網路資料通常並非是比較好的證據,證據能力會被質疑,不過網路資訊已經是我們生活的一部分,而且資料更多,如果不能成為引證資料,真是缺了一大塊可用的資訊。
不過網路上仍有一些可用的資訊,可以透過公證作為有力的證據資料。如Wayback Machine(http://www.archive.org)這種每天收集網路資訊的第三方單位,現在確實產生了一些功能,包括美國專利局、歐洲專利局,以及我本身也曾經用過作為舉發資料,也被專利局訴願委員會接受。
本部落格曾經探討過一些資料:
網際網路上資訊的公開日可信嗎?(Wayback Machine)
http://enpan.blogspot.tw/2010/03/wayback-machine.html
歐洲專利局對電子文件證據的看法
http://enpan.blogspot.tw/2010/07/blog-post_28.html
法律依據:
「known or used by others(102(a), pre-AIA)」,也可能涉及102(b),就是支持這類網頁內容作為先前技術文件的法條,雖說,證據力可能仍被質疑,第一是網頁內容本身先天的證據力,另一則是爭議在先前技術是否是「printed publication」?
確實,在AIA改革前102(a)的規定中提到先前技術的條件有the invention was patented or described in a printed publication,不過前一句是the invention was known or used by others。
35USC102
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless -
(a) the invention was known or used by others in this country, or patented or described in a printed publication in this or a foreign country, before the invention thereof by the applicant for patent, or
(b) the invention was patented or described in a printed publication in this or a foreign country or in public use or on sale in this country, more than one year prior to the date of the application for patent in the United States, or
...
MPEP2128更明文確認網路文件仍可視為Printed Publication,如:
An electronic publication, including an on-line database or Internet publication, is considered to be a "printed publication" within the meaning of 35 U.S.C. 102(a) and (b) provided the publication was accessible to persons concerned with the art to which the document relates.
然而,日期卻是必要記載的事項,也是會被質疑的部份:
Prior art disclosures on the Internet or on an on-line database are considered to be publicly available as of the date the item was publicly posted. Absent evidence of the date that the disclosure was publicly posted, if the publication itself does not include a publication date (or retrieval date), it cannot be relied upon as prior art under 35 U.S.C. 102(a) or (b).
從一些USPTO的PTAB/BPAI的決定,採用了Wayback Machine呈現的過去網頁資料作為引證資料。All Things Pros作者表示,曾有申請人對Wayback Machine的證據能力提出質疑,希望藉此撤掉引證資料,但是失敗了,表示USPTO早可以接受Wayback Machine的資料。
Ron
資料參考:All Things Pros(http://allthingspros.blogspot.tw/)
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