英文版德國智財局網站:https://www.dpma.de/english/index.html
opposition/revocation(這兩個程序區分點是德國專利核准公告後9個月):https://www.dpma.de/english/patents/opposition_and_revocation/index.html
關於「Opposition and Revocation」,任何一人可以在專利核准公告後9個月內提起異議(opposition),如果在此期限內有任何一方提起異議,專利將具有法定權利,可擁有從申請日起20年專利期限。
若有人提起異議,德國專利局(DPMA)組委員會針對異議理由重審專利,結果可以是維持專利核准決定、修正後核准,或是被撤銷。
任一方可對異議決定提起上訴,由德國聯邦專利法院審理。然而,若非公告後9個月提起異議,任何人在專利有效的任何時間仍可對已經公告核准的專利提起無效撤銷(revocation),並且直接由德國聯邦法院進行審理。
異議理由可以是:(1)缺乏專利性;(2)缺乏可行性;(3)相對說明書有不當擴張的問題;(4)由利害關係人提起發明被篡奪的主張;(5)專利範圍的擴張。
- lack of patentability
- lack of ability to be carried out
- inadmissible extension of the patent’s subject matter in comparison to the application’s version
- usurpation of the invention (may only be claimed by the aggrieved party)
- extension of the patent’s scope of protection
Section 81(1)(2) of the Patent Act:
(1)專利無效程序,或補充保護認證(supplementary protection certificate)的無效程序,由法院受理,訴訟直接對上專利權人,法院將依照證據審理。
(2)若異議程序仍在審理中,不能提起無效程序。
"(1) Proceedings for revocation of the patent or invalidity of the supplementary protection certificate, or on account of the grant or withdrawal of the compulsory licence, or on account of the adjustment of the remuneration for a compulsory licence determined by court judgment shall be initiated by filing an action. The action shall be directed against the proprietor of the patent entered in the Register or against the holder of the compulsory licence. An action against the supplementary protection certificate may be consolidated with an action against the patent on which it is based and may also be based on the fact that there is a ground for revocation (section 22) of the patent on which it is based.
(2) An action for revocation of a patent cannot be filed as long as a notice of opposition can still be filed or opposition proceedings are still pending. An action for the declaration of invalidity of the supplementary protection certificate cannot be filed in so far as requests in accordance with section 49a (4) can be filed or proceedings for a decision on these requests are pending."
(編按,所謂補充保護認證(supplementary protection certificate,SPC)是針對商品與對應專利的連結認證,也是一種專利標示的概念)
在此一提的是,其實也是本篇筆記的起源,就是「費用」,或是有任何「補償/賠償費用」,可參考:異議與無效指導方針中的「9.5.2 Decision on costs, reimbursement of opposition fee」規定:
關於費用,一般正常的情況是,訴訟雙方各自負擔自己的訴訟費用,但是若是異議人的風險是,如果異議全部或部分失敗,可能會有懲罰性的費用("The imposition of costs may even be considered in the event that the opposition is withdrawn in full or in part or the patent is surrendered, section 62 (1) sentence 2 of the Patent Act)")。(編按,這點可能是要避免濫訴,並且還有許多費用相關的細節規定,如負擔勝方的差旅費,甚至還能向行政機關索取賠償之類的。欲知詳情,請見相關指導方針細節)
TIPO材料:
處理爭議案的法院架構,特別的是,當爭議案的無效爭議"可直接向法院提起告訴"。
這個流程是針對"異議(opposition)"程序,重點在下半部,專利申請案被否決時,可上訴聯邦專利法院,專利被異議撤銷或異議不成立,亦上訴聯邦專立法院。
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