Protection is given to the layout of integrated circuits (or semiconductor chips, commonly known as computer chips) under the Circuit Layouts Act 1989 (Cth) (CLA) if the following requirements are met:
i. The circuit layout is a representation fixed in any material form of the 3-dimensional location of the active and passive elements and interconnections making up an integrated circuit;
ii. The circuit layout is original; and
iii. The circuit layout is either made by an eligible person or first commercially exploited in Australia or another eligible country.
The owner of an original circuit layout has exclusive Eligible Layout Rights (EL Rights), which include the exclusive rights to:
i. Copy the layout, directly or indirectly, in a material form;
ii. Make integrated circuits from the layout;
iii. Exploit it commercially in Australia; and
iv. Authorize another person to do any of the above acts. Authorization is usually given in the form of a license. Registration is not required for layout rights, and protection is automatic.