歐洲專利分割案規定修改

歐洲專利分割案規定修改

現行歐洲專利分割案的介紹可以參閱本部落格文章：http://enpan.blogspot.tw/2012/09/blog-post.html

其中時間限制主要依據為歐洲專利實施細則（Implementing Regulations to the Convention on the Grant of European Patents）Rule 36：
歐洲分割案應於歐洲審查單位發出第一次通知後24個月內提出，或是第一次提出不符單一性Art.82核駁通知後24個月內提出。

根據歐洲專利局的行政理事會（Administrative Council）的修正方案，於2014年4月1日當日或之後所提出的專利分割案，不用受上述24個月的時間限制，也就是在母案仍在懸宕時，任何時間都可以提出基於母案申請日的專利分割案。

修法的範圍涉及歐洲專利實施細則Rules 36, 38, 135。

重要的是費用，若提出的分割案的母案也是一件分割案，這樣會額外收費，費用將隨著提出分割案的衍生數量逐漸增加，直到一個程度。


修法決定如下：
Article 1
The Implementing Regulations to the EPC shall be amended as follows:
1. Rule 36(1) shall read as follows:
"(1) The applicant may file a divisional application relating to any pending earlier European patent application."
2. The following paragraph 4 shall be added to Rule 38:
"(4) The Rules relating to Fees may provide for an additional fee as part of the filing fee in the case of a divisional application filed in respect of any earlier application which is itself a divisional application."
3. Rule 135(2) shall read as follows:
"(2) Further processing shall be ruled out in respect of the periods referred to in Article 121, paragraph 4, and of the periods under Rule 6, paragraph 1, Rule 16, paragraph 1(a), Rule 31, paragraph 2, Rule 36, paragraph 2, Rule 40, paragraph 3, Rule 51, paragraphs 2 to 5, Rule 52, paragraphs 2 and 3, Rules 55, 56, 58, 59, 62a, 63, 64 and Rule 112, paragraph 2."
Article 2
1. This decision shall enter into force on 1 April 2014.
2. It shall apply to divisional applications filed on or after that date.

資料來源：EPO
Ron