分割案筆記

筆記

美國專利法第121條界定了分割案的概念：http://enpan.blogspot.tw/2009/07/121.html

經過AIA改革後，有微幅修改，從修正來看，主要是強調引用了120條前案申請日的好處，以及刪除如果分割案直接源自前案專利標的可免除發明人文件的規定。

35 U.S.C. 121 Divisional applications.

If two or more independent and distinct inventions are claimed in one application, the Director may require the application to be restricted to one of the inventions. If the other invention is made the subject of a divisional application which complies with the requirements of section 120 of this title it shall be entitled to the benefit of the filing date of the original application. A patent issuing on an application with respect to which a requirement for restriction under this section has been made, or on an application filed as a result of such a requirement, shall not be used as a reference either in the Patent and Trademark Office or in the courts against a divisional application or against the original application or any patent issued on either of them, if the divisional application is filed before the issuance of the patent on the other application. If a divisional application is directed solely to subject matter described and claimed in the original application as filed, the Director may dispense with signing and execution by the inventor. The validity of a patent shall not be questioned for failure of the Director to require the application to be restricted to one invention.

分割案的細節可參考MPEP201.06 Divisional Application

先定義何謂分割申請案（divisional application or "division"），美國分割案的程序施行自2003年7月14日，就是源自母案申請案專利標的而為獨立與可區隔的後申請案。分割案常常是源自限制要求（restriction requirement）所產生，將未選擇（non-elected）的權利範圍分割提出另一新的申請案。

分割案因為源自一件母案的後續案，因此專利期限也是隨著母案申請日起算20年。
因為分割案並非全新的申請案（基於限制要求），為了加速審查程序，申請人可以連同分割申請案提出時，補入一些與母案的資訊，包括分類（可自限制要求OA中找到）、原審查技術單位（art unit）等，比如在說明書內文載入cross reference。

其他事項：
一件發明申請案（utility application）的分割案可為一個設計申請案（design application），此作為母案的發明申請案不能是臨時申請案（provisional application），當然，此發明先申請案中的圖示要有足夠符合設計申請案的圖案，應符合112條規定。

列舉一件「設計專利」分割案：29/336808

Ron