2019年12月25日 星期三

歐洲與美國核准前修正筆記

歐洲核准前修正筆記

接獲到歐洲專利核准通知,有時會附帶著審查委員修正建議,這類修正常常是很小的問題,應該不會影響實質而且審查委員可以自為修正,但會通知申請人、代理人確認,申請人還是可以回絕修正建議(試試看!)。

這修正建議大約關於:
(1) 申請前文件缺漏。
(2) 要求將先前技術記載於說明書「relevant prior art」的內容中。
(3) 說明書部分段落應與答辯修正後Claims一致。
(4) 要求修正或刪除說明書中無意義內容(如常見於美國專利說明書中的前後宣告文)。
(5) 請求項中技術描述、拼字、文法與誤繕等小問題。

(編按,以上一些修正要求不見得會每次都遇到,當美案版本可能會被直接拿去申請歐洲案時,會產生這些問題,而有時是不容於部分審查委員的,或是時機點特別,例如直接核准案,可能這些問題會被提出;檢索報告後轉到審查部門而可直接獲准時,也可能遇到。)





相關法條:
- Rule 42(1) EPC

歐洲專利的撰寫規定(Rule 42(1)(b))也規定發明人因為欲讓其他人理解該發明而應揭露已知背景技術(可參閱:http://enpan.blogspot.tw/2009/06/epc-rule-42.html),較佳則應引述有關該背景技術的文件。
EPC Rule (1) (b)

indicate the background art which, as far as is known to the applicant, can be regarded as useful to understand the invention, draw up the European search report and examine the European patent application, and, preferably, cite the documents reflecting such art;

- Art 84 EPC

Article 84 Claims

The claims shall define the matter for which protection is sought. They shall be clear and concise and be supported by the description.

EPC第84條
若專利範圍標的與該案發明不符,則可能以歐洲專利法第84條核駁:
The claims shall define the matter for which protection is sought. They shall be clear and concise and be supported by the description.
https://enpan.blogspot.com/2011/03/epc84.html

- Rule 48(1)(c) EPC

Rule 48 Prohibited matter
(1) The European patent application shall not contain
(a) statements or other matter contrary to "ordre public" or morality; 
(b) statements disparaging the products or processes of any third party or the merits or validity of the applications or patents of any such party. Mere comparisons with the prior art shall not be considered disparaging per se; 

(c) any statement or other matter obviously irrelevant or unnecessary under the circumstances. 
https://www.epo.org/law-practice/legal-texts/html/epc/2016/e/r48.html

- Art 123(2) EPC

EPC Art. 123(2)規範申請人於修正時不得超出原申請時揭露內容。

EPC Art.123 AMENDMENTS
(1) The European patent application or European patent may be amended in proceedings before the European Patent Office, in accordance with the Implementing Regulations. In any event, the applicant shall be given at least one opportunity to amend the application of his own volition.
(2) The European patent application or European patent may not be amended in such a way that it contains subject-matter which extends beyond the content of the application as filed.

(3) The European patent may not be amended in such a way as to extend the protection it confers.


案例與相關報導:
- 歐洲專利"揭露無法支持"專利範圍的核駁案例討論 - EP Appeal T 1195/09
- 要求修正說明書補入先前技術 - 歐洲訴願T 0011/82(https://enpan.blogspot.com/2016/05/t-001182.html
- 歐洲專利說明書修正(https://enpan.blogspot.com/2011/04/blog-post_16.html
- 修正到未被檢索的專利範圍的討論 - 歐洲訴願T 1636/12(https://enpan.blogspot.com/2017/04/t-163612.html


順便補充美國專利核准前修正通知Ex Parte Quayle action
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收到專利「核准前修正通知(Ex Parte Quayle)」,這應該是個很不錯的通知,一般是簡單修正(且不影響實質權益)即可獲准,不過,仍有因為太隨便產生日後主張權利的損失,這...還是要小心。另外,這個期間也關於何時可提出IDS、延續案、臨時案譯本等的時機




本部落格相關報導:
- Quayle Action案例討論(https://enpan.blogspot.com/2015/11/quayle-action.html
- 設計答辯歷史造成的問題 - Curver Luxembourg, SARL v. Home Expressions Inc. (Fed. Cir. 2019)(https://enpan.blogspot.com/2019/10/curver-luxembourg-sarl-v-home.html

- 美國專利修正規定(MPEP714)(https://enpan.blogspot.com/2015/07/mpep714.html
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Ron

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