PCT進入美國的BYPASS案筆記 - MPEP 1895

MPEP 1895規範PCT案進入美國階段的特殊申請案（CA、DIV、CIP）的情況，其中涉及幾個法條，在此先註明一下：

35 U.S.C. 111(a)：申請案要件：說明書、圖示、宣誓書（說明書+圖式可取得申請日，但日後還是要補齊文件）。

35 U.S.C. 371(c)：申請案從國際組織進入美國階段時，申請人應提出：費用、國際申請案副本（含修正、檢索報告、初步審查意見）、英文翻譯、修正、宣誓書與附件英文翻譯。

35 U.S.C. 363：PCT申請案指定進入美國的效力。

35 U.S.C. 371(d)：要求進入美國國家階段期限內補齊文件，否則視為拋棄。

35 U.S.C. 365(c)：PCT進入美國的專利申請案享有PCT案申請日（或PCT前第一申請案）申請日的好處。

35 U.S.C. 120：美國申請案享有較早申請案申請日的好處。

根據MPEP 1895規定，從PCT案進入美國階段，即便沒有滿足所有申請案要件，仍可根據35 U.S.C. 363完成指定美國階段的程序，但仍需要補齊文件，符合35 U.S.C. 371(c)（必要文件）規定，若沒有在指定期限內補齊文件，美國申請案視為拋棄。

本章所提由PCT進入美國國家階段所提出的後續案（continuing application：CA、DIV、CIP）稱為「bypass」申請案（可翻為「繞道」申請案）。

如何處理這類「繞道申請案」？可參照MPEP 1895.01。

PCT案進入美國階段的「一般申請案」可主張PCT國際申請案申請日的優先權，若此美國階段申請日為CA、DIV或CIP等「繞道申請案」。亦如「一般申請案」，進入美國國家階段申請案應在PCT仍懸宕（pending，除有延遲理由，從最早申請日起不能超出30個月）時提出。

後續案延遲時，還有補救機會，可參閱37 CFR 1.55(c)規定。
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那麼，為何要用bypass案進入美國？理由應該是，這只是一種選擇，想要用不同的專利範圍進入美國，可能是因為：
(1)單純地這樣決定，沒有特別理由，反正符合規定；
(2)接獲PCT檢索報告或初步審查意見（專利性、單一性有疑慮）而作出的決定，或是
(3)提供PCT初步審查意見的正是USPTO，可以根據審查報告進行佈局，或是
(4)可能在選擇進入美國國家階段前，已經接獲其他國家審查報告，因而作出選擇，如此即"選擇"在進入美國時直接改以CA、DIV、CIP等申請案進入。

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[法條]
（https://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/mpep/s1895.html）

MPEP 1895 A Continuation, Divisional, or Continuation- in- Part Application of a PCT Application Designating the United States

It is possible to file a U.S. national application under 35 U.S.C. 111(a) during the pendency (prior to the abandonment) of an international application which designates the United States without completing the requirements for entering the national stage under 35 U.S.C. 371(c). The ability to take such action is based on provisions of the United States patent law. 35 U.S.C. 363 provides that “[a]n international application designating the United States shall have the effect, from its international filing date under article 11 of the treaty, of a national application for patent regularly filed in the Patent and Trademark Office....” 35 U.S.C. 371(d) indicates that failure to timely comply with the requirements of 35 U.S.C. 371(c) “shall be regarded as abandonment... by the parties thereof....” It is therefore clear that an international application which designates the United States has the effect of a pending U.S. application from the international application filing date until its abandonment as to the United States. The first sentence of 35 U.S.C. 365(c) specifically provides that “[i]n accordance with the conditions and requirements of section 120 of this title,... a national application shall be entitled to the benefit of the filing date of a prior international application designating the United States.” The condition of 35 U.S.C. 120 relating to the time of filing requires the later application to be filed before the patenting or abandonment of or termination of proceedings on the first application. The filing of a continuation, divisional, or continuation-in-part application of a PCT application designating the United States is known as a “bypass” application.

Continuation-in-part applications are generally filed in instances where applicants seek to add matter to the disclosure which is not supported by the disclosure of the international application as originally filed, as new matter may not be added to a U.S. national stage application. See 37 CFR 1.121(f).

MPEP 1895.01 Handling of and Considerations in the Handling of Continuations, Divisions, and Continuations-In-Part of PCT Applications



資料參考：
https://www.bradley.com/insights/publications/2018/05/:~:targetText=A%20%E2%80%9Cbypass%E2%80%9D%20application%20is%20filed,another%20domestically%20filed%20U.S.%20application.（本篇很豐富，可以讓我們思考bypass）

感謝同事陳小姐分享。

Ron