2009年1月12日 星期一

專利家族檢索-專利貓

專利家族檢索的工具不勝枚舉
免費的很多,但是一旦失去免費的「依據」,就可能也失去功能
可能是因為多半專利家族的判斷是以優先權作為依據,而且多半以美國專利為主
一旦失去這個查詢的基礎,免費就會有點正確性的問題

這裡介紹一個「專利貓」(http://www.patentcat.com/)
覺得十分有用,也是免費的,可以檢索的專利國家不少
至少其中說明可以有(包括範例):
Decription the Patent Seed
US Issued Patents Number US6359159
US Publication Number US2004266083
European Patent EP1204414
Japan Patent: JP-H11-508406 JP11508406
PCT Patent: WO-01-06986 WO0106986
Taiwan Patent TW588441

這是檢索畫面



令人驚豔的是以下這個可以拉來拉去的圖形介面,前後專利的關係也一目了然!
另外也可另開Excel檔案,十分方便


推薦使用!
Ron

Non-Practicing Entities (NPE)

Reduce NPE Risks and Costs

NPE原文是「non-practicing entities」,或可翻譯為非專利實施的實體,另一個名稱是「patent troll」,也就是購入大量專利,透過法律途徑惡意收取授權金,卻並不實施該專利權的公司,這樣的公司在過去十年內有增加的趨勢。

「troll」字典上譯為矛盾的兩個字--侏儒或巨人,在西方傳說中,troll是個出現於北歐的類人生物(humanoid),外型像個怪物,生在地底下,會偷竊、劫持、吃人,奇怪的是,也會像過路人收取過路費

(google)


2008年11月,在美國有間名為RPX的公司成立,該公司宗旨即幫助受到patent troll威脅的公司免於被收取不合理的授權金或和解金,甚至協助購買足夠抵抗patent troll的專利。

RPX同時也會購買關鍵性的專利,協助被patent troll威脅的公司(一旦成為RPX會員之後),至少提供合理的、較低的費用免於被不實施專利的patent troll威脅。

RPX成立之初就是要得到關鍵的專利,初始會員如IBM、cisco等,即協助購入足夠的專利與特定領域的專利,下表顯示RPX目前認為高價值的專利領域

下面的圖則是顯示RPX的策略,初期是購買專利,等到專利量足夠後,之後加入的會員則可引用,當然這些「服務」也是需要代價的,後到的會員顯然仍需要繳出所謂的「back fee」,愈後加入愈貴,其實也挺合理的。


資料來源:
RPX Corp. (http://www.rpxcorp.com/)
SMBiplaw.com

Ron

2009年1月11日 星期日

History of Software Patents I

1960s - 1970s

Gottschalk v. Benson

In the 1970s, the Supreme Court twice examined whether inventions containing computer software were patentable. Both times, the Supreme Court answered in the negative. In the 1972 case of Gottschalk v. Benson, the Supreme Court struggled with whether an algorithm to convert binary-coded decimal numbers into true binary numbers was considered patentable. The Court felt that a patent on this concept would pre-empt the entire mathematical algorithm. Since mathematics could be considered an abstract idea, and abstract ideas are not patentable, the Supreme Court held that the algorithm in question is not patentable.

1970年代,美國最高法院兩度審查包括電腦軟體的發明是否可被專利,兩次都被否定。1972年的Gottschalk v. Benson案例中,最高法院在利用演算法(Algorithm)轉換十進位位元碼為真實二元數字為可專利的議題上有過掙扎,法院認為以上概念為完全的數學演算法,因為僅是抽象概念,故無法專利。

小結,此階段,數學演算的抽象概念無法專利,主要是缺少產業利用性

Parker v. Flook

In Parker v. Flook, the Supreme Court examined whether a method for updating an alarm limit (used to signal abnormal conditions) in a catalytic conversion process was patentable. The only difference between the prior art and the invention was the algorithm that calculated the new alarm limit. The Court held that this was not patentable even though an additional step was included in the claim beyond merely the calculation step. The Court explicitly rejected the notion that "post-solution activity [alone]... can transform an unpatentable principle into a patentable process." Specifically, the court held that the invention could not be patented "not because it contains a mathematical algorithm as one component, but because once that algorithm is assumed to be within the prior art, the application, considered as a whole, contains no patentable invention."

在Parker v. Flook判例中,爭議技術是針對一種判斷是否在催化轉換過程中更新警報範圍(在異常狀態下)的方法(翻譯有點拗口,請原諒),最高法院進行審理時,認為此技術與先前技術僅差於更新警報範圍的演算方式,即使在權利範圍中,具有一些除了數學演算以外的步驟,但仍無法獲准專利。法院明確拒絕了利用所謂「post-solution activity」能將不可專利的東西轉換成可專利的程序,法院進一步說明,此技術「整體來說」不可專利並非是因為它包括了數學演算的元件,而是此演算法已經揭露於先前技術中,利用已經揭露的技術產生其他功效無法專利。

小結,此階段拒絕利用已經揭露於先前技術的「數學方法(軟體程式)」產生其他功能的專利性

資料來源 :bitlaw.com
Ron

2009年1月8日 星期四

MPEP 706.07(f) Time for Reply to Final Rejection

706.07(f) Time for Reply to Final Rejection

MPEP 706.07(f)規範了回覆最終審查意見(Final Office Action)的時機,包括:

(A)每個最終審查意見(FOA)都規定3個月回覆的短期法定期限(shortened statutory period, SSP),其中建議申請人如果在FOA發出之後兩個月內(遇假日順延)提出回覆(reply),此三個月的短期法定期限則會於FOA發出後3個月或是發出諮詢意見(Advisory Action, AA)的日期(mailing date)過期(以兩者較晚的期限為主),故此未經延期的期限會有所變動,但針對FOA的回覆期限總共(加上額外的延期)不能超過FOA發出後的六個月。
[原文]
(A) All final rejections setting a 3-month shortened statutory period (SSP) for reply should contain one of form paragraphs 7.39, 7.40, 7.40.01, 7.40.02, 7.41, 7.41.03, 7.42.03, 7.42.031, or 7.42.09 advising applicant that if the reply is filed within 2 months of the date of the final Office action, the shortened statutory period will expire at 3 months from the date of the final rejection or on the date the advisory action is mailed, whichever is later. Thus, a variable reply period will be established. If the last day of "2 months of the date of the final Office action" falls on Saturday, Sunday, or a Federal holiday within the District of Columbia, and a reply is filed on the next succeeding day which is not a Saturday, Sunday, or a Federal holiday, pursuant to 37 CFR 1.7(a), the reply is deemed to have been filed within the 2 months period and the shortened statutory period will expire at 3 months from the date of the final rejection or on the mailing date of the advisory action, whichever is later (see MPEP §710.05). In no event can the statutory period for reply expire later than 6 months from the mailing date of the final rejection.

(B)上述根據申請人發出第一次回覆的時間所做出可變動的期限並不適用於短期法定期限(SSP)少於3個月的程序,如期限僅1個月的再領證程序(reissue)或是再審查程序(reexamination)。
[原文]
(B) This procedure of setting a variable reply period in the final rejection dependent on when applicant files a first reply to a final Office action does not apply to situations where a SSP less than 3 months is set, e.g., reissue litigation applications (1-month SSP) or any reexamination proceeding.

I. ADVISORY ACTIONS
I. 此段規範諮詢意見(Advisory Actions)
(C)當申請人在FOA之後兩個月內提出一個完整的回覆(答辯)時,即設定前段(A)所描述的可變動的回覆期限,審查委員必須判斷:
(1)申請案為可核准的狀態;
(2)申請案是除了有審查委員可自行修正的小問題(如拼錯字、用錯動詞、用錯代名詞、錯誤標號等)之外可核准
(3)申請案不可核准,此時,諮詢意見中需通知申請人短期法定期限到期日(FOA發出後三個月內或是AA發出的時間,其中較晚的)
[原文]
(C) Where the final Office action sets a variable reply period as set forth in paragraph (A) above AND applicant files a complete first reply to the final Office action within 2 months of the date of the final Office action, the examiner must determine if the reply:
(1) places the application in condition for allowance - then the application should be processed as an allowance and no extension fees are due;
(2) places the application in condition for allowance except for matters of form which the examiner can change without authorization from applicant, MPEP § 1302.04 - then the application should be amended as required and processed as an allowance and no extension fees are due; or
(3) does not place the application in condition for allowance - then the advisory action should inform applicant that the SSP for reply expires 3 months from the date of the final rejection or as of the mailing date of the advisory action, whichever is later, by checking box 1.b) at the top portion of the Advisory Action form, PTOL-303.

(D)若申請人並未於FOA發出後兩個月內提出完整的答覆,則無上述短期法定期限的問題
[原文]
(D) Where the final Office action sets a variable reply period as set forth in paragraph (A) above, and applicant does NOT file a complete first reply to the final Office action within 2 months, examiners should check box 1.a) at the top portion of the Advisory Action form, PTOL-303.

(E)當接到諮詢意見,申請人接下來的作業時間除了有FOA發出後3個月或是AA發出日期(較晚的那個)的限制,仍應於FOA發出後6個月的期限回覆,否則就遭撤銷。
[原文]
(E) When box 1.b) at the top portion of the Advisory Action form, PTOL-303 is checked, the time for applicant to take further action (including the calculation of extension fees under 37 CFR 1.136(a)) begins to run 3 months from the date of the final rejection, or from the date of the advisory action, whichever is later. Extension fees cannot be prorated for portions of a month. In no event can the statutory period for reply expire later than 6 months from the date of the final rejection.

此段列舉一例:
如果申請人於FOA發出後兩個月內提出完整的回覆內容(答辯),審查委員應FOA發出後三個月內發出諮詢意見,此時短期法定期限則會於FOA發出後3個月到期,仍可有另外3個月的延期。但是,若申請人於FOA發出後兩個月內提出回覆,但是審查委員並未於三個月內發出諮詢意見,則短期法定期限(此例已經超過三個月)改變為諮詢意見發出日期到期,延期費也是從AA發出日期開始計算。


以下為諮詢意見通知的表格:


II. EXAMINER'S AMENDMENTS
II. 此段規範審查委員於接到FOA回覆的修正:
(F)當於FOA發出後兩個月內及時提出一個完整的回覆時,若經審查委員修正而可核准,雖可能已超出FOA發出後三個月之後,但仍不會產生延期費用,但審查委員自行修正時間仍不能超過FOA發出後6個月,否則會被撤銷
[原文]
(F) Where a complete first reply to a final Office action has been filed within2 months of the final Office action, an examiner's amendment to place theapplication in condition for allowance may be made without the payment of extension fees even if the examiner's amendment is made more than 3 months from the date of the final Office action. Note that an examiner's amendment may not be made more than 6 months from the date of the final Office action, as the application would be abandoned at that point by operation of law.

(G)當申請人於FOA發出後兩個月內提出回覆,申請人可於FOA發出後3個月內或是經請求延期授權給審查委員進行修正,然而此時審查委員的修正僅能針對除了一些文法、格式錯誤修正而可核准的情況下進行修正
[原文]
(G) Where a complete first reply to a final Office action has not been filed within 2 months of the final Office action, applicant's authorization to make an amendment to place the application in condition for allowance must be made either within the 3 month shortened statutory period or within an extended period for reply that has been petitioned and paid for by applicant pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a). However, an examiner's amendment correcting only formal matters which are identified for the first time after a reply is made to a final Office action would not require any extension fee, since the reply to the final Office action put the application in condition for allowance except for the correction of formal matters, the correction of which had not yet been required by the examiner.

(H)申請人可提出請求(petition)與延期費,授權給審查委員進行可核准的修正,但不能接受口頭指導完成信用卡付費

其他注意事項:
1.應於法定期限內對FOA做出回覆
2.在短期法定期限之外可請求面詢,不會有多的費用
3.針對格式上修正而可核准的案子不應有延期費用
4.FOA後,爭議程序仍可被再啟動,如提出RCE等

資料來源:USPTO
Ron

2009年1月7日 星期三

近來韓國專利商標局的法規改變

Source: KIM, HONG & ASSOCIATES
資料整理自代理人的文件

  • 改變一:
2008年9月1日起, 韓國專利局針對申請人回覆官方審查意見(Office Action)的時程提出了改變

改變前,
當韓國專利局發出Office Action之後, 申請人應於兩個月內提出回覆(答辯), 依申請期限可延長, ㄧ次一個月, 次數並無限制(只要願意付錢)

改變後,
當韓國專利局發出Office Action之後, 同樣, 申請人應於兩個月內提出回覆, 期限可延長, 但最多四個月, 若須請求延長超過四個月, 應提出書面理由

超過四個月的延長期限, 理由可有:
1. 當委任的專利代理人解散或是在期限過期前一個月內轉代理人, 可提出延期四個月以上
2. 若在到期前一個月內申請人有異動, 可提出四個月以上的延期
3. 當到期前兩個月內接到他國專利局所發出的審查結果, 欲將審查意見反映到修正內容, 再提交專利局時, 可提出四個月以上的延期
4. 當發出Office Action的時間已延遲超過一個月, 在此狀況下僅可提出額外延期一個月
5. 當一個母案或是分割案受到審判時, 可提出超過四個月的延期時間
6. 當需要一段時間去測試或是測量有關Office Action的測試時, 可提出超過四個月的延期

  • 改變二:
有關電子交換服務(Electronic Exchange Service), 2008年9月1日起, 韓國專利局與美國專利局之間的優先權協議有變動

改變前,
當對韓國專利局提出申請案, 且主張優先權, 應於一年內或優先權日後四個月內提出經認證的優先權文件

改變後,
1. 根據巴黎公約主張優先權的申請案提出至韓國專利局時, 更早已有一申請案(優先權案)提出給美國專利局, 申請人不須提出經認證的優先權文件副本
2. 當美國申請案主張一個更早申請的韓國申請案優先權時, 包括發明與新型, 此美國申請案亦不須提出優先權文件副本

  • 改變三:
申請人可選擇審查時間

改變前,
申請案依申請實質審查的順序進行審查, 當有爭議或是已完成實施該發明的準備時, 申請人可請求優先審查

改變後,
申請人可根據專利策略在以下幾種審查順序的選項中選擇其一:
加速審查(expedited examination)
一般審查(general examination), 平均於請求實質審查後16個月內做出決定
延遲審查(delayed examination), 申請人可能因為研發, 商業準備, 市場考量 ...等因素提出延遲審查, 然延遲審查時間仍應於請求實質審查後18個月至申請日後5年內進行選擇

  • 改變四:
為了縮短商標申請的準備時間, 商標申請案的指定商品可使用一般名稱

改變前,
當一商標申請案提出後, 指定商品僅於類似商品間使用一般名稱(範圍較窄)

改變後,
2008年9月16日起, 可使用混合著類似商品與相異商品的綜合名稱(涵蓋範圍較廣)

Ron

2009年1月6日 星期二

TW Patent Examination & Administrative Remedy flow

At http://www.tipo.gov.tw/, TIPO provides many regulative application forms, the following shows the respective files:

From these files we may simply know how many the procedures a patent application may meet.
For a single patent application, it may use:
  1. a form for filing a patent application
  2. a form for applying substantive examination for a patent application
  3. a form for applying earlier publication for a patent application
  4. a form for examining a patent application in priority
  5. a form for filing a utility model application
  6. a form for applying a search report for a utility model application
  7. a form for filing a design patent application
  8. a form for filing a union design patent application
  9. a form for providing supplementary or amendment for a filed application
  10. a form of an assignment for a patent/utility model/design application
  11. a form of an inheritance for an application
  12. a form for applying a re-examination for an application
  13. a form for amending a granted application
  14. a form of an invalidation
  15. a form for examining an invalidation application under a lawsuit in priority
  16. a form for applying an interview
  17. a form for filing a divisional application for a patent application/utility model/design application
  18. a form for transferring a
  19. a form for converting a patent application to a utility model application
  20. a form for converting a utility model application to a patent application
  21. a form for converting a patent application to a design patent application
  22. a form for converting a utility model application to a design patent application
  23. a form for converting a design patent application to a utility model application
  24. a form for converting a design patent application to a union design patent application
  25. a form for converting a union design patent application to a design patent application
  26. a form of assignment registration
  27. a form of inheritance registration
  28. a form of licensing registration
  29. a form of mortgage registration
  30. a form of entrust registration
  31. a form for adding annotation or supplementary on a patent certificate
  32. a form of English translation certificate
  33. a form of applying a priority document
  34. a form for applying review of the file wrappers
  35. a form for applying print of patent document
  36. a form for paying annual fee
  37. a form for receiving a patent certificate and postponing publication
  38. a form for applying a simple process of application by facsimile
  39. a form for applying a simple process of application by email
  40. a form for certifying an application right
following chart shows the flow of TW patent examination and administrative remedy:

wherein, (please follow the numeral indication)
(1) application
(2) formal/procedure examination
(3) examination before publication
(4) first substantive examination
(5) second substantive examination
(6) appeal
(7) first administrative litigation examination
(8) appeal of administrative litigation examination
(9) publication
(10) issue fee, annual fee
(11) issuing patent certificate
(12) invalidation
(13) withdrawal (non-existent from the beginning)
PS1: earlier publication at eighteenth month from application date
PS2: any party can apply substantive examination in three years from the application date

source: TIPO
Ron

2008年12月31日 星期三

obvious to try!!!

最近處理了個美國核駁案,使引用KSR判例,認為本申請案是「obvious to try」,即使並無找到直接對應的引證案,卻可以判斷其中的部份元件是簡單嘗試的!

在KSR判例產生前,長久以來採用TSM(teaching, suggestion, motivation)測試,針對進步性不足的核駁理由,實務上是需要引用/結合兩件或以上的引證案,一一比對本申請案中請求項的元件,證明前案有教示(teaching)、建議(suggestion)或是與本案有相同或可產生相同的動機(motivation),以證明申請案的請求項範圍為「顯而易見」,主要原因是為了要避免審查委員有後見之明(hindsight bias)。

但是,從KSR的判例來看,美國最高法院(Supreme Court)認為聯邦巡迴法院(Federal Circuit)在一直以來形式化地使用的TSM測試是錯的,這也影響到審查委員提出的引證資料是否確實,或是僅憑主觀判斷進步性。然而,最高法院仍提出幾項判斷「Obviousness」的規則:
  1. The combination of familiar elements according to known methods is likely to be obvious when it does no more than yield predictable results.
    發明中一般元件的結合如果沒有產生超出預期的結果,為顯而易見的技術
  2. If a person of ordinary skill can implement a predictable variation, 103 likely bars its patentability.
    相對於一個發明,如果一般技術人員能實踐可預期的變化時,則不符合103的進步性規定
  3. One of the ways in which a patent's subject matter can be proved obvious is by noting that there existed at the time of invention a known problem for which there was an obvious solution encompassed by the patent's claims.
    發明中的方法之一在發明的時間為已知問題,且明顯有專利範圍包含的解決方案,不能准予專利
最高法院認為,聯邦巡迴法院斷定不能僅認定一些元件的組合為簡單嘗試(obvious to try)來證明專利範圍為顯而易見的方式是錯的。然根據最高法院的裁定,證明顯而易見的條件變得比較寬鬆:
When there is a design need or market pressure to solve a problem and there are finite number of identified, predictable solutions, a preson of ordinary skill has good reason to pursue the known options within his or her technical grasp. If this leads to the anticipated success, it is likely the product not of innovation but of ordinary skill and common sense. In that instance the fact that a combination was obvious to try might show that it was obvious under 103.
當一個基於設計需要或是市場壓力而要去解決一個問題的發明,而且具有有限個已確認、可預期的解決方案時,一個具有通常技術者在其能理解的範圍內有理由從事已知的方案,如果產生預期的成功,顯示該產品沒有革新,為一般知識。在此例下,各元件的結合為簡單嘗試,也就不符103進步性的規定。

所以,不同於聯邦巡迴法院的認定,只要有「obvious to try」的事實,已足夠證明顯而易見。(另外,可引用「secondary considerations」克服obvious to try的問題)

以下為引用KSR判例,認為該發明之於一般技術人員為「obvious to try」:


Ron