美國專利法第104條

§104. Invention made abroad

一般情況，大約了解一些美國專利法第101,102,103,119,120條就差不多了，其實有些也是值得探討的，就如美國專利法第104條所規範，專利審理期間有些證據或是參考資料就受到一些協議的限制！美國專利法第104條規範了"國外"的發明活動(Invention made abroad)

(重點摘錄)
原文：
(1)Proceedings. In proceedings in the Patent and Trademark Office, in the courts, and before any other competent authority, an applicant for a patent, or a patentee, may not establish a date of invention by reference to knowledge or use thereof, or other activity with respect thereto, in a foreign country other than a NAFTA country or a WTO member country, except as provided in sections 119 and 365 of this title [35 USC § §119 and 365].

(1)有關審理(Proceedings)─除了在專利法119條(優先權)或是365條(引有母案申請日優勢的後續案)所規範的情況，北美自由貿易協定(NAFTA)國家或世界貿易組織(WTO)成員國以外，在USPTO、法院與專責機關的審理期間，申請人、專利權人並不能提出該發明在其他地方已被知曉或是使用的日期

原文：
(3)Use of information. To the extent that any information in a NAFTA country or a WTO member country concerning knowledge, use, or other activity relevant to proving or disproving a date of invention has not been made available for use in a proceeding in the Patent and Trademark Office, a court, or any other competent authority to the same extent as such information could be made available in the United States, the Director, court, or such other authority shall draw appropriate inferences, or take other action permitted by statute, rule, or regulation, in favor of the party that requested the information in the proceeding.

(3)有關資訊之使用－若在USPTO、法院或是其他專責機關的審理程序中，NAFTA成員國家或WTO成員國未能提供可造成同意或是不同意該發明日期的知識、使用或其他活動時，則其長官、法院或專責機關應在規定許可範圍內，導出適當之結論或採取其他可使行動，使有利於審理繼續進行

Ron