Minister of State for Information and Technology, Sen. Nigel Carty, revealed recently that the legislative proposals are being introduced in accordance with the jurisdiction's commitment under article 3 of the Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property (TRIPS) of the WTO (World Trade Organisation).

The Cabinet has discussed and approved the ‘Protection of Lay-out Designs or Topographies of Integrated Circuits Bill’ for its onward passage to Parliament for debate and final approval.

Minister Carty said that the purpose of the bill was to protect the intellectual property of persons who produce original creations that are the result of their own intellectual efforts.

“This legislation is intended to encourage the development of circuit topographies that would help to advance computer technology to make them faster and more commonplace. This Bill is intended to be introduced at the next sitting of the Parliament,” Carty concluded.