2017年7月24日 星期一

歐洲"Programs for computers"專利撰寫筆記

Guidelines for Examination

Part F – The European Patent Application
Chapter IV – Claims (Art. 84 and formal requirements)
3.9 Claims directed to computer-implemented inventions

3.9.1 Cases where all method steps can be fully implemented by generic data processing means
（https://www.epo.org/law-practice/legal-texts/html/guidelines/e/f_iv_3_9_1.htm）

電腦軟體程式的專利請求項撰寫方式：
(T 410/96, T 1173/97 and T 2140/08)

(i)
Method claim (claim 1)
–
A computer-implemented method comprising steps A, B, ...
–
A method carried out by a computer comprising steps A, B, ...
(ii)
Apparatus/device/system claim (claim 2)
–
A data processing apparatus/device/system comprising means for carrying out [the steps of] the method of claim 1.
–
A data processing apparatus/device/system comprising means for carrying out step A, means for carrying out step B, ...
–
A data processing apparatus/device/system comprising a processor adapted to/configured to perform [the steps of] the method of claim 1.
(iii)
Computer program [product] claim (claim 3)
–
A computer program [product] comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out [the steps of] the method of claim 1.
–
A computer program [product] comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out steps A, B, ....
(iv)
Computer-readable [storage] medium/data carrier claim (claim 4)
–
A computer-readable [storage] medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out [the steps of] the method of claim 1.
–
A computer-readable [storage] medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out steps A, B, ...
–
A computer-readable data carrier having stored thereon the computer program [product] of claim 3.
3.9.2 Cases where method steps require specific data processing means and/or require additional technical devices as essential features
（https://www.epo.org/law-practice/legal-texts/html/guidelines/e/f_iv_3_9_2.htm）

利用電腦軟體實現（電腦資料處理手段）的發明的專利請求項撰寫方式：
1.
A method of determining oxygen saturation in blood in a pulse oximeter, comprising:
–
receiving in an electromagnetic detector first and second electromagnetic radiation signals from a blood-perfused tissue portion corresponding to two different wavelengths of light;
–
normalising said electromagnetic signals according to steps A, B and C to provide normalised electromagnetic signals;
–
determining oxygen saturation based on said normalised electromagnetic signals according to steps D and E.
2.
A pulse oximeter having an electromagnetic detector and means adapted to execute the steps of the method of claim 1.
3.
A computer program [product] comprising instructions to cause the device of claim 2 to execute the steps of the method of claim 1.
4.
A computer-readable medium having stored thereon the computer program of claim 3.

Part G – Patentability
Chapter II – Inventions
3.6 Programs for computers
（https://www.epo.org/law-practice/legal-texts/html/guidelines/e/g_ii_3_6.htm）

歐洲專利審查手冊中表示，其實電腦軟體程式的專利的專利性考量仍與一般發明的專利性要求一致，都是新穎性與進步性。根據過去討論的歐洲對軟體專利的態度可知，歐洲相對美國目前的狀況而言，對於軟體專利的限制反而是更為寬鬆，只要有技術手段解決特定技術問題，而且相對於先前技術具有新穎性與進步性，都是可專利的。

由上可知，電腦軟體程式發明可以用各種撰寫方式申請專利保護，以下摘要可專利軟體發明的案例與可專利的原則：

(T 1173/97 and G 3/08)：
電腦軟體程式本身不一定不可專利，即便是執行在一個電腦裝置中，如果發明帶出技術效果而"超越"一般電腦軟硬體之間的物理互動，仍具有可專利性。（編按，其中超越一般電腦的「技術效果」仍是一種新穎性與進步性的判斷）
"A computer program claimed by itself is not excluded from patentability if it is capable of bringing about, when running on or loaded into a computer, a further technical effect going beyond the "normal" physical interactions between the program (software) and the computer (hardware) on which it is run (T 1173/97 and G 3/08). "

 電腦程式包括的技術仍如機器實現的方法，程式撰寫員考量的仍是要解決技術問題而"超越"實現一些程序的電腦演算法。
"Likewise, although it may be said that all computer programming involves technical considerations since it is concerned with defining a method which can be carried out by a machine, that in itself is not enough to demonstrate that the program which results from the programming has technical character; the programmer must have had technical considerations beyond "merely" finding a computer algorithm to carry out some procedure (G 3/08)."

所述進一步的技術效果（technical effect）需要電腦程式中的技術特點，如控制工業程序、電腦內部功能或其介面，而影響了程序的效能或安全性，因此，實現數學方法的電腦程式本身仍可能具有技術貢獻，應考量其是否帶來技術效果。
"A further technical effect which lends technical character to a computer program may be found e.g. in the control of an industrial process or in the internal functioning of the computer itself or its interfaces under the influence of the program and could, for example, affect the efficiency or security of a process, the management of computer resources required or the rate of data transfer in a communication link. A computer program implementing a mathematical method that itself makes a technical contribution (see G‑II, 3.3) would also be considered to be capable of bringing about a further technical effect when it is run on a computer."

是否電腦程式具有技術貢獻，與硬體元件的技術特點考量不同，是考量了執行程式後是否產生了技術效果，考量的原則仍如一般發明可專利性。
"Whether a computer program can contribute to the technical character of the claimed subject-matter is frequently an issue separate and distinct from the technical character of the hardware components which may be defined in order to execute the computer program. When a computer program produces a further technical effect (T 1173/97), it is by itself considered technical and not excluded. In contrast, any claimed subject-matter defining or using technical means is an invention within the meaning of Art. 52(1) (see T 424/03 and T 258/03, and confirmed in G 3/08). This applies even if the technical means are commonly known; for example, the inclusion of a computer, a computer network, a readable medium carrying a program, etc. in a claim lends technical character to the claimed subject-matter."

如果主張專利的電腦軟體發明沒有技術特點，仍會因新穎性與進步性不足而被核駁。
"If claimed subject-matter relating to a computer program does not have a technical character, it should be rejected under Art. 52(2) and (3). If the subject-matter passes this test for technicality, the examiner should then proceed to the questions of novelty and inventive step (see G‑VI and G‑VII)."

電腦軟體申請專利範圍不應包括電腦程序（program listings），但要包括具有可專利性方法的特徵。
"A patent may be granted on one of the different forms of a computer program product claim if all the requirements of the EPC are met; see in particular Art. 84, 83, 54 and 56, and G‑III, 3 below. Such claims should not contain program listings, but should define all the features which assure patentability of the process which the program is intended to carry out when it is run (see F‑IV, 4.5.2, last sentence). Short excerpts from programs might be accepted in the description (see F‑II, 4.12)."

my two cents:
以上各種形式的軟體專利撰寫方式都是源自某些案例，都值得研究與討論。

本部落格過去有關歐洲軟體專利的的報導：

Ron
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