31993D0017

COUNCIL DECISION of 21 December 1992 amending Decision 90/510/EEC on the extension of the legal protection of topographies of semiconductor products to persons from certain countries and territories

(93/17/EEC)THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 87/54/EEC of 16 December 1986 on the legal protection of topographies of semiconductor products (1), and in particular Article 3 (7) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Whereas the right to legal protection of topographies of semiconductor products in the Community applies to persons qualifying for protection under Article 3 (1) to (5) of Directive 87/54/EEC;

Whereas this right can be extended, by a Council Decision, to persons who do not benefit from protection under the said provisions;

Whereas the extension of the protection in question should, as far as possible, be decided upon for the Community as a whole;

Whereas the Council has extended this protection on a permanent basis to persons from certain countries and territories by its Decision 90/510/EEC (2);

Whereas such protection has previously been extended, on an interim basis only, under Decision 90/511/EEC (3), which expires on 31 December 1992, for natural persons in respect of Finland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland;

Whereas such protection has subsequently been extended for companies or other legal persons in respect of Switzerland and Finland, in accordance with Commission Decisions 90/541/EEC (4) and 92/20/EEC (5) respectively, pursuant to Decision 90/511/EEC;

Whereas it now seems appropriate to extend the protection in question on a permanent basis to the abovementioned countries, which have an appropriate legislation protecting topographies of semiconductor products under their national law and which make this protection available on a permanent basis to those persons from Member States of the Community who benefit from the right to protection under Directive 87/54/EEC,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The Annex to Decision 90/510/EEC is hereby replaced by the Annex to this Decision.

Article 2

This Decision shall apply from 1 January 1993.

Article 3

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 21 December 1992.

For the Council

The President

D. HURD

(1) OJ No L 24, 27. 1. 1987, p. 36.

(2) OJ No L 285, 17. 10. 1990, p. 29.

(3) OJ No L 285, 17. 10. 1990, p. 31.

(4) OJ No L 307, 7. 11. 1990, p. 21. Decision as amended by Decision 92/20/EEC (OJ No L 9, 15. 1. 1992, p. 22).

(5) OJ No L 9, 15. 1. 1992, p. 22.

ANNEX

Australia

Austria

Collectivité territoriale de Mayotte

Collectivité territoriale de Saint-Pierre et Miquelon

Finland

French Polynesia

French Southern and Antarctic Territories

Iceland

Japan

Liechtenstein

New Caledonia and dependencies

Norway

Sweden

Switzerland

Wallis and Futuna Islands