韓國對軟體專利的態度

筆記

資料參考：http://fishiplaw.com/strategic-patenting/chapter-10---pct-and-foreign-patent-practice--procedure_53.html

如一般判斷，在韓國可專利的電腦程式實現的發明，如果是以具有特定功能的物品（product with specified functions），或是具有特定步驟的方法（method with specified steps），為可專利的標的。

如果軟體程式涉及硬體或裝置的限制，或是涉及記錄軟體的媒體，也為可核准的專利標的。

但電腦程式本身並非為法定可專利的標的（Computer software is not patentable as a program or a data structure per se.）

商業方法如果為硬體所實現，同樣為可專利標的，韓國專利允許商業自動裝置，但排除純商業方法的可專利性。


根據一份韓國專利局提供的"瞭解韓國專利法"的文件中所提到相關電腦軟體的可專利性，其中第三章的B節有電腦軟體與商業方法的相關內容，定義所謂的"軟體（software）"，為系統計畫、流程與揭露如何使用電腦的方法手冊；"程式（program）"指的是一些在電腦中執行資料處理的指令語言的組合。
程式本身因為非屬使用自然法則的範疇，不能賦予專利；商業方法則是屬於電腦軟體相關發明，也非使用自然法則的技術。但重要的是，如果軟體程式與硬體、網路結合，可被認為是使用自然法則的技術。

B. Utilization of the law of nature
...
As far as laws of nature are concerned, there is a debate in the intelligence information
era of the 21st century regarding new technology in the field of computer software and
Business Method (BM) patents. Software includes, but is not limited to, a system plan,
flow chart, or a manual that discloses a method of how to use a computer as a system
that creates and operates a program. A program means a combination of command language for conducting data processing in the computer whether it is in use of any laws
of nature or not.
A program is considered similar to calculating a formula. As an expression of man’s
intellectual process in the existing law, application for a program itself is rejected on
the basis of not utilizing a law of nature. Examples of rejected applications for programs
include cases where the program is a method or a device that increases or controls the
capacity of hardware as a distinguished type of hardware and apparatus or media that
is capable of computer decoding.
In addition, BM patents belong in the category of computer software related inventions.
They are combined as operating methods and computer technologies on the internet to
protect various operating methods or business ideas with patents operated through the
internet. At present, pure business models conducted by social norms, mutual agreements,
human psychological judgment or administrative authorities’ action due to artificial determination shall not be admitted as a law of nature invention.
If a software application program is realized in combination with hardware using internet, it shall be deemed to use a law of nature.

http://www.kipo.go.kr/upload/en/download/Understanding_the_Patent_Act_of_the_Republic_of_Korea.pdf


Ron