2019年12月16日 星期一

分割案筆記 - 我國專利審查基準

「分割申請案」被歸類為「其他有關專利事項」!

幾個筆記:

- 「屬於一個廣義創作概念」之二個以上創作,申請人可選擇併為一案申請。不符合一創作一申請之專利,或已併案申請之專利,得為分割之申請

對於說明書或圖式中已揭露但未記載於申請專利範圍之發明,若申請人欲申請該等發明,得於審查過程中修正申請專利範圍或申請分割亦得於核准審定書送達後3個月內申請分割。

申請分割,不得變更原申請案之專利種類。(除非分割後再改請)

- 核准審定後所為分割,應自原申請案說明書或圖式所揭露之發明且與核准審定之請求項非屬相同發明者,申請分割,以避免重複專利。(要避免重複專利)

- 分割後之分割案不得超出原申請案申請時說明書、申請專利範圍或圖式所揭露之範圍,於此專利技術或技藝揭露內容不超出之原則下,其發明人應為原申請案發明人之全部或一部分,不得增加原申請案所無之發明人。

- 發明專利初審、再審核准審定後、新型專利核准處分後所為分割應自原申請案說明書或圖式所揭露之發明且與核准審定之請求項非屬相同創作者,申請分割。(核准後僅能將非屬相同創作者的發明/請求項提出分割案)

分割申請案之申請人應與原申請案之申請人相同,如不相同時,應通知申請人限期補正。申請人可就原申請案辦理申請權讓與,使分割申請案與原申請案之申請人相同。原申請案之申請人亦可僅將分割部分之專利申請權讓與分割申請人,而檢附原申請案之申請人簽署之申請權讓與證明文件。(分割申請案申請人應與原案一致,可不一致,分割部分要經過讓與)

- 申請分割案的法定期間:應於原申請案再審查審定前,或於原申請案初審、再審查核准審定書(新型專利核准處分前)送達後3個月內申請。

設計專利申請案之分割,應於原申請案再審查審定前申請。

- 原申請案已經撤回、拋棄或不受理時,則不得申請分割。(原申請案需要保持繫屬專利局)

申請案分割後,即使原申請案嗣後撤回、拋棄、不受理、審定或撤銷,不影響分割案之效力

- 專利申請案如申請分割後,因原申請案之標的已分割為2個申請案,亦不得撤回分割之申請,使原申請案回復分割前之狀態

專利申請案如申請分割後,因原申請案之標的已分割為2個申請案,亦不得撤回分割之申請,使原申請案回復分割前之狀態。(原申請案不能回復)

- 分割案因援用原申請案之申請日,以致分割案與原申請案之申請日相同,即無先後申請案之區別,故分割案不生以原申請案作為先申請案主張國內優先權之問題,如有主張者,應不予受理。(分割案與其母案非優先權關係updated on Jan. 6, 2020,分割案不得成為其他申請案的優先權基礎案,沒有意義)

發明專利申請案自申請日後3 年內,得申請實體審查,如申請分割或改請為發明專利,逾前述期間者,分割案或改請案得於申請分割或改請之日後30 日內申請實體審查。(分割案申請實審有新的期限,30日,如此,若有申請案超過3年還未請求實審,此時可以分割或改請後再請求實審)

- 發明專利申請人於原申請案初審、再審查核准審定書送達後3個月內申請分割者,初審核准後提出之分割申請案續行初審審查程序再審查核准後提出之分割申請案續行再審查審查程序。(母案核准之分割案"繼承"母案初審或再審的審查階段,我的建議是,一般提出分割且為了快速核准,可盡量引入母案核准的特徵,updated on Jan. 6, 2020

若分割案與其先申請案(母案)的「審查意見已通知之不准專利事由及引證文件
二者皆相同者」,屬「已通知之內容相同」,得逕為最後通知。(建議分割案與母案專利範圍不能相同,要不然可能直接收到最後通知

-  申請案(含分割案)會於申請日或優先權日起算18個月後公開。如超過18個月所做之分割,本局會以最近ㄧ期可以排定公開的時間,公開該分割申請案。

其他:
分割案的審查委員是否為母案的審查委員?
答案是:應該是,我個人判斷是有條件地「通常是」,第一,初審分割,且分割案與母案的技術領域與分類一樣,應該是同一審查委員;第二,如果進入再審,分割案從頭來分案,可能不同,但可能為了行政的效率而又分到前面初審委員,也不會是再審委員;第三,局內可能為了「分案」公平起見會分給不同審查委員,但這應該不常見。

(以下案例為母案後分割兩次,審查委員有異動,但並未詳查理由,在此僅列舉案例)
列舉一案:TW107118850
審查委員:吳松屏

分割子案:TW108127932
未公開

分割母案:TW103133255
審查委員:王世賢


Ron

2019年12月13日 星期五

組合前案教示的成功的合理期待 - Johns Manville Corp. v. Knauf Insulation, Inc. (IPR2018-00827, PTAB)

繼前篇「先前技術組合的合理性 - Hulu, LLC v. Sound View Innovations, LLC (IPR2018-00582, PTAB)」,本篇討論同樣近期USPTO指定的另一IPR參考案件,也是關於先前技術組合的合理性。

Johns Manville Corp. v. Knauf Insulation, Inc., Case IPR2018-00827, Paper 9 (Oct. 16, 2018) (designated: Dec. 11, 2019) [denying institution – insufficient reason to combine references]



IPR2018-00827案件資訊:
IPR請願人:JOHNS MANVILLE CORPORATION and JOHNS MANVILLE, INC.
專利權人:KNAUF INSULATION, INC. and KNAUF INSULATION SPRL
系爭專利:US9,828,287

本案經Johns對Knauf擁有的系爭專利'287提出IPR請願,與前篇報導的IPR2018-00582不同,本案中,PTAB認為IPR異議理由並未提出可能無效系爭專利的證據,因此拒絕啟始IPR。

系爭專利'287蠻特別的,關於一種黏合劑(binder),請求項1界定一個隔熱或隔音的玻璃纖維隔熱材料,這個材料是玻璃纖維的集合,並包括設置在玻璃纖維集合體上的黏合劑,這個黏合劑包括:
 i) at least one reaction product of a reducing sugar reactant and an amine reactant, wherein the percent by dry weight of the reducing sugar reactant with respect to the total weight of reactants ranges from about 73% to about 96%, 
ii) a silicon-containing coupling agent, and 
iii) optionally, a corrosion inhibitor, wherein the fiberglass material comprises less than 99% by weight and more than 75% by weight glass fibers, and wherein the fiberglass material has a density of from about 0.4 lbs/ftto about 6 lbs/ft3

1. A thermal or acoustical fiberglass insulation material comprising:
(a) a collection of glass fibers; and
(b) a binder disposed on the collection of glass fibers, wherein the binder comprises i) at least one reaction product of a reducing sugar reactant and an amine reactant, wherein the percent by dry weight of the reducing sugar reactant with respect to the total weight of reactants ranges from about 73% to about 96%, ii) a silicon-containing coupling agent, and iii) optionally, a corrosion inhibitor, wherein the fiberglass material comprises less than 99% by weight and more than 75% by weight glass fibers, and wherein the fiberglass material has a density of from about 0.4 lbs/ftto about 6 lbs/ft3.

IPR請願人提出以下無效理由,引證案都「很老」:


(Srinivasan: US2005/0059770; Worthington: US3,513,001; Gogek: US2,965,504; Helbing: US2005/0202224

在解釋專利範圍(Claim Interpretation)時,用BRI原則解釋,沒有新的概念,但提到「決定是否"啟始"IPR」的議題時,其實不必太過明確地解釋其中用語。

在IPR請願人Johns提出的無效理由中,引用主要引證案Srinivasan and/or Worthington,認為相關領域技術人員可以有多個結合這兩件引證案而教示系爭專利的理由,但專利權人Knauf主張Johns的理由並沒有充分解釋為何系爭專利的特徵為顯而易見,也沒有證明先前技術結合的合理性。

無效理由中,除了一般顯而易見性的論述(前案可結合、教示),專利權人還主張無效理由不當地採用了系爭專利'287的揭露內容以及'445案(US7,888,445,專利權人的另一關係案)的再審理由。其中,無效理由主張,先前技術Srinivasan與Worthington都揭露了「熱固性黏合劑組合物」,成份也相近使得產生相近的反應物,且PTAB也認為Worthington案為類似前案。

不過,PTAB指出幾項異議人無效理由的不足(重要):

(1) 所謂「相似的前案」僅是判斷參考前案是否可以考慮為顯而易見分析前案的門檻("Analogous art is merely a threshold inquiry as to whether a reference can be considered in an obviousness analysis.")。
(2) 證明先前文獻為類似前案或是相關領域的前案並不足以建立一般技術人員有理由結合先前技術而教示系爭專利範圍("Demonstrating that a reference is analogous art or relevant to the field of endeavor of the challenged patent is not sufficient to establish that one of ordinary skill would have had reason to combine its teachings with other prior art in the manner set forth in the claim.")。

異議人Johns也認為,先前技術中都揭露了熱固性組合物與其黏合劑,因此可以結合而教示系爭專利,且也產生成功的合理期待(reasonable expectation of success),但是PTAB認為,異議人並未證明相關領域技術人員可以用其中之一前案的黏合劑去置換另一前案的黏合劑,也就是說,其實先前技術分別提出了不同的黏合技術

其實,PTAB要求的是,異議人有責任證明相關領域技術人員有動機結合"先前技術的教示"而達到系爭專利的發明,也此技術人員對這樣也有成功的合理期待。(表示PTAB認為異議理由不足以證明先前技術的結合可以合理期待得出系爭案發明)

特別解釋,所述「顯而易見性(obviousness)」的證明應提出的理由使得相關領域技術人員結合實現系爭案發明的元件(前案元件->發明的元件)。



因此,PTAB認為IPR異議人Johns並未提出證明系爭專利為顯而易見足夠而充分的理由。



IPR最終決定:https://www.uspto.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Johns%20Manville%20v.%20Knauf%20Insulation%2C%20IPR2018-00827.pdf(備份:https://app.box.com/s/y0e7ptmedmqo1olq0svzrsjakch1xovr

my two cents:
本篇的教示是,要論述專利無效,特別是針對顯而易見的理由,應足夠充分,請論述先前技術之間的關聯與結合而達成系爭案發明「成功的合理期待」,就是能夠從各前案內容中找到前案可結合的證據,而不僅是提到這些前案都為相似前案而已。

另外,PTAB也要求異議人要claim-by-claim分析,這也是本案拒絕"啟始"的理由之一。

---------------------------------------------------------
USPTO訊息:
PTAB designates three decisions as informative
Hulu, LLC v. Sound View Innovations, LLC, IPR2018-00582, Paper 34 (August 5, 2019)
This final written decision determined that the petitioner failed to show that the challenged claims are unpatentable because the petitioner failed to show a sufficient rationale for combining the references.
Johns Manville Corp. v. Knauf Insulation, Inc., IPR2018-00827, Paper 9 (October 16, 2018)
This decision denies institution after the Board determined that showing that the references are analogous and could be combined does not establish a sufficient rationale for combining the references.
Ex parte LindenHannun, Appeal No. 2018-003323 (April 1, 2019) (updated on July 26, 2023, 聽說名稱是USPTO誤植,相關連結:https://enpan.blogspot.com/2020/01/ex-parte-linden-2018-003323-apr-1-2019.html)
This decision reverses the examiner’s eligibility rejection of a method for transcribing speech, where the Board found that the steps were not a mental process.
Learn more about these informative decisions on the USPTO website.
Ron

2019年12月12日 星期四

先前技術組合的合理性 - Hulu, LLC v. Sound View Innovations, LLC (IPR2018-00582, PTAB)

本篇討論近期USPTO指定的IPR參考案件之一,關於先前技術組合的合理性。

Hulu, LLC v. Sound View Innovations, LLC, Case IPR2018-00582, Paper 34 (Aug. 5, 2019) (designated: Dec. 11, 2019) [no claims unpatentable – insufficient reason to combine references]



IPR2018-00582案件資訊:
IPR請願人:HULU, LLC
專利權人:SOUND VIEW INNOVATIONS, LLC
系爭專利:US6,502,133

本案經IPR請願人Hulu提出無效理由,以及專利權人Sound初步回應後,PTAB認為證據有可能可以異議成功,於是同意啟始IPR,理由是系爭專利相對於先前技術的組合為顯而易見(35 U.S.C. § 103(a), pre-AIA,系爭專利於AIA施行日March 16, 2013前申請)。

系爭專利'133關於一種利用分析引擎處理即時事件的方法,系統如下示意圖,系統包括多個即時事件分析引擎,這些引擎可以分群平行執行,分析所配對的事件,請求項1界定一個事件處理裝置,以處理器實現所述的即時分析引擎。這是一個用於優化電腦系統需要處理即時事件的一種企業解決方案。


1. An apparatus for processing events generated by at least one system application, the apparatus comprising:
a processor for executing code to implement at least a portion of at least one real-time analysis engine, wherein the real-time analysis engine processes the events, and wherein associated with the real-time analysis engine in a main-memory database system is recovery information regarding a recovery point for the real-time analysis engine.


IPR請願人提出以下無效理由,除了O'Neil為先前專利US6,226,364,其餘為期刊或論文。

(Svein-Olaf Hvasshovd et al., The ClustRa Telecom Database: High Availability, High Throughput, and Real-Time Response, in Proc. of the 1st VLDB Conference 469, Zurich, Switzerland (1995) (Ex. 1004, “Hvasshovd”); U.S. Patent No. 6,226,364 B1 to O’Neil, filed Dec. 8, 1997, issued May 1, 2001 (Ex. 1005, “O’Neil”); Ben Kao & Hector Garcia-Molina, An Overview of Real-Time Database Systems, Chapter 19 in Advances in Real-Time Systems 463 (Sang H. Son ed., Prentice Hall 1995) (Ex. 1006, “Kao”); and David J. DeWitt et al., Implementation Techniques for Main-Memory Database Systems, in Proc. ACM SIGMOD Int’l Conf. on Management of Data, Boston, Mass. (June 1984) (Ex. 1007, “DeWitt”).

在解釋專利範圍(Claim Interpretation)時,參照專利中對用語的定義、說明書以及審查過程曾經形成的禁反言。對本案而言,「前言」部分因為形成專利範圍的前置基礎,因此也被列入解釋範圍的一部分。

對於103的無效理由與審查方針,仍是參考了KSR、Graham v. John Deere Co.判例的原則:


(跳過技術分析)(文中很多103答辯的技巧,其實很刁鑽,但是可以學習的)

專利權人答覆無效理由時,認為先前技術沒有合理結合的動機,理由是,例如,先前技術Kao的主記憶體資料庫,用於即時切換電話線路、O'Neil的即時電話呼叫監控系統,而O'Neil的技術目的是計算電話費,這是"秒"時間等級的技術,並沒有要解決如先前技術Kao的即時處理的需求,也無法達成系爭專利即時分析的技術,因此,系爭案專利不會因為Kao與O'Neil的組合而為顯而易見

都是應用在電話技術,兩個前案的「即時性/急迫感」並不一致,兩個先前技術即便在同一領域中也不會互相影響,因此沒有結合的合理理由(不夠)。

因此,PTAB也不同意異議人Sound提出先前技術結合的推論





(文中很多103答辯的技巧,其實很刁鑽,但是可以學習的)例如這句:"Thus, in the absence of other persuasive reasons to modify O’Neil, the record evidence of high cost and limited capacity associated with main memory databases tends to undermine the implication that an ordinarily skilled artisan would have used main memory instead of conventional disk-based memory."
(這是主張缺乏說服力的意見:高價格與有限容量的主記憶體,使得相關領域技術人員不會考慮這個記憶體,而會考慮傳統磁盤記憶體)

以此說明先前技術沒有結合的可能性!

PTAB還認為,IPR請願人Sound的一些主張都是「預期先前技術可以結合」而不是「提出結合的理由/論述」,因此多數不被認同。("But as presented, this is actually a statement of anticipated success in combining the references, rather than an articulated reason to combine them in the first instance.")

還有,PTAB認為先前技術縱然可以成功地組合,但不代表相關領域技術人員有動機去結合!("Just as in Belden, the fact that the combination might have been successful does not mean that an ordinarily skilled artisan would have been motivated to make the combination.")
太...了!

最終,PTAB認為Sound並未對先前技術的組合建立有說服力的理由。(證據優勢很重要)

"Thus, we also determine Petitioner has not shown by a preponderance of the evidence that claims 9–13 and 21 would have been obvious over the combination of Hvasshovd, Kao, and DeWitt."
my two cents:
先前技術是否有合理結合的動機與理由,其實還是十分主觀,有些只要同一領域就可以結合,有些還要考慮到解決問題是否一致(這理由常常用來答辯),本案更涉及先前技術的「時間觀」有沒有一致到可以互相影響!(真是犀利)

初看本件系爭專利,不是很懂,十分抽象,就是一個處理即時事件的電腦系統,專利範圍看來也十分廣泛而抽象,顯得不好找先前技術,因此前案引用就是引用一些相關計算機系統的論文,然而,當證據(都討論到時間是否有急迫到即時或是僅秒等級的分析)沒有「合理結合的理由」時,就無法讓這樣抽象又廣的專利無效!

IPR最終決定:
https://www.uspto.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Hulu%2C%20LLC%20v.%20Sound%20View%20Innovations%2C%20LLC%2C%20IPR2018-00582.pdf(備份:https://app.box.com/s/ypr5pevcorj15xp2u89s0vfp8xkc7o3h

---------------------------------------------------------
USPTO訊息:
PTAB designates three decisions as informative
Hulu, LLC v. Sound View Innovations, LLC, IPR2018-00582, Paper 34 (August 5, 2019)
This final written decision determined that the petitioner failed to show that the challenged claims are unpatentable because the petitioner failed to show a sufficient rationale for combining the references.
Johns Manville Corp. v. Knauf Insulation, Inc., IPR2018-00827, Paper 9 (October 16, 2018)
This decision denies institution after the Board determined that showing that the references are analogous and could be combined does not establish a sufficient rationale for combining the references.
Ex parte LindenHannun, Appeal No. 2018-003323 (April 1, 2019) (updated on July 26, 2023, 聽說是USPTO誤植Hannun為Linden,相關報導:https://enpan.blogspot.com/2020/01/ex-parte-linden-2018-003323-apr-1-2019.html。)
This decision reverses the examiner’s eligibility rejection of a method for transcribing speech, where the Board found that the steps were not a mental process.
Learn more about these informative decisions on the USPTO website.
Ron

2019年12月10日 星期二

香港各種專利介紹(補充新制度)

中華人民共和國香港特別行政區旗:


香港地理位置:




關於香港專利...之前有篇寫到一半,到現在有新制度,就在此作些筆記。

香港專利局,全名是「中華人民共和國香港特別行政區政府知識產權署」,官網:香港特別行政區知識產權署官網:https://www.ipd.gov.hk/chi/home.htm

繁體版:

---香港知識產權署組織架構---

- 香港將於2019/12/19實施新專利制度,即「2016年專利(修訂)條例」,相關資訊:https://www.ipd.gov.hk/chi/intellectual_property/patents/New_Patent_System.htm

- 有用的資料:
簡短概要:

改革文宣:

2019年專利(一般)(修訂)規則:

在香港申請專利保護手冊:


新制重點:
- 在香港提交的「標準專利」及「短期專利」僅實行形式審查。
- 新增「原授專利制度(OGP system)」,為原來「標準專利」的另一專利方案,讓專利申請人可”直接”在香港提交「標準專利」申請,可以不用指定香港以外的指定專利局(中國智慧財產權局、英國智慧財產權局、歐洲專利局)再進入香港,因此需要「實質審查」。
- 「原授專利制度」實審採用「兩審制」,有兩次答辯機會,答辯期限各為4個月;之後有兩次復審機會,也有兩次答辯機會,答辯期限各為2個月。
- 優化香港的「短期專利」制度,目前的專利制度下,每件短期專利申請僅限包含「一項獨立權利要求」,新專利制度則可同意一件專利案包含「兩項獨立權利要求」。
- 「短期專利」接受申請人或第三人請求實際審查。「實質審查」也是訴訟基礎。

原授專利制度」、「轉錄標準專利」以及「短期專利」的比較:


- 香港原授標準專利:

「原授標準專利」審查程序:
(i) 申請審查
(ii) 形式審查
(iii) 受理申請
(iv) 實質審查
(v) 審查結果:獲准、公告,或是拒絕專利

「原授標準專利」流程圖:




- 香港標準專利:
  • 指定專利申請的記錄請求(第一階段)(原則上受理中國專利局、歐洲專利局(指定英國)、英國專利局三者轉錄專利
  • 註冊與批予請求(第二階段)
香港標準專利並不是一個可以直接申請的專利申請制度,而是要先有中國(發明案)、英國(發明案)、PCT案指定進入中國(發明案)、PCT案指定進入英國(發明案),或歐洲專利指定進入英國等申請案後,再於香港提出專利申請。因此,提出香港專利申請時,當有前述幾種申請案之一公開後,應於公開後6個月內準備申請文件(需翻譯)提出香港標準專利申請案(登記)。(第一階段)


之後,當前申請案一旦核准公告,公告後6個月內將相關文件(需翻譯)向香港知識產權署提出核准請求,香港標準專利一旦核准,不會受到前申請案狀態而影響。(第二階段)

第一、第二階段總體流程圖:


- 香港短期專利:


原本僅接受一項獨立權利要求,但新制可接受兩個獨立權利要求。

短期專利流程圖:


資料參考:
https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/香港

https://www.ipd.gov.hk/chi/intellectual_property/patents/New_Patent_System.htm

http://hong-kong-economy-research.hktdc.com/business-news/article/知識產權在香港/香港的專利保護/iphk/tc/2/1X000000/1X005S3L.htm

Ron

2019年12月6日 星期五

美國專利法第119條筆記

筆記

35 U.S.C. 119(a)
同人(代表或經讓渡)以相同發明在國外已申請(最早申請案),當在最早申請案申請日後12個月內提出美國申請案時,可以享有與最早申請案申請日的好處(優先權),若在非故意延遲的條件下,可以延長兩個月(至14個月)。

35 U.S.C. 119(b)
主張優先權時,應指出先前申請案的國家、國外申請號、日期等,專利局長官可要求申請人提出國外申請案有效副本(官方優先權文件)、翻譯(非英文的話)以及相關資訊。



35 U.S.C. 119(c)
美國申請案的國外優先權若為同一國另外的申請案,而非基於第一申請案,那在所主張優先權案的其他更早申請案應要撤銷、拋棄或不予公開。

35 U.S.C. 119(d)
經發明人認證的國外申請案,申請人在提出後申請案時有權主張優先權(Paris Convention)。

35 U.S.C. 119(e)
美國臨時申請案(provisional application,35 U.S.C. 111(b))在符合揭露申請與規定時,其發明人可在臨時申請案申請日後12個月內提出正式申請案(non-provisional application),並在涵蓋相同內容的情況下主張臨時申請案優先權。同樣地,若為非故意延遲,12個月可以再延長兩個月。期間若有修正,專利局主管將判斷是否仍符合優先權較早申請案的規定。若12個月期限最後一天落於假日,將順延一天。

若較早申請案為國際申請案(35 U.S.C. 363),12的月優先權期限依照相關合約規定延長。


119(e)與120為同一規定:MPEP 211 Claiming the Benefit of an Earlier Filing Date Under 35 U.S.C. 120 and 119(e)

35 U.S.C. 120  Benefit of earlier filing date in the United States.
An application for patent for an invention disclosed in the manner provided by section 112(a) (other than the requirement to disclose the best mode) in an application previously filed in the United States, or as provided by section 363 or 385 which names an inventor or joint inventor in the previously filed application shall have the same effect, as to such invention, as though filed on the date of the prior application, if filed before the patenting or abandonment of or termination of proceedings on the first application or on an application similarly entitled to the benefit of the filing date of the first application and if it contains or is amended to contain a specific reference to the earlier filed application. No application shall be entitled to the benefit of an earlier filed application under this section unless an amendment containing the specific reference to the earlier filed application is submitted at such time during the pendency of the application as required by the Director. The Director may consider the failure to submit such an amendment within that time period as a waiver of any benefit under this section. The Director may establish procedures, including the requirement for payment of the fee specified in section 41(a)(7), to accept an unintentionally delayed submission of an amendment under this section.

35 U.S.C. 119(f)
關於在WTO會員國申請的植物品種申請案,也享有上述規定(a)-(c)的優先權以及要求。

35 U.S.C. 119(g)
定義WTO(世界貿易組織)會員國與「UPOV Contracting Party」(植物品種保護國際公約)。


----35 U.S.C. 119---------
https://www.bitlaw.com/source/35usc/119.html
以下119(a)僅適用AIA後申請案(first inventor to file application),此條刪掉的內容為:"; but no patent shall be granted on any application for patent for an invention which had been patented or described in a printed publication in any country more than one year before the date of the actual filing of the application in this country, or which had been in public use or on sale in this country more than one year prior to such filing"

35 U.S.C. 119 BENEFIT OF EARLIER FILING DATE; RIGHT OF PRIORITY.

  • (a) An application for patent for an invention filed in this country by any person who has, or whose legal representatives or assigns have, previously regularly filed an application for a patent for the same invention in a foreign country which affords similar privileges in the case of applications filed in the United States or to citizens of the United States, or in a WTO member country, shall have the same effect as the same application would have if filed in this country on the date on which the application for patent for the same invention was first filed in such foreign country, if the application in this country is filed within 12 months from the earliest date on which such foreign application was filed. The Director may prescribe regulations, including the requirement for payment of the fee specified in section 41(a)(7), pursuant to which the 12-month period set forth in this subsection may be extended by an additional 2 months if the delay in filing the application in this country within the 12-month period was unintentional.
  • (b)
    • (1) No application for patent shall be entitled to this right of priority unless a claim is filed in the Patent and Trademark Office, identifying the foreign application by specifying the application number on that foreign application, the intellectual property authority or country in or for which the application was filed, and the date of filing the application, at such time during the pendency of the application as required by the Director.
    • (2) The Director may consider the failure of the applicant to file a timely claim for priority as a waiver of any such claim. The Director may establish procedures, including the requirement for payment of the fee specified in section 41(a)(7), to accept an unintentionally delayed claim under this section.
    • (3) The Director may require a certified copy of the original foreign application, specification, and drawings upon which it is based, a translation if not in the English language, and such other information as the Director considers necessary. Any such certification shall be made by the foreign intellectual property authority in which the foreign application was filed and show the date of the application and of the filing of the specification and other papers.
  • (c) In like manner and subject to the same conditions and requirements, the right provided in this section may be based upon a subsequent regularly filed application in the same foreign country instead of the first filed foreign application, provided that any foreign application filed prior to such subsequent application has been withdrawn, abandoned, or otherwise disposed of, without having been laid open to public inspection and without leaving any rights outstanding, and has not served, nor thereafter shall serve, as a basis for claiming a right of priority.
  • (d) Applications for inventors’ certificates filed in a foreign country in which applicants have a right to apply, at their discretion, either for a patent or for an inventor’s certificate shall be treated in this country in the same manner and have the same effect for purpose of the right of priority under this section as applications for patents, subject to the same conditions and requirements of this section as apply to applications for patents, provided such applicants are entitled to the benefits of the Stockholm Revision of the Paris Convention at the time of such filing.
  • (e)
    • (1) An application for patent filed under section 111(a) or section 363 for an invention disclosed in the manner provided by section 112(a) (other than the requirement to disclose the best mode) in a provisional application filed under section 111(b), by an inventor or inventors named in the provisional application, shall have the same effect, as to such invention, as though filed on the date of the provisional application filed under section 111(b), if the application for patent filed under section 111(a) or section 363 is filed not later than 12 months after the date on which the provisional application was filed and if it contains or is amended to contain a specific reference to the provisional application. The Director may prescribe regulations, including the requirement for payment of the fee specified in section 41(a)(7), pursuant to which the 12-month period set forth in this subsection may be extended by an additional 2 months if the delay in filing the application under section 111(a) or section 363 within the 12-month period was unintentional. No application shall be entitled to the benefit of an earlier filed provisional application under this subsection unless an amendment containing the specific reference to the earlier filed provisional application is submitted at such time during the pendency of the application as required by the Director. The Director may consider the failure to submit such an amendment within that time period as a waiver of any benefit under this subsection. The Director may establish procedures, including the payment of the fee specified in section 41(a)(7), to accept an unintentionally delayed submission of an amendment under this subsection.
    • (2) A provisional application filed under section 111(b) may not be relied upon in any proceeding in the Patent and Trademark Office unless the fee set forth in subparagraph (A) or (C) of section 41(a)(1) has been paid.
    • (3) If the day that is 12 months after the filing date of a provisional application falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or Federal holiday within the District of Columbia, the period of pendency of the provisional application shall be extended to the next succeeding secular or business day. For an application for patent filed under section 363 in a Receiving Office other than the Patent and Trademark Office, the 12-month and additional 2-month period set forth in this subsection shall be extended as provided under the treaty and Regulations as defined in section 351.
  • (f) Applications for plant breeder’s rights filed in a WTO member country (or in a foreign UPOV Contracting Party) shall have the same effect for the purpose of the right of priority under subsections (a) through (c) of this section as applications for patents, subject to the same conditions and requirements of this section as apply to applications for patents.
  • (g) As used in this section—
    • (1) the term "WTO member country" has the same meaning as the term is defined in section 104(b)(2); and
    • (2) the term "UPOV Contracting Party" means a member of the International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants.
-----------------------------

Ron

2019年12月5日 星期四

泡泡密度的揭露與進步性 - 歐洲訴願T 0999/17

本案例可用來探討歐洲訴願中討論的進步性與揭露議題。

案件資訊(T 0999/17):
歐洲專利申請號:06791423.4(對應美國專利:US7875761
歐洲專利公開號:EP1931289
訴願決定日:10.9.2019(歐洲格式)

相關法律:
EPC Art 56(進步性)

EPC Art 100(b)(可據以實施性)

本案為一個無效異議的判決,上訴歐洲訴願委員會的議題為發明是否具有進步性以及說明書揭露是否滿足可據以實施的規定。

系爭案名稱為邊角的泡泡(BEVELLED FOAM),這是傷口壓力繃帶的改良技術,提出一種凝膠中「斜邊泡沫敷料(foam dressing with a bevelled edge)」,因為邊角泡沫的密度高於中央部分,會造成傷口部分滲出凝膠阻塞,此發明提出一種不黏的泡沫敷料,具有不透水的襯層,此傷口敷料可應用在使用繃帶治療靜脈潰瘍,可以減少使用痕跡。




系爭案技術特徵關於泡泡敷料(dressing)的特性,就在Claim 1的最後一句話:


上述Claim 1中界定「中央泡泡的密度」大於100公斤/立方米,附屬項除了密度外,還界定出泡泡的範圍尺度,異議者主張沒有界定上限,或是無法讓人理解其所佔據的體積,這樣是否不滿足揭露規定?

專利權人在訴願階段(口審階段)提出主要請求(main request)以及多個次要請求(auxiliary request),主要請求維持上述範圍,次要請求有不同的修正。

次要請求A-1,進一步界定出泡沫敷料的密度上限("小於400公斤/立方米")。

次要請求A-2,界定泡沫敷料直接接觸傷口的特徵("the foam dressing has a wound-contacting surface for providing direct contact between said foam dressing and a wound.")。

次要請求A-3,界定泡沫的化學特性("the foam is a hydrophilic polyether based polyurethane")。

次要請求A-4,提出更細節泡沫的特性:


進步性:

對於「進步性」議題,在訴願理由中,先釐清要解決的問題,很重要的爭點之一是「先前技術(closest prior art)的技術目的教示系爭案要解決問題?」

"During the oral proceedings before the board, the appellant defined the problem underlying the patent-in-suit as to provide alternative foam dressings that address the problem of leakage and excess pressure."

歐洲訴願委員會認為最接近先前技術(document 19)有描述到滲出的問題,認為系爭案發明對於相關領域的技術人員而言為顯而亦見地提出如系爭案發明的解決方案,使得判斷依據document 19,系爭案Claim 1不具進步性。

也就是說,由於先前技術也解決滲出問題,若發明僅是「改變了泡泡密度」算是簡單的,使得系爭案Claim 1(main request)並不具備「進步性」

經查其他次要請求A1-A3,都是討論泡沫的特性,同樣也認為不具進步性。

這裡有個話題是「convergence」,好像可以翻為收斂,也可以翻為「一致性」,就是當訴願人提起新的request時,會看看與先前request是否一致,或說是否有收斂議題,如果沒有,就會否決新的request。

關於之後提出的次要請求A4,原本審查意見是不同意這個「沒有一致/收斂議題」的次要請求A-4,但是訴願人撤回了其他次要請求(包括刪除多項的請求項),使得訴願委員認為沒有理由不接受這個A-4。

一旦「收斂」後(訴願人自己限縮議題、撤銷一些請求、刪除一些專利範圍),訴願委員欣然接受這個新的次要請求

最後,訴願決定認為最接近先前技術documents 19, 13等並沒有讓系爭案次要請求A-4為顯而易見,該請求的專利範圍具有進步性。

可據以實施性:

關於可據以實施的議題(Sufficiency of disclosure),異議人主張相關領域技術人員很困難地判斷出泡沫的體積,包括其密度的計算,使得無法據以實施該發明。

然而,對此主張,訴願委員認為,有關「Sufficiency of disclosure」,如EPC Art 84("The claims shall define the matter for which protection is sought. They shall be clear and concise and be supported by the description."),並不是法定異議理由,也就是異議人不能以此理由(EPC Art. 84)無效已經獲准的專利,且異議人也沒有證明系爭發明是不明確而讓相關領域技術人員無法據以實施。

關於異議人主張「泡沫密度是否可以被量測?」因為泡沫是會被破壞的,密度是動態的。

訴願委員的判斷是,「量測泡沫的密度」這個動作僅需要在製作過程中,而系爭案發明介定的是「特性」,在適當的參數下可以製作出特定密度的泡沫,這個判斷使得訴願否決了異議人提出的質疑(這...算頗為睿智的判斷)。

因此,根據以上判斷,訴願決定否決異議人提出的無法據以實施的理由


訴願決定:https://www.epo.org/law-practice/case-law-appeals/pdf/t170999eu1.pdf(備份:https://app.box.com/s/u4mezncgkms8d3b4zojnintxhwrud74a

my two cents:
從一篇訴願案可以學到一些訴願中的規定與判斷/決策邏輯。



Ron