How long does chips rights protection last?

Chips are protected for:

• 10 years after registration OR
• 10 years after the first time the rights were commercially exploited somewhere in the world. This period starts at the end of the year in which your chip is used commercially for the first time.

Whichever of the above is first, will be picked as the starting date.

This means that the protection can last up to 25 years. The following example illustrates protection of 24 years: the chip is created, but not commercially exploited, and only after 14 years commercial exploitation starts. This means that the 10 years of protection start at the end of that year, so 24 years of protection is given.

Your chips rights expire if the chip has not been commercially exploited somewhere in the world within a period of 15 years after creation.