2013年12月17日 星期二

韓國專利期限延期規定與範例

韓文「존속기간(예정)만료일」的意思就是「到期日期」。

韓國專利法對於製藥或農用化學品專利(pharmaceutical or agrochemical patents)期限因為有其他國家衛生單位的檢驗而有延期規定,最高延長至專利期限到期後五年,一件專利一次延期。

相關法條:

韓國專利法第88條規定發明專利期限為申請日後20年
Article 88
The Term of a Patent Right
(1) The term of a patent right commences upon registration of establishment of the patent right under Article 87(1) and ends twenty years after the filing date of the patent application.
...

專利期限延長規定於第89條,若專利相關產品涉及其他法律而需要其他安全測試或檢驗,專利期限可能最高延長五年
Article 89
Extension of the Term of a Patent Right
Notwithstanding Article 88(1), where authorization or registration under other laws or regulations is required to work a patented invention and an extended period has been taken to complete the activity tests, safety test etc. necessary to obtain the authorization or registration (referred to as "an authorization etc.", hereinafter), and where the patented invention is prescribed by Presidential Decree, the term of the patent right may be extended by a period up to five years during which the patented invention could not have been
worked.

專利期限延長應透過申請,規定於第90-92條
Article 90
Application to Register an Extension of the Term of a Patent Right
(1) A person seeking to register an extension of the term of a patent right under Article 89 (referred to as "an applicant for registration of extension”, hereinafter) shall submit a written application to register an extension of the term of a patent right to the Commissioner of the KIPO, stating the following:
...

第96條則規定專利期限延期的限制,不及於:
研究或實驗目的的專利權,包括原本可以延期製藥與農化類的專利;
僅過境韓國的交通工具、設備與附件的相關專利;
在專利申請前已存在的物品。
以及一些診斷、醫療用途而混合藥品的相關專利。
Article 96
Limitations on a Patent Right
(1) The effect of a patent right does not extend to any of the following subparagraphs:
(i) working a patented invention for research or experimental purposes (including researches and experiments for item permits and reports of medical supplies under the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act and for registration of agrochemicals under the Agrochemical Management Act);
(ii) vessels, aircraft or vehicles merely passing through the Republic of Korea, or machinery, instruments, equipment or other accessories used thereon; or
(iii) products existing in the Republic of Korea prior to the time of filing of the patent application.
(2) The effects of a patent right for the invention of medicines used for diagnosis, therapy, alleviation, medical treatment or prevention of human disease (referred to as "medicines", hereinafter) that are manufactured by mixing two or more medicines, or for the invention of processes for manufacturing medicines by mixing two or more medicines, do not extend to acts of dispensing medicines under the Pharmaceutical
Affairs Act or to medicines manufactured by such acts.


一般製藥與農用化學品專利延期(非FTA)的範例:
根據官方文件提到的範例,註冊號:10-02613660000

進入檢索網頁
http://engpat.kipris.or.kr/engpat/searchLogina.do?next=MainSearch


找到這件案子,但出現兩件,依照名稱來看,就是一個化學類專利:
PYRIMIDINE DERIVATIVES AND PROCESSES FOR THE PREPARATION THEREOF


依照官方解釋,上方的那件為原始公開專利,下方為經過審查後的獲准專利,從專利文件資訊可以得到此案申請日為1993.04.03,若為一般專利到期日來看,期限應該於2013.04.03到期。

此案於獲准時請求專利期限延長,並且獲得同意。

此案資訊可以看到,到期日顯示為2013.06.03,官方提供兩個月的延期。


若沒有查到任何延期的資訊,可以設想是沒有同意延期,或是專利已經被撤銷等可能。

文件參考:
http://documents.epo.org/projects/babylon/eponet.nsf/0/BE24282B6B92ABD5C12575F4004D5D1A/$File/2013_patent_term_extension_kipris_en.pdf


其他資訊:
資料參考:http://www.ustr.gov/about-us/press-office/fact-sheets/2009/april/summary-us-korea-fta

而因為韓國與美國已經簽訂自由貿易協定(FTA),因此也影響到專利的期限,也就是韓國將如美國專利法規定的,如果專利審查過程有官方產生的延遲,將會調整專利期限(Patent Term Adjustment)。
Provides for the extension of patent terms to compensate for delays in granting the original patent.
此類專利期限延長適用於2012年提出的韓國專利案。

其餘因為FTA產生的改變:
韓國專利也因此擁有如美國專利法102規定的12個月早先公開的優惠期;
Permits inventors to publish their inventions in journals and still have 12 months before their own publication will prevent patenting that invention.
防止任意拋棄專利,以及保障植物與動物的相關發明;
Protects against arbitrary revocation of patents and assures protection for newly developed plant varieties and animals.
提供給政府單位的產品(安全)測試資料,為了避免不公平商業實施,可以提供製藥5年與農化產品10年的優惠;
Clarifies that test data submitted to a government for the purpose of product approval will be protected against unfair commercial use for a period of five years for pharmaceuticals and 10 years for agricultural chemicals.
應提出防止製藥產品的行銷而侵害專利的措施,包括公開專利權被挑戰的訊息。
Requires measures to prevent the marketing of pharmaceutical products that infringe patents and to provide notice when the validity of a pharmaceutical patent is to be challenged.  

台灣要加油!
Ron

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