Rules 69 explained: this guide covers what it means, who it applies to, the step-by-step process, documents required, fees, due dates and penalties in India — so you can stay compliant with confidence and avoid costly mistakes.
Chapter VII of the Rules (rules 69 to 74) sets the forms and periods for matters before the Layout-Design Appellate Board: cancellation on Form LD-33, Government use on Form LD-34, the six-month efforts period, review on Form LD-29, royalty on Forms LD-27 and LD-28, and appeals from the Registrar on Form LD-26. They give effect to sections 40 to 42 and 51 of the Act, and they depend on the Board.
This article reflects the Rules as amended up to G.S.R. 689(E) dated 14 September 2012 (the only amendment). Check sicldr.gov.in for later notifications. Fees are those in Schedule I as notified in 2001; the Registry's forms page lists the same amounts (checked 3 October 2026).
Commencement: no notification bringing sections 32 to 53 (and 55) into force was found in the India Code record or on the Registry's notifications page (checked 3 October 2026); check the current position before relying on them. These rules do not say that the Board exists. As notified, cancellation is on Form LD-33, Government use on Form LD-34, review on Form LD-29, royalty on Form LD-27 (opposition on LD-28 within thirty days) and appeals on Form LD-26. The efforts period before Government use is six months.
The commencement line first
Everything in rules 69 to 74 assumes the Appellate Board that section 32 of the Act says the Central Government "shall, by notification" establish. No such notification was found, and this article does not say the Board sits or hears appeals. The Act gives no other forum for appeals from the Registrar. If a Registrar's order is in hand, take legal dispute resolution advice on the current position before any period is relied on. The Act's Board sections are explained in sections 32 to 39 and sections 40 to 44.
Rule 69: cancellation of registration or of an assignment
- 69(1). "Any person may make application under sub-section (1) of section 41 to apply for the cancellation of the registration or of assignment or transmission of the layout-design to the Appellate Board on Form LD-33 accompanied by prescribed fee. The Board shall give notice on Form OLD-8 to the opposite parties."
- 69(2). On receipt of replies within the time in the notices, or after that time if no reply is filed, the Board gives the applicant and the opposite parties an opportunity of being heard and disposes of the application.
Schedule I, entry 27: Rs 2000, Form LD-33.
Rules 70 and 71: Government use
Rule 70. "Subject to the provisions of section 51 of the Act, the Appellate Board may permit the Government or the person authorised by the Government to use the registered layout-design. The application for such permission shall be made on the Form LD-34 accompanied by prescribed fee." Schedule I, entry 28: Rs 2000, Form LD-34.
Rule 71 fixes the period for the efforts under the first proviso to section 51(1): the person authorised "shall not be permitted under that sub-section the use of a registered layout-design unless the Appellate Board is satisfied that such person has made efforts to enter into agreement with the registered proprietor of such layout-design on reasonable commercial terms and conditions for permitted use of such layout-design and such efforts had not been successful within a period of six months."
The conditions the Board may attach, the certificate exemption and royalty are in sections 50 to 53.
Rule 72: review of the permission
- 72(1). The registered proprietor may ask the Board to review the permission granted under section 51(1), giving reasons, on Form LD-29 with the prescribed fee. Schedule I, entry 25: Rs 2000, Form LD-29.
- 72(2). The Board issues notice to the authorised person on Form OLD-9, indicating the date of hearing.
- 72(3). The hearing is for a date at least one month after the notice, unless the parties consent to shorter notice. Within fourteen days from receipt of the notice, a party who intends to appear shall notify the Board; one who does not "may be treated as not desiring to be heard".
- 72(4). The decision is notified to the parties in writing.
Rule 73: royalty
73(1): Form LD-27
"The application under sub-section (1) of section 40 for determining royalty shall be made to the Appellate Board on Form LD-27." It is accompanied by an affidavit supporting the facts and grounds, a copy of the document or other evidence of the benefit accrued by the acts in section 18(1)(b) in respect of the circuit or article, and a fee "in respect of filing and for the service or execution of the processes" that rule 73(1) states by reference to the royalty claimed, not as a Schedule I amount. Schedule I lists no entry for Form LD-27 or LD-28.
73(2) and (3): notice, opposition and disposal
On receipt the Board gives notice to the opposite party on Form OLD-3. The opposing party "may file opposition within thirty days from the date on which such notice is served to him on Form LD-28." On receipt of the opposition, or after the thirty days if none, the Board gives the applicant and the opposite party an opportunity of being heard and disposes of the application. This ties to the royalty route for the innocent dealer in section 18(5) to (8).
Rule 74: appeal from the Registrar
"An appeal to the Appellate Board under sub-section (1) of section 42 shall be preferred on Form LD-26 accompanied by prescribed fee and shall be verified by the person preferring the appeal in the manner specified in such form. A copy of the order on decision against which such appeal is preferred shall be accompanied with such form." Schedule I, entry 24: Rs 1500, printed against "LD26". The three-month period runs under section 42(1) from communication of the order.
The forms at a glance
| Rule | Purpose | Form | Schedule I |
|---|---|---|---|
| 69 | Cancellation of registration or assignment | LD-33 (notice on OLD-8) | Entry 27: Rs 2000 |
| 70 | Permission for Government use | LD-34 | Entry 28: Rs 2000 |
| 71 | Efforts period (six months) | none | none |
| 72 | Review of permission | LD-29 (notice on OLD-9) | Entry 25: Rs 2000 |
| 73 | Royalty application / opposition | LD-27 (notice OLD-3) / LD-28 | Not listed |
| 74 | Appeal from the Registrar | LD-26 | Entry 24: Rs 1500 |
The forms are described in Schedule II part 2 and the official notices in Schedule III.
A worked example
A State agency authorised by the Government wants to use a registered layout for a public metering programme. As notified, it would apply on Form LD-34 with the Rs 2000 fee, show the Board that its efforts to agree terms with the proprietor failed over six months (unless it holds a Government certificate of urgency), and the proprietor could seek review on Form LD-29 within the Board's procedure. Separately, an applicant refused by the Registrar would appeal on Form LD-26. All of that presupposes the Board; since no commencement notification was found, the agency and the applicant should first get advice on the current position.
Need help with a Board-dependent matter?
When your matter turns on one of these forms, the first question is the forum. Our legal dispute resolution team can check the position and prepare the paperwork.
Key takeaways
- No commencement notification was found for sections 32 to 53 and 55; the Rules do not say the Board exists.
- Cancellation: Form LD-33 (entry 27: Rs 2000). Government use: Form LD-34 (entry 28: Rs 2000).
- Efforts to agree must have failed over six months before authorised Government use (rule 71).
- Review: Form LD-29 (entry 25: Rs 2000). Royalty: Form LD-27, with opposition on Form LD-28 within thirty days.
- Appeal from the Registrar: Form LD-26 (entry 24: Rs 1500) with a copy of the order.
Read next
- Sections 32 to 39: the Board
- Sections 40 to 44: royalty, cancellation and appeals
- Sections 50 to 53: Government use
Disclaimer: Based on the Semiconductor Integrated Circuits Layout-Design Act, 2000 (never amended; commencement as notified in 2004, 2011 and 2014) and the Semiconductor Integrated Circuits Layout-Design Rules, 2001 as amended by G.S.R. 689(E) of 14 September 2012, as consulted on 3 October 2026. Check sicldr.gov.in for later notifications and current forms and fees. This article is general information, not legal advice; check the official text before acting.