A Guide to Integrated Circuit Topographies — Appendix II

Glossary

Certificate of registration: A certificate issued by the Registrar of Topographies stating that the topography has been registered in accordance with the Integrated Circuit Topography Act.
Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO): An agency of Industry Canada that administers Canada's intellectual property legislation and regulations regarding patents, trade-marks, copyright, industrial designs and integrated circuit topographies.
Copyright: Literary, artistic, dramatic or musical works (including computer programs) and three other subject matters known as: performances, sound recordings and communication signals.

Description: A description is a basic requirement of an application for integrated circuit topography. It identifies the nature (structure type) or function of the topography.

Industrial designs: Visual features of shape, configuration, pattern or ornament (or any combination of these) applied to a manufactured article.
Infringement: Violation of integrated circuit topography rights through the unauthorized use of an integrated circuit topography.
Integrated circuit topographies: Three-dimensional configurations of electronic circuits embodied in integrated circuit products or layout designs.
Integrated Circuit Topography Act: Federal legislation governing integrated circuit topographies in Canada.
Intellectual property: The right to ownership and control over the form of creative endeavour that can be protected through a trade-mark, patent, copyright, industrial design or integrated circuit topography.

Licence: An agreement granting someone permission to use a topography for certain purposes or under certain conditions. A licence does not constitute a change in ownership of the topography.

Patents: New inventions (process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter) or any new and useful improvement to an existing invention.

Registration: The granting of exclusive rights to an integrated circuit topography by the Registrar of Topographies. This provides protection against imitation and unauthorized use of the topography.

Trade-marks: Words, symbols or designs (or any combination of these) used to distinguish the wares or services of one person or organization from those of others in the marketplace.