On 26 June 2026, the State Council of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) issued the revised Regulations on the Protection of Layout-Designs of Integrated Circuits (2026 Regulations), which shall come into force on 15 October 2026. The Council promulgated and implemented the current Regulations (2001 Regulations) in 2001. Scope of Protection: Expanded to Emerging FieldsIn the 2001 Regulations, the protection scope primarily covered traditional semiconductor integrated circuits. In the 2026 Regulations, layout-designs of integrated circuits that integrate photonic, quantum, or other functions, are included within the scope of protection. The 2026 Regulations help to protect exclusive rights in integrated circuit layout-designs, stimulate the enthusiasm of innovators for design, and foster the innovative development of integrated circuit technology.