補充審查（Supplemental examination）筆記

補充審查（Supplemental examination）摘要介紹：

（AIA）補充審查（supplemental examination），這是提供給專利權人本身的方案，第三方不得加入。當專利欲進入訴訟時，專利權人可以透過此方案確保專利權的穩定，甚至可以透過此程序修改權利範圍，因此可以自己補充先前技術文獻作為再次審理的依據。適用可專利性法條：101, 102, 103, 112。
在此方案下，當專利權人提出補充審查的請求後，USPTO將會在3個月內認定該專利是否有實質新的專利性問題（substantial new question of patentability, SNQ），若有此SNQ，則會接著啓動Ex Parte Reexamination，對專利作出無效再審程序。
（http://enpan.blogspot.tw/2014/03/blog-post_26.html）

補充審查（Supplemental examination）表格：
https://www.uspto.gov/sites/default/files/documents/sb0059.pdf


補充審查（Supplemental examination）於2012年9月16日隨著AIA施行，補充審查制度是讓專利權人自己對系爭專利作出確保的動作，也就是提出一些證據後請求專利局對其專利再審一次，看來除了reissue程序外，可以在核准公告後修改專利範圍的少數制度之一。

提出補充審查（Supplemental examination）程序時，專利權人可以提出各樣形式（甚至是影音內容、販售證明、各種公開文獻...等）的前案資訊，並提出專利性證據。當補充審查結果出爐，接著就可能進入單方再審程序（ex parte reexamination）。以下為補充審查的程序圖：


提出補充審查請求後，需要提出必要的文件，否則USPTO也會拒絕請求，相關規定在
35 U.S.C. 257。

• 35 U.S.C. 257(a) REQUEST FOR SUPPLEMENTAL EXAMINATION.—A patent owner may request supplemental examination of a patent in the Office to consider, reconsider, or correct information believed to be relevant to the patent, in accordance with such requirements as the Director may establish. Within 3 months after the date a request for supplemental examination meeting the requirements of this section is received, the Director shall conduct the supplemental examination and shall conclude such examination by issuing a certificate indicating whether the information presented in the request raises a substantial new question of patentability.
• 35 U.S.C. 257(d) FEES AND REGULATIONS.—
  • (1) FEES.—The Director shall, by regulation, establish fees for the submission of a request for supplemental examination of a patent, and to consider each item of information submitted in the request. If reexamination is ordered under subsection (b), fees established and applicable to ex parte reexamination proceedings under chapter 30 shall be paid, in addition to fees applicable to supplemental examination.
  • (2) REGULATIONS.—The Director shall issue regulations governing the form, content, and other requirements of requests for supplemental examination, and establishing procedures for reviewing information submitted in such requests.

USPTO受理補充審查後，將審理各種專利權人提出的資訊，若沒有會影響系爭專利的專利性的"新的實質問題（SNQ）"情況下，將終結補充審查程序：


反之，若資訊有影響系爭專利的專利性時，將進入單方再審程序：


資料參考：https://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/mpep/mpep-2800.pdf

37 CFR 1.610: CONTENT OF REQUEST FOR SUPPLEMENTAL EXAMINATION
http://www.bitlaw.com/source/37cfr/1_610.html

35 U.S.C. 257: SUPPLEMENTAL EXAMINATIONS TO CONSIDER, RECONSIDER, OR CORRECT INFORMATION
http://www.bitlaw.com/source/35usc/257.html

Ron