New Semiconductor Chip Protection Act In Brazil

Through the Provisional Measure # 352 of January 22^nd, 2007, the President of Brazil created a new protection for Semiconductor Topographies. This new law corresponds to the US Semiconductor Chip Protection Act of 1984 with some changes referring to the WTO´s TRIPS Agreement rules on this kind of Intellectual Property. A bill with a very similar content was sleeping at Congress for over ten years.

A Provisional Measure is a decree of the Executive Power with force of law, which is, however, sent to Congress for confirmation. The latter may enact a conversion law that will change the Provisional Measure into a permanent law as it is or can change or modify it as it pleases. However, a Provisional Measure has immediate effect.