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United Kingdom
Key definition
Semiconductors definition

What does Semiconductors mean? In legal practice, “semiconductors” commonly refers to integrated circuits (computer chips) and, in the IP context, the layout-design (topography) of their circuitry. The word itself is descriptive; legislation protects the “topography of a semiconductor product”. In the UK (England & Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland), protection is provided by the design right (Semiconductor Topographies) Regulations 1989 (as amended), derived from Directive 87/54/EEC. The semiconductor topography right is an unregistered monopoly lasting ten years from the end of the calendar year of first commercial exploitation. It enables the right holder to control reproduction of the topography and the commercial exploitation, import...

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EU merger control: Qualcomm/NXP (M.8306) cleared subject to behavioural remedies—MIFARE licensing, interoperability obligations, and NFC patent transfer/royalty-free licensing (Commission decision, 18 January 2018)

Practice notes
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CASE HUB ARCHIVED – this archived case hub reflects the position at the date of the decision of 18 January 2018; it is no longer maintained. See further, the timeline and commentary.

Case facts

Outline European Commission merger investigation into the proposed acquisition of NXP semiconductors by Qualcomm (Case M.8306). The transaction features horizontal overlaps in semiconductor markets.

Latest developments

On 18 January 2018, the Commission cleared the transaction subject to commitments. The commitments accepted include a range of behavioural remedies (see below for more details).

Parties

  • Qualcomm Incorporated is a US-based company headquartered in San Diego. It is a world leader in 3g, 4G and next-generation wireless technologies and a leading semiconductor company, which develops and supplies integrated circuits for mobile devices, notably cellular baseband chips. Qualcomm also licences the rights to its intellectual property portfolio, including rights to patents that are essential to the implementation within wireless production of cellular communication standards.
  • NXP Semiconductors N.V. (NXP) is a Dutch-based company, headquartered in Eindhoven. NXP is a leader in high-performance, mixed-signal semiconductor electronics. NXP is a leading semiconductor solutions supplier to the automotive industry and also holds leading positions in automotive infotainment, networking and safety systems.

Background

Under the...

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Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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