No L 11/22 Official Journal of the European Communities 19. 1. 93 COUNCIL DECISION of 21 December 1992 amending Decision 90/510/EEC on the extension of the legal protection of topographies of semiconductor products to persons from certain countries and territories (93/17/EEQ) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European' Economic Community, Having regard to Council Directive 87/54/EEC of 16 December 1986 on the legal protection of topogra- phies of semiconductor products ('), and in particular Article 3 (7) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Whereas the right to legal protection of topographies of semiconductor products in the Community applies to persons qualifying for protection under Article 3 (1) to (5) of Directive 87/54/EEC; Whereas this right can be extended, by a Council Deci- sion, to persons who do not benefit from protection under the said provisions ; Whereas the extension of the protection in question should, as far as possible, be decided upon for the Community as a whole; Whereas the Council has extended this protection on a permanent basis to persons from certain countries and territories by its Decision 90/510/EEC (); Whereas such protection has previously been extended, on an interim basis only, under Decision 90/511/EEC (%), which expires on 31 December 1992, for natural persons in respect of Finland, Iceland Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland ; Whereas such protection has subsequently been extended for companies or other legal persons in respect of Switzer- () OJ No L 24, 27. 1. 1987, p. 36. () OJ No L 285, 17. 10. 1990, p. 29. () OJ No L 285, 17. 10. 1990, p. 31. land and Finland, in accordance with Commission Deci- sions 90/541/EEC () and 92/20/EEC (9 respectlvely, pursuant to Decision 90/511/EEC; Whereas it now seems appropriate to extend the protec- tion in question on a permanent basis to the abovemen- tioned countries, which have an appropriate legislation protecting topographies of semiconductor products under their national law and which make this protection avai- lable on a permanent basis to those persons from Member States of the Community who benefit from the right to protection under Directive 87/54/EEC, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION : Article 1 The Annex to Decision 90/510/EEC is hereby replaced by the Annex to this Decision. Article 2 This Decision shall apply from 1 January 1993. Article 3 This Decision is addressed to the Member States. Done at Brussels, 21 December 1992. For the Council The President D. HURD () OJ No L 307, 7. 11. 1990, p. 21. Decision as amended by De- cision 92/20/EEC (O] No L 9, 15.-1. 1992, p. 22). () OJ No L 9, 15. 1. 1992, p. 22.