China Revises Integrated Circuit Layout Design Regulations to Cover Photonics and Quantum Chips

WISECODE Take

On August 28, 2026, the China Intellectual Property News reported on the revision of the Regulations on the Protection of Layout-Designs of Integrated Circuits, which many chipmakers mistakenly view as a routine update for traditional semiconductors. The core of this revision lies in removing the word semiconductor to officially extend protection to photonic and quantum chips. Crucially, the revised Articles 23 and 24 require applicants to specify the exact areas and functions of original design in their originality statements, ending the era of securing registration with vague diagram submissions. For Taiwanese IC design firms focused on mature silicon-based processes with no plans for the Chinese market, this revision has little impact. However, for those developing optoelectronic or quantum chips for China, this change facilitates easier enforcement in copying disputes. To adapt, business owners should take two steps. First, R&D teams must clearly document and label original core circuit blocks during layout registration rather than submitting entire schematics. Second, legal departments should leverage competitors' originality statements to narrow their scope of protection and identify design-around opportunities.