Semiconductor Chip Protection Service (42.008)
Program
42.008 Semiconductor Chip Protection Service
Federal Agency
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
Authorization
Public Law 98-620, 98 Stat. 3347 (1984) (as amended)
Program Number
42.008
Last Known Status
Active
Objectives
To administer the Semiconductor Chip Protection Act of 1984; to examine and decide the acceptability of all application and identifying material for registration of the claim of protection; to establish by regulation the fees for filing of applications and for other services provided by the Copyright Office; to record and publish legal facts or data pertaining to each registered work; to furnish information to the public about the procedures for applying for registration and the practices of the Office; to record documents of transfer or other documents pertaining to mask works.
Types of Assistance
Dissemination of Technical Information.
Uses and Use Restrictions
Anyone may request information about the Semiconductor Chip Protection Act, the Copyright Office regulations, the method of securing registration and the procedures for registering claims of protection and recording documents. This information is free of charge. Reports on facts found in the records of the Copyright Office may be obtained for a statutory fee of $75 an hour. However, any member of the public may (without charge) use the catalog records in the Copyright Office. The post 1977 records are available via the Copyright Office website. The fee set by regulation for registration of claims of protection is $75. There are also separate schedules of regulatory fees for recordation of transfers of ownership and certified copies of record.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Information is supplied on request to anyone. Registration may be made by the owner of a qualified mask work, as designated by law, or the duly authorized agent of such owner.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Information is supplied to anyone on request. Owners of qualified mask works as designated by law will benefit.
Credentials/Documentation
This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.
Application and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application Procedure
Walk-in service or written requests for information. Applications for registration are made on forms MW provided by the office. Application forms are available on the Copyright Office Website at http://www.copyright.gov. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110.
Award Procedure
Not applicable.
Deadlines
Applications for registration of a claim of protection must be made within 2 years after the date in which the work was first commercially exploited anywhere in the world.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Appeals
Refusal of the Register of Copyrights to issue a certificate of registration may be brought for review in an appropriate United States district court not later than sixty days after the refusal. Informal administrative reconsideration of a refusal to register may be requested by letter to the Mask Work Unit of the Examining Division.
Renewals
None. The duration of protection is a single ten year term terminating at the end of the tenth calendar year.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Not applicable.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Not applicable.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
None.
Audits
None.
Records
None.
Program Accomplishments
In fiscal year 2002, a total of 508 mask work registrations were made. The estimated number of mask work registrations for fiscal year 2003 are 500 and fiscal year 2004 are 500.
Financial Information
Account Identification
03-0102-0-1-376.
Obligations
(Salaries and Expenses) FY 02 $0; FY 03 est $0; and FY 04 est $0. Note: The cost of the semiconductor chip protection service has been absorbed by the Copyright Office under the appropriation for copyright services. (Fees collected are returned to the U.S. Treasury to offset the costs of the program.)
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Not applicable.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
Applications, copies of regulations, and printed informational circulars are available from the Copyright Office at the mailing address given below.
Related Programs
42.002, Copyright Service; 11.900, Patent and Trademark Technical Information Dissemination.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
Not applicable.
Headquarters Office
Register of Copyrights, Copyright Office, James Madison Memorial Building, Library of Congress, Washington, DC. Telephone: (202) 707-1497. Mailing Address: Library of Congress, Copyright Office, 101 Independence Ave. SE., Washington, DC 20559-6000.
Web Site Address
Examples of Funded Projects
Not applicable.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Not applicable.
