美國臨時案的翻譯筆記

筆記

問題：『美國臨時案若非英文，何時應該提出翻譯，或是這是否是強制規定？』

簡單答案是，如果不主動提出，官方會發通知。

答案：雖有幾個翻譯時機（提出正式案的同時、臨時案失效前、審查前、接獲OA時），不主動提譯本似乎也沒有太大問題，不過若不主動提翻譯以及正確翻譯的聲明，而由審查委員主要要求（通知）時，會需要繳交一筆官方費用；審查委員要求提出臨時案的翻譯時，一般是因為有先前技術落於臨時案申請日與正式案申請日之間。提出譯本同時，應隨附譯本與臨時案內容一致的聲明。

若臨時專利申請案並非以英文提出，則有以下幾個提出翻譯本的時機（http://enpan.blogspot.tw/2010/05/ppa.html）：
時機一：提出相對臨時案的正式申請案的時間。
時機二：在臨時案有效期間（臨時案申請日後一年內）提出譯本。
時機三：實際審查前提出譯本（被通知）。
時機四：接獲官方意見後（被要求）。

編按：在查詢不少日、韓、法、德大企業提出美國臨時申請案作為佈局的案件時，發現這些非英語系國家的多數臨時申請案都是用英文提出，似乎也是降低翻譯費用或是各種後續困擾的機率。這應該有許多種可能，其一是研發人員原本就是用英文進行、費用考量，也可能會提出臨時申請案的案件可能多數先考量美國市場，或在美國研發，因此早就準備好英文文件！

重點：

• provisional申請案若以非英文提出，應提出翻譯，若沒有主動提出，官方會通知提出翻譯與翻譯正確的聲明。
• Provisional之後提出正式申請案，在正式案懸宕時收到官方提出譯本的通知，此時申請人應：按時提出譯本與聲明；已於臨時案時提出翻譯與聲明；提出「刪除前臨時案關聯」。否則正式案會被拋棄。
• USPTO官方意見也會提示，若非英文臨時申請案後有正式申請案時，若官方沒有發出翻譯通知，申請人仍應主動提出譯本與正確翻譯的譯本。

範例：
本篇為Sony專利案，臨時申請案非英文。


Cover sheet。


日文臨時申請案。


官方提示。


官方提出Missing Parts通知。


申請人確認譯本與聲明。


臨時案英文翻譯（歸檔於provisional application）。


[摘述MPEP 211/211.01(a)中有關翻譯的段落]
MPEP 211 Claiming the Benefit of an Earlier Filing Date Under 35 U.S.C. 120 and 119(e)

37 CFR 1.78 Claiming benefit of earlier filing date and cross-references to other applications.

• (a)(5) If the prior-filed provisional application was filed in a language other than English and both an English-language translation of the prior-filed provisional application and a statement that the translation is accurate were not previously filed in the prior-filed provisional application, the applicant will be notified and given a period of time within which to file, in the prior-filed provisional application, the translation and the statement. If the notice is mailed in a pending nonprovisional application, a timely reply to such a notice must include the filing in the nonprovisional application of either a confirmation that the translation and statement were filed in the provisional application, or an application data sheet (§ 1.76(b)(5)) eliminating the reference under paragraph (a)(3) of this section to the prior-filed provisional application, or the nonprovisional application will be abandoned. The translation and statement may be filed in the provisional application, even if the provisional application has become abandoned.

• (d)(7) Where benefit is claimed under 35 U.S.C. 120, 121, 365(c), or 386(c) to an international application or an international design application which designates but did not originate in the United States, the Office may require a certified copy of such application together with an English translation thereof if filed in another language.

MPEP 211.01(a)   Claiming the Benefit of a Provisional Application

If benefit is being claimed to a provisional application which was filed in a language other than English, (A) an English language translation of the provisional application, and (B) a statement that the translation is accurate, are required to be filed in the provisional application. If the translation and statement were not filed in the provisional application, the applicant will be notified in the nonprovisional application and given a period of time within which to file the translation and statement in the provisional application, and a reply in the nonprovisional application confirming that the translation and statement were filed in the provisional application. See 37 CFR 1.78(a)(5). In the alternative, applicant may delete the benefit claim to the provisional application from the Application Data Sheet (ADS) or, for applications filed before September 16, 2012, from the ADS or the first sentence(s) of the specification, as appropriate. See MPEP § 601.05(a)or (b), as appropriate, for additional details on the requirements for a corrected or supplemental ADS. In a pending nonprovisional application, failure to timely reply to such notice will result in the abandonment of the nonprovisional application. Form paragraph 2.38 may be used to notify applicant that an English translation of the non-English language provisional application is required.

¶ 2.38    Claiming Benefit to a Non-English Language Provisional Application

This application claims benefit to provisional application No. [1], filed on [2], in a language other than English. An English translation of the non-English language provisional application and a statement that the translation is accurate must be filed in provisional application No. [3]. See 37 CFR 1.78. The [4] required by 37 CFR 1.78 is missing. Accordingly, applicant must supply 1) the missing [5] in provisional application No. [6] and 2) in the present application, a confirmation that the translation and statement were filed in the provisional application. If 1) and 2) are not filed (or if the benefit claim is not withdrawn) prior to the expiration of the time period set in this Office action, the present application will be abandoned. See 37 CFR 1.78.

資料來源：USPTO

本部落格其他參考：
http://enpan.blogspot.tw/2010/05/ppa.html

Ron