Re: Chip Design IP and Piracy Interview Opportunity

Peter F. Cassidy <pcassidy[_at_]world.std.com> wrote:
>
> I'm on deadline now for a story about protecting chip design IP from
> piracy. Looking for vignettes and perspective on how far the law can
> protect you - to measure what might require technical solutions.
>
> Any attorneys or analysts who are game can call me anytime at 617 436
> 3715. The magazine that has assigned the piece is Silicon Strategies.
> Deadline was yesterday.

I am neither an attorney or analyst, but I am an information synthesist and Internet consultant to new-media law entities. Last year I put up a paper with the "perspective" you'd find useful, for although it addressed IP implications of entire "systems" on a single semiconductor chip, there's a section on the strategic importance of IP rights, such as:

o IP rights in chips arise under patent law and the Semiconductor Chip   Protection Act (the "Chip Act"); Copyright law is applicable to   software on a chip.
o Patent law protects elements of chip designs and production processes   that are useful, novel and non-obvious. o Patent protection is the strongest type of protection, but is more   difficult and expensive to implement.

The paper is at http://www.oikoumene.com/IPinICs.html

-- 

Sandy Jane Wong, Webmaster
``Digital Assets, 21st Century Wealth"
WWW Multimedia Law http://www.oikoumene.com/
FAX: 415-841-0668; Phone: 415-334-6066
<sandy[_at_]oikoumene.com>