Integrated Circuit Topography Fee Changes

Summary#

This is a proposed set of changes called the Regulations Amending the Integrated Circuit Topography Regulations. It replaces the schedule of fees for registering and managing integrated circuit topographies and was published on December 31, 2022. Interested people had 30 days from publication to comment, and the changes would take effect on January 1, 2024 if adopted.

What it does#

• Replaces the fee schedule in the Integrated Circuit Topography Regulations with a new tariff of fees.
• Sets specific fees for common actions related to topography registration:
  • Filing an application: $284.00
  • Amending an application after a request under subsection 20(1): $94.00
  • Entering particulars of a transfer or licence in the register: $94.00
  • Amending a register entry or making a new entry: $94.00
  • Correcting a certificate of registration when the error came from incorrect applicant information: $94.00
  • Providing a copy of a document or register page (per page up to 8½" x 11"): $6.00
  • Providing a certified copy (other than certain Federal Courts certified copies): $63.00
• States an intended coming-into-force date of January 1, 2024.

Who's affected#

• Creators and owners of integrated circuit topographies (the designs of semiconductor layouts).
• Companies, startups, universities, and individual inventors who file or manage topography registrations.
• Intellectual property agents and lawyers who help with filings and record changes.
• The Canadian Intellectual Property Office and the Department of Industry, which administer the system.

If it is unclear who is affected, it would mainly be anyone who currently uses or plans to use Canada’s integrated circuit topography registration system.

Why it matters#

• The notice sets the exact costs for applying, correcting, transferring, or getting copies of registered topographies. That changes the out-of-pocket cost for protecting and managing semiconductor design rights in Canada.
• For small firms, research labs, and inventors, these fees affect budgeting for IP protection.
• Because this was a proposal, the fees were not final until adopted. The comment period and the stated coming-into-force date indicate the government’s timeline for making the change effective.