美國新法102條(a)(b) - 美國專利法改革 VI

新修訂的美國專利法第102條變化頗大，並在各條標題註明其用意，如102(a)描述影響新穎性的前案條件、102(b)描述例外情事

§ 102. Conditions for patentability; novelty

(a) NOVELTY; PRIOR ART.—A person shall be entitled to a patent unless—

(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention; or
一個發明可獲得一項專利，除非遭遇102(a)(1)中描述的「絕對新穎性」的障礙：
在該發明之相關專利申請案之有效申請日以前，已經獲得其他專利、被出版品公開、公開使用、販售，或是其他型式的公開，該發明不得准予專利

(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
該發明在其相關專利申請案之有效申請日以前，已被「他人」領證專利、或是專利申請公開、或是專利申請早期公開、申請人申請提早公開（122(b)），不得准予專利


(b) EXCEPTIONS.—

(1) DISCLOSURES MADE 1 YEAR OR LESS BEFORE THE EFFECTIVE FILING DATE OF THE CLAIMED INVENTION.—A disclosure made 1 year or less before the effective filing date of a claimed invention shall not be prior art to the claimed invention under subsection (a)(1) if—

(A) the disclosure was made by the inventor or joint inventor or by another who obtained the subject matter disclosed directly or indirectly from the inventor or a joint inventor; or

(B) the subject matter disclosed had, before such disclosure, been publicly disclosed by the inventor or a joint inventor or another who obtained the subject matter disclosed directly or indirectly from the inventor or a joint inventor.
若，被同一發明人、共同發明人、或直接/間接從相關發明人、共同發明所取得的揭露內容/公開發表，在該發明之專利有效申請日前一年或以內的時間已被揭露，仍不得為102(a)(1)規範的新穎性前案，也就是相同發明人/申請人在一年內的各種型式的揭露，皆不影響其相關發明專利申請的新穎性


(2) DISCLOSURES APPEARING IN APPLICATIONS AND PATENTS.— A disclosure shall not be prior art to a claimed invention under subsection (a)(2) if—
以下幾點在發明之專利申請案有效申請日前已被公開的情況，仍不得成為上述102(a)(2)的新穎性前案

(A) the subject matter disclosed was obtained directly or indirectly from the inventor or a joint inventor;
公開前案為由發明人或共同發明人直接或間接所取得的發明標的

(B) the subject matter disclosed had, before such subject matter was effectively filed under subsection (a)(2), been publicly disclosed by the inventor or a joint inventor or another who obtained the subject matter disclosed directly or indirectly from the inventor or a joint inventor; or
被發明人、共同發明人或由發明人、共同發明人直接或間接取得的已公開發明內容

(C) the subject matter disclosed and the claimed invention, not later than the effective filing date of the claimed invention, were owned by the same person or subject to an obligation of assignment to the same person.
在發明之專利申請案申請日以前，發明被同人或義務讓與的對象所擁有

Ron