China revises chip-design IP law to cover photonic and quantum chips from October 2026
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China's State Council published revised regulations on July 23 that delete the term 'semiconductor' from the definition of integrated circuits, extending IP protection to photonic and quantum chip layouts from October 15, 2026. The move is being interpreted as a claim to future leadership in advanced chip design. It comes as the U.S. and China continue to compete over AI and semiconductor supply chains.
The Regulatory Revision
The State Council's Decree No. 842, promulgated on July 23 after a July 10 executive meeting, removes the phrase «semiconductor integrated circuit» from Article 2 of the Layout-Design Protection Regulations. The revised text retains «semiconductor material substrate» in a separate clause and explicitly extends protection to the layout designs of photonic and quantum chips. The regulation, the first major rewrite since 2001, takes effect on October 15, 2026.
Strategic Ambitions
Guo He, an IP expert at Renmin University, wrote in an official interpretation that the deletion signals China is «no longer conservatives in the intellectual property system.» The revision aligns China's legal framework with its ambitions in advanced computing, even though photonic and quantum chips are not yet dominant. Industry observers note the move coincides with the U.S.-China race for AI supremacy, where chip design remains a critical front.
What's Next
The regulation takes effect in October 2026, but its impact on international IP disputes and global chip supply chains remains uncertain. Analysts warn that Beijing's expanded definitions could intensify technology friction with Washington.
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China revises chip-design IP law to cover photonic and quantum chips from October 2026
