01. Seek Professional Guidance:
Applying for an IC is a complex process. We highly recommend that you reach out to an IP specialist who can help you through the process to increase your chances of your application being accepted.
02. Confidentiality Measures:
Implement confidentiality measures to protect your topography before filing. Consider non-disclosure agreements when discussing your design invention with others. While under the UAE law, there are strong confidentiality provisions built into Layout Design protection, the pre-filing confidentiality measures must still be implemented.
03. Funding and Budgeting:
Decide on the money needed for filing fees, legal assistance, and any other costs to make sure your finances run smoothly. This activity should be visited throughout your preparation and application process.
04. Strategic Decision-Making:
Decide on the aspects of your topography that are most worth protecting as well as its market value. Consider the geographical scope of protection (national, regional, international). Please note, not all countries offer formal IC protection as a standalone IP right.
Use the pre-application checklist linked below or read through the outline here to understand the steps you should take before moving into the application process.
Please note, this checklist is not exhaustive and doesn't replace advice from IP experts.
01. Conduct Market Research:
Investigate the market to understand the commercial potential of your topography. Identify potential competitors and existing solutions. You are required by law to commercially exploit your IC, this may be through production and distribution, or licensing. Therefore your idea should be viable and applicable to the market.
02. Outline Designer(s):
Make sure you clearly state who the correct designers are and provide accurate ownership details for the application.
03. Documentation and Description:
Layout designs are the blueprint of your topography. They help examiners understand how it works.
a. Keep records and documentation of your creation:
Maintain comprehensive records of your design’s development, including all sketches, notes, and experimental results. These records are invaluable for proving the layout design’s development process and originality. Ensure these are kept confidential.
b. Clear Statement of Novelty:
Write a clear and detailed description of your design, highlighting what makes it original and not common knowledge in the field.
c. Prepare Layout Designs:
These are the schematics, layout and topographies of how the electrical and electronic components are interconnected. Clearly label each layout. These are not made public by the UAE officials. Under the law, they are kept confidential and will not be disclosed in publicly accessible databases in the UAE, nor in the official gazette.
04. Look Through Application Form:
Look through the forms for your IC application from the MoEc to learn about what information and documents you need.
The IC application process requires you to fill out a number of documents in detail following specific rules set by the IP office.
Find a list of all the documents you’ll need to submit with your application below:
Note: All documents must be submitted in both Arabic and English - However, Arabic translations after initial submission in English can be filed within 90 days from the date of notification of amendment order by the MoEc.
Below you will find the steps, timeframes, and costs involved in applying for an IC. The process is divided into three phases: pre-application, application, and post application.
The time and expenses for each phase may vary depending on the complexity of your topography, the quality of your application, and the level of support you choose.
