design that meets the requirements of originality which is created 
as a result of an evaluation or analysis pursuant to Clause (1) Paragraph (A) of 
this Article. . 
2-Another identical layout-design that meets the requirements of originality which is 
independently created. 
3-To perform any act referred to Clause (2) Paragraph (A) of Article (9) of this 
Law in' respect of a layout-design or integrated circuit, in which a layout-design 
is incorporated, that has been put on the market by, or with the consent of the 
right holder. 
4-To perform any act stated in Clause (2) Paragraph (A) of Article (9) of this Law, in 
respect of an integrated circuit incorporating an unIawfhlly reproduced layout­
design, or in respect of an article incorporating such a circuit,' if the person 
performing such an act did not know and had no reasonable grounds to know, 
when acquiring the said integrated circuit or article, that it incorporates an 
unlawfully reproduced layout design, provided that Article (11) of this Law is IP!NIlIJORlL!l 
Page 6 
taken into consideration. 
Article (11) 
If a person commits any of the acts stated in Clause (4) Paragraph (B) of Article (10) of 
this Law, and has been notified by the right holder with a notarised notice of such, he 
may perform any of the acts with respect to the stock on hand or contracted upon prior 
to the time of notification, provided that the right holder is reimbursed with an amount 
equal to the royalties such as would be payable under a freely negotiated license for such 
use. 
Article (12) 
A-The protection of a layout design shall commence on the date of filing an 
application for registration in the Kingdom. 
B-The term of protection of a layout-design shall be ten years counted from the date 
of the first commercial exploitation ofa layout-design anywhere in the world, 
provided that such term does not, in any case, exceed fifteen years fi·om the date 
of the creation of the layout-design. 
Article (13) 
A-Any interested pa!ty may request the Registrar to cancel the registration of a layout­
design in any of the following cases: 
1-The layout-design is not registrable, for not fulfilling any of the conditions 
stated in Article (4) of this Law. 
2-The application for registration does not include the necessary 
information, or where the documents and information attached thereto are 
incorrect) or in violation of the provisions of the Law. 
B-The Registrar's decision with respect to the request of the cancellation of a registered 
lay-out design pursuant to paragraph (A) of this Article, may be appealed to the 
High Court of Justice within sixty days from the date of notification. 
Transfer, Hypotilecation and Attachment of Layout- Designs 
Article (14) 
A-l-The ownership ofa layout-design may be transferred completely or partially, with 
or without consideration, and may be subject to hypothecation Of attachment, 
which shall be published, in the Official Gazette. ' 
2-Transfer of ownership or hypotl1ecation of a layout design shall not be deemed as 
valid proof against others prior to its recording in the Register. 
Rights in a layout-design may pass by succession. Article (15) IPINII/JORlLlI 
Page 7 
The procedures of transfer of a layout-design, its hypothecation and attachment, and all 
other legal acts related thereto, shaH be determined in Instructions issued by the Minister 
for this purpose, which shall be published in the Official Gazette. 
License To Exploit Layout-Designs 
Article (16) 
The right holder may grant others license to exploit the protected layout-design by virtue 
of a written contract to be recorded with the Registrar, who shall keep the provisions of 
confidentiality in the contract. 
Article (17) 
The Minister may grant licenses for the exploitation of a layout-design to other than the 
right holder of a layout design and without his consent, in any of the following cases, 
exclusively: 
A-If use by the relevant government bodies, or others who are licensed by such bodies 
to use the layout-design, is for national security, emergency situations, or public 
non-commercial benefit, provided that the right-holder is notified whenever 
possible. 
If it is found by a judicial or administrative decision that the right-holder practices 
his rights in a manner that deters others from fair competition. 
Article (18) 
The following shall be taken into account upon ISSUIng licenses in accordance with 
Article (17) of this Law: 
A-The merit ofthe application for license on a case by case basis. 
B-The scope and duration ofthe license shall be limited to the purpose for which the 
license is granted. In case the license application is in respect of semi-conductor 
technology, a license shaH only be granted for public non-commercial use or to 
remedy a practice detennined by a judicial or administrative authority to be anti­
competitive. 
c-The license to exploit a layout-design shall not be exclusive. 
D-The license shall not be capable of assignment. 
E-The license shall be granted to meet the local market demands, except fOf what is IP/N!1 IJOR/Li 1 
Page 8 
stated in Paragraph CB) of Article (17) of this Law. 
F -The right-holder shaH be paid by the Licensee adequate remuneration, which takes 
into account the economic value of the layout-design license. 
Adide (19) 
The Minister may, upon his own initiative or upon the request of the right -holder, cancel 
the license granted in accordance with Article (17) of this Law, if the reasons for 
granting such license are no longer applicable, and whereby reOCCUfrence is not probable, 
without prejudice to the related rights of others having interest in the license granted. 
Article (20) 
The procedures of licensing, to be granted pursuant to the provisions of Article (17) of 
this Law, shall be determined in a Regulation issued in accordance with this Law. 
Article (21) 
The interested party may challenge any decision issued by the Minister with respect to 
licensing to the High Court of Justice, within sixty days from the date of notification or 
acknowledgement thereof, as the case may be. 
Provisional Measures and Penalties 
Article (22) 
A-The right holder when filing a civil lawsuit to prevent the infringement upon the 
layout-design, or during the course of the hearings, may petition the competent 
Court to take any of the following measures, provided that the petition is attached 
with a bank guaranty or cash deposit accepted by the Court: 
1. Cease the infringement 
2. Place a provisional seizure on the articles, subject of infringement, wherever 
found. 
3. Preserve the relevant evidence to the infringement. 
B-l-The right holder may, prior to filing a lawsuit, petition the Court to take any of the 
measures provided for in Paragraph (A) of this Article, without notifYing the 
counter-party, provided that the petition is attached with a bank guaranty or cash 
deposit accepted by the Court. The Court may approve the petition if the right 
holder proves any of the following: 
-That the layout design had been infringed upon. 
-That such infringement is imminent and is likely to cause damages of irreparable 
harm. 
-That there is a demonstrable risk of evidence being destroyed or disappeared. 
2-If the right-holder fails to file the lawsuit within eight days from the date the Court IPIN!] /.TORJL!l 
Page 9 
approves his petition, all measures taken in this regard shall be nullified. 
3· The counter-party may appeal the court's decision with respect to the provisional 
measures to the Court of Appeal within eight days of his notification or 
acknowledgement thereof The Court's decision in this regard shall be final. 
4-The counter-party may claim compensation for damages he suffered, ifhe proves 
that the plaintiff's claims with respect to the provisional measures are invalid, or if 
the plaintiff failed to file the lawsuit within the specified period in Clause (2) of this 
Paragraph. 
c-The defendant may claim compensation for damages he suffered, if the Court 
decides that the plaintiff's claims are invalid. 
D-The Court may seek, in all case, experts opinion. 
The Court may order the seizure of the articles subject matter of the infringement, 
tools, and main materials used in infringing the layout-designs incorporated in 
such articles. The Court may also order destruction of such articles, tools and 
materials, or use of such outside the channels of commerce. 
Article (23) 
The Council of rvlinisters shall issue the necessary Regulations for implementing the 
provisions of this Law, including the prescribed fees to be collected. 
Article (24) 
The Prime Minister and the Ministers shall be responsible for implementing the 
provisions of this Law. 