多重附屬項筆記 - about Claims

目前各大專利局的規定中，都可接受多重附屬項（multiple dependent claim）的附屬項形式，這是一種重要的請求項撰寫方式，也是"節費"的好用方式之一。不過也有差異，例如美國為此要多收規費；台灣、中國、韓國等不對多重附屬項多收費，但不允許多重附屬項為另一多重附屬項直接或間接的依附對象；而歐洲與日本可以接受多重附屬項依附另一多重附屬項，不多收費用。

參考資料：
http://en.aigipat.com/patent/articles/detail_82_0.html
https://www.jpaa.or.jp/english/patent/unique_jpo_practices.html

本部落格過去的報導：
[日本專利，有中華民國規定]之附屬項記載（About Claim XL）（http://enpan.blogspot.com/2011/10/about-claim-xxxx.html）
[日本專利]補帖筆記（http://enpan.blogspot.tw/2014/12/blog-post_3.html）
[美國專利，有英國範例]About claims XI - MPEP Section 608.01(n)（http://enpan.blogspot.tw/2008/10/about-claims-xi-mpep-section-60801n.html）
[德國專利]筆記（http://enpan.blogspot.tw/2013/11/blog-post_4.html）
[歐洲專利]簡介I（http://enpan.blogspot.tw/2008/08/blog-post_05.html）
[韓國專利]實務整理一（http://enpan.blogspot.tw/2011/10/u.html）

中國對於「多重附屬項」規定在專利法實施細則：
第二十二条

第二十二条 　发明或者实用新型的从属权利要求应当包括引用部分和限定部分，按照下列规定撰写：（一）引用部分：写明引用的权利要求的编号及其主题名称；

（二）限定部分：写明发明或者实用新型附加的技术特征。

从属权利要求只能引用在前的权利要求。引用两项以上权利要求的多项从属权利要求，只能以择一方式引用在前的权利要求，并不得作为另一项多项从属权利要求的基础。

這裡補充PCT的規定。
來源：Regulations under the PCT (as in force from July 1, 2015) 
（http://www.wipo.int/export/sites/www/pct/en/texts/pdf/pct_regs.pdf）

重點："Multiple dependent claims shall not serve as a basis for any other multiple dependent claim."

6.4 Dependent Claims
(a) Any claim which includes all the features of one or more other claims (claim in dependent form, hereinafter referred to as “dependent claim”) shall do so by a reference, if possible at the beginning, to the other claim or claims and shall then state the additional features claimed. Any dependent claim which refers to more than one other claim (“multiple dependent claim”) shall refer to such claims in the alternative only. Multiple dependent claims shall not serve as a basis for any other multiple dependent claim. Where the national law of the national Office acting as International Searching Authority does not allow multiple dependent claims to be drafted in a manner different from that provided for in the preceding two sentences, failure to use that manner of claiming may result in an indication under Article 17(2)(b) in the international search report. Failure to use the said manner of claiming shall have no effect in a designated State if the manner of claiming actually used satisfies the national law of that State.

Ron