enpan's Patent & Linux practice: 設計專利加速審查範例

2015年10月22日星期四

設計專利加速審查範例

蘋果公司於Sep. 8, 2015獲准iPhone 6/s設計專利：D738,371，從這件專利/歷史的資訊知道申請日April 6, 2015，於July 21, 2015接獲核准通知，之後還經一次修正後，於Sep.8, 2015最終獲准。

設計專利加速審查的法條依據如37CFR1.155，申請人可以請求設計專利加速審查，有以下條件：相關圖式、申請人自己提出審查前檢索（pre-examination search），以及提出加速審查請求，包括費用、已執行審查前檢索的相關聲明。

37 C.F.R. 1.155 EXPEDITED EXAMINATION OF DESIGN APPLICATIONS.

(a) The applicant may request that the Office expedite the examination of a design application. To qualify for expedited examination:
- (1) The application must include drawings in compliance with § 1.84;
- (2) The applicant must have conducted a preexamination search; and
- (3) The applicant must file a request for expedited examination including:
  - (i) The fee set forth in § 1.17(k); and
  - (ii) A statement that a preexamination search was conducted. The statement must also indicate the field of search and include an information disclosure statement in compliance with § 1.98.
(b) The Office will not examine an application that is not in condition for examination (e.g., missing basic filing fee) even if the applicant files a request for expedited examination under this section.

mpep 1504.30 EXPEDITED EXAMINATION.
37 CFR 1.155 establishes an expedited procedure for design applications. This expedited procedure became effective on September 8, 2000 and is available to all design applicants who first conduct a preliminary examination search and file a request for expedited treatment accompanied by the fee specified in 37 CFR 1.17(k). This expedited treatment is intended to fulfill a particular need by affording rapid design patent protection that may be especially important where marketplace conditions are such that new designs on articles are typically in vogue for limited periods of time.

A design application may qualify for expedited examination provided the following requirements are met:

(A) A request for expedited examination is filed (Form PTO/SB/27 may be used);

(B) The design application is complete and it includes drawings in compliance with 37 CFR 1.84 (see 37 CFR 1.154 and MPEP § 1503 concerning the requirements for a complete design application);

(C) A statement is filed indicating that a preexamination search was conducted (a search made by a foreign patent office satisfies this requirement). The statement must also include a list of the field of search such as by U.S. Class and Subclass (including domestic patent documents, foreign patent documents and nonpatent literature);

(D) An information disclosure statement in compliance with 37 CFR 1.98 is filed;

(E) The basic design application filing fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.16(b) is paid; and

(F) The fee for expedited examination set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(k) is paid.

本案例D738,371因為涉及iPhone 6的開賣（已一段時間，或有新機），加速審查應有必要。

在設計專利加速審查的請求書中提及審查前檢索（pre-examination search）已於此案之母案29/431,730（D681,032）申請時執行，日期是2012/11/15，也就是本案為該案之延續案（CA），應同樣承繼了相關檢索結果（這也是延續案加速審查的參考模式）。

母案29/431,730的審查前檢索列舉於其加速審查請求書中：

顯然，此範例為CA案，可以沿用母案已經完成的審查前檢索。
值得一提的是，從母案申請日可知iPhone 6的外觀已經在2012年決定，預測iPhone 6的外觀時自然有所依據，母案申請時提出的圖面達100多頁，作為之後延續案佈局的基礎，在母案本身即透過先前修正（preliminary amendment）將圖面限於特定部分設計範圍。