2009年9月29日 星期二

專利品質管理辦法

專利局雖然只是個政府部門,而且很小,但畢竟是服務全世界所有的發明人,甚至會影響成千上萬人的生計,所以責任不容小覷!「品質」應該一種信任的指標,如果沒有品質,也會失去對審理出來的專利沒有信心!

面對國際化,印度專利局提出品質保障:


QMS的實施架構


但這並非是稀奇的事,美國專利局同樣也提出相對的品質管理方案:


台灣更是,也是頗冗長,希望執行也是這麼徹底!


Ron

印度核子科技相關專利法規定


Indo-U.S. Civil Nuclear 123 Agreement是印度、美國雙邊的民間核子科技交流協議,印度同意將民用與軍事用提的核子科技分別,用途是規範一些較敏感的設備的購買與設計,主要是同意美國可以輸入「民用核子科技」進入印度
此協議帶動了國外的投資行為,自然也與原子能可否專利的專利權保護相關
根據1962年印度專利法第20條第1項規定,原子能並不可以專利
Section 20 (1) Atomic Energy Act, 1962:-
As from the commencement of this Act, no patents shall be granted for inventions which in the opinion of the Central Government are useful for or relate to the production, control, use or disposal of atomic energy or the prospecting, mining, extraction, production, physical and chemical treatment, fabrication, enrichment, canning or use of any prescribed substance or radioactive substance or the ensuring of safety in atomic energy operations.

根據目前印度專利法,是否發明與原子能相關,則由中央政府決定,而且不能上訴,更限制印度國民在未經同意前在國外提出有關國防安全的原子能相關發明的申請

以上規定,讓印度國內目前並未有原子能相關的專利保護,所以即使有協議開放的腳步,卻同時也影響國外公司的專利保護與投資的意願,所以修法勢必需要

台灣則同樣有相關的國防安全考量的規定:
根據中華民國專利法第三十六條,若發明涉及國防機密或其他國家安全之機密者,則不予公開
另有規定:
第五十條
發明經審查有影響國家安全之虞,應將其說明書移請國防部或國家安全相關機關諮詢意見,認有秘密之必要者,其發明不予公告,申請書件予以封存,不供閱覽,並作成審定書送達申請人、代理人及發明人。
申請人、代理人及發明人對於前項之發明應予保密,違反者,該專利申請權視為拋棄。
保密期間,自審定書送達申請人之日起為期一年,並得續行延展保密期間每次一年,期間屆滿前一個月,專利專責機關應諮詢國防部或國家安全相關機關,無保密之必要者,應即公告。
就保密期間申請人所受之損失,政府應給與相當之補償。

但是否因此也影響台灣原子能的發展,這要另有檢討了!

Ron
資料來源:
Vaish Associates Advocates
http://www.patentoffice.nic.in/

2009年9月22日 星期二

符合專利法第101條的標準 - 流程

USPTO過渡期間評斷符合專利法第101條的標準

針對判斷流程是否符合美國專利第101條的標準,可參考下圖:


主要判斷原則以最寬合理的解釋(broadest reasonable interpretation (BRI))來判斷是否符合M-or-T test:
流程是否連結於特定機器或是裝置?或是轉換特定東西至另一狀態或是事物上?
只要符合其一即符合101規定的法定標的
(1) be tied to a particular machine or apparatus, or
(2) particularly transform a particular article to a different state or thing.

但另有補述,所謂的特定機器與轉換則應為有意義的限制,避免無意義而只是要迴避規定的描述
[原文]
Two corollaries: the particular machine or transformation must involve:
Meaningful limits
– More than insignificant “extra-solution” activity

文件中有舉例:
此為不符規定的範圍
Claim 4. A method of evaluating search results, comprising:
– sorting the results into groups based on a first characteristic;
– ranking the results based on a second characteristic; and
– comparing the ranked results to a predetermined list of desired results to evaluate the success of the search.
權利範圍包括排序與比對來評估檢索結果,因為沒有連結任何硬體,亦無執行任何轉換,被認定為不符101的規定

此為符合規定的範圍
Claim 5. A method of evaluating search results, comprising:
– sorting the results into groups based on a first characteristic;
– ranking the results based on a second characteristic; and
– comparing, using a microprocessor, the ranked results to a predetermined list of desired results to evaluate the success of the search.
權利範圍先是根據特性排序,在進行比分、比對,其中應用到microprocessor,且被視為有意義的限制,故被視為是連結到有意義的硬體,為可專利的法定標的

此為不符規定的範圍
Claim 6. A method of evaluating search results, comprising:
– obtaining the search results by electronically downloading the results from a database;
– sorting the results into groups based on a first characteristic;
– ranking the results based on a second characteristic; and
– comparing the ranked results to a predetermined list of desired results to
evaluate the success of the search.
範圍中有提到資料庫,表示應具有連結電腦系統的硬體連結,然而,對於整體技術而言,連結資料庫擷取資料並未產生有意義的限制,其他又未產生任何轉換,故被認定為不符101之規定

Ron

2009年9月21日 星期一

符合專利法第101條的標準

USPTO公佈過渡期間評斷符合專利法第101條的標準
(interim examination instructions for evaluating subject matter eligibility under 35 U.S.C. 101)


提出有兩步驟測試:
step 1:
是否專利範圍直指「process」、「machine」、「manufacture」、「composition of matter」之一?
如果不是其中之一,則不符101之規定,比如本身僅為短暫訊號,或是關乎人本身,或是商號本身、或是一連串指令(如遊戲、純軟體)

step 2:
若非下列例外,符合step 1即為符合101之規定,例外有:
抽象意念(abstract idea)
自然律(law of nature)
自然現象(natural phenomena)
心智程序(mental processes)
數學演算(mathematical algorithms)
科學原理(scientific principles)
若以上述例外情事的實際應用,則為法定可核准的發明

其中有關上述分析流程(產品product),可參考以下:

幾個判斷步驟有:
是否為「process」、「machine」、「manufacture」、「composition of matter」之一?
是否為上述各項法定例外之一?
是否為真實世界可實施的應用?

Ron

2009年9月18日 星期五

EYE OS


EyeOS是個虛擬電腦
可至http://eyeos.org/ 下載,再安裝在一個有apache, php的伺服器上


安裝在伺服器上,透過網頁可以執行一個桌面環境
對一般使用者來說可能還不需要,但是對於只有瀏覽器,或是需要一些簡單文書處理、網路活動來說,還不賴!
其中有關網路的軟體有FTP, 簡單的瀏覽器, Email, RSS reader
文書有類似Word, Excel, Outlook的軟體,用來也是十分不錯
其他還有一些類似附屬應用程式的小工具與遊戲


但是,雖然有這些,Google所提的強大免費服務已經讓這些看似頗炫的虛擬環境變得比較不實用!

Ron

2009年9月15日 星期二

新加坡專利

新加坡專利

新加坡專利局(IPOS)網站的設計風格頗活潑(http://www.ipos.gov.sg/

新加坡專利為first to file制度

專利法規定,發明可透過「審查」登記核准專利(Patent),同樣也有商標(trademark)與設計(design)專利,另有植物專利(plant)
另有不必登記的著作權(copyright)、地理標示(geographical indications)、積體電路布局(layout designs)與商業機密(trade secret)

針對專利案,新加坡政府對其居民有很嚴格的限制,新加坡專利法規定,新加坡居民在其國外申請案之前,可在新加坡登記核准專利,而且新加坡應為第一申請國,在申請日後兩個月內,若無其他禁止令,或是公開的限制,則可於國外提出申請。(目前為止,以後不一定會像中國修法後開放限制)

要在新加坡獲准專利,除了要提出專利申請案外,其中亦規定要有完整的發明揭露內容,可專利的發明案應提出解決特定問題的技術手段,包括新方法(new method)、新產品的組成(composition of new product)、或其改善(improvement on how certain objects work)

核准後,同樣有舉發無效制度可使其無效

一個核准專利應具有新(new)、進步(inventive step)與產業可利用(industrial application)


其中有關「新」的規定:
新穎性規定,申請前(可主張優先權)發明不能以任何形式(包括文字、口語、商業應用、媒體文章、廣告、展示)被公開在世界任何地方
一旦得到申請日,發明可宣稱「patent pending」(專利申請中),之後可公開,合格的申請案將會於申請日後18個月早期公開,專利公報亦會按月公佈。
http://www.epatents.gov.sg/Journal/

關於「進步」的規定:
發明應需對任何已知的產品或是流程提出改善,而其改善應為對於相關技術人員為「非顯而易知(non-obvious)」,否則不能獲准專利

關於「產業可利用」的規定:
發明應為可實施,在產業上有實質達成的結果

專利法另提出法定不可專利的事由:
人類或是動物的外科手術與治療方法、破壞社會善良風俗

IPOS的檢索工具包括:
ePatents (www.epatents.gov.sg)
SurfIP (www.surfip.gov.sg)

Ron

新加坡專利檢索工具

新加坡專利檢索工具


IPOS的檢索工具包括:
ePatents (http://www.epatents.gov.sg) (updated on May 6, 2016, 本頁已經找不到,試改為:http://www.ipos.gov.sg/Services/FilingandRegistration/GettingStartedwitheServices/eSearch.aspx)
適用之後,意外地好用!它提供了一個不錯用又簡單的介面,可以檢索新加坡、加拿大、中國、台灣、歐洲、英國、日本、泰國、PCT、美國、韓國等國



SurfIP (www.surfip.gov.sg)


Ron

2009年9月12日 星期六

Cyber Clean


這個東西我有
買下它,也是他宣稱有「全球專利」,加上似乎還算實用
所謂全球專利,大概是不太可能,但也應涵蓋了一些主要國家吧!
從EPO檢索結果,看到相關申請案有:
US 7541325
WO 02055642
EP 1373449

這個專利並無圖示,顯然就是化學案
範圍經過幾次修正限縮:


這是WIPO審查報告:

Ron

2009年9月11日 星期五

目的外之補正

日本「目的外之補正」

「補正」其實就是一般所說的「修正」
在收到核駁理由,或是補正通知時,申請人可以斟酌提出補正,然而,補正除了不能產生新事物(new matter)以外,更不能是「目的外補正」

如日本專利法第17-2條第4項第1-4號所列舉之任一規定的目的,若補正所新增的目的並非此處所規定,則稱為「目的外補正」

對於說明書、權利範圍與圖示的修正,日本專利法第17之2條說明如下:
Article 17-2 (Amendment of Description, Claim or Drawing attached to the application)
  1. 申請人可在審查委員做出核准決定前,提出修改說明書內容與權利範圍,並圖示,此時修正時機有:
    (i)當申請人接獲第一次拒絕通知時,可以依據專利法第50條提出補正
    (ii)當申請人收到相關前案通知時,可以在限定時間提出補正
    (iii)當申請人接獲最終審定通知,可提出補正
    (iv)當申請人提出訴願以對抗審查委員審查理由時,30日內可提出補正
  2. 對外文翻譯成日文的錯誤補正
  3. 以上說明書、權利範圍、圖式的補正,應仍被原送件說明書所支持
  4. 補正的部份應仍符合單一性要求
  5. 權利範圍的補正應限制為以下目的:
    (i)在各權利範圍為同一發明的原則下,刪除權利範圍
    (ii)權利範圍限縮
    (iii)錯誤更正
    (iv)根據拒絕審定而明確模糊的描述
  6. 根據專利法第126條(5),適當(mutatis mutandis)修正後核准的範圍應與原提出申請案一致
Ron

Google Books

Google Books

最近處理一件引用書籍資料的核駁理由
在無法拿到那本書時,在Google Books果然看到那本書的蹤影
而且可以得到全文與引用段落,感覺十分受用

反過來說,因為出版品本身也會有準確的公開日期,同樣具有證據能力
Google Books又提供一個方便利用的平台,在學習技術、檢索,甚至可以作為審查委員引證依據的可能愈來愈大

這裡舉個例子,當要找尋ZigBee技術時,只要簡單鍵入關鍵字
一下子,很多書都馬上出現,比在圖書館一本一本翻還好
還會把關鍵字Highlight起來




Ron

2009年9月10日 星期四

兩個月拿到美國專利!

經驗是,美國專利很合理地在一個時間內會得到第一次審查意見
甚至審查委員會很有善地表達對專利的意見,而非無理,當然有些確實會有誤判的情形,但還不至於沒法處理

經過USPTO內部對審查程序的檢討,甚至對Patent Term的調整補償都有嚴格的要求,上述「合理」時間常是一年半至兩年左右,甚至常會收到早期公開前已發出審查意見的案子

以下這個例子,是透過Accelerated Examination Request(加速審查)的程序,讓一個專利案從申請日(01/31/2009)到收到核准通知(Notice of Allowance)(3/31/2009)僅歷時兩個月整,雖然後面領證繳費花了一點時間,但是以最快速度來考慮,這件超快!


當然,要加速,就要有充分的準備
包括申請人須提出"Examination Support Document",以這件為例,IBM提出42頁的自我審查報告,提出檢索前案與意見,包括近40頁的權利範圍比對(Claim Chart),這些都要充分達到審查委員認可,否則此加速審理的程序也會被撤回


USPTO也會對此Petition做出是否符合規定的決定(decision of petition)

一旦符合要求,就會很快獲得正面的回應!

(申請號:12/024,004)
Ron

美國專利法第2條--權利與義務

35 U.S.C. 2
Powers and dutie
美國專利法第2條--權利與義務

(a)IN GENERAL.— The United States Patent and Trademark Office, subject to the policy direction of the Secretary of Commerce—
(1)shall be responsible for the granting and issuing of patents and the registration of trademarks; and
(2)shall be responsible for disseminating to the public information with respect to patents and trademarks.

(a) USPTO的職掌是負責專利核准與發證,商標註冊,並公諸於大眾

其他重點有:

USPTO掌管負責專利商標業務的人,包括專利代理人、律師等,甚至包括這些人的道德與聲望,以提供好的服務,並協助後續爭議
USPTO具有立法的權利,或是經過商業部獻策,當然這些需要經過國會同意
負責與外國專利局、各跨國組織間交流與合作

Ron
ps.這些只是筆記

2009年9月9日 星期三

美國專利法第1條--創立

35 U.S.C. 1 Establishment.
美國專利法第1條--創立

(a)ESTABLISHMENT.— The United States Patent and Trademark Office is established as an agency of the United States, within the Department of Commerce. In carrying out its functions, the United States Patent and Trademark Office shall be subject to the policy direction of the Secretary of Commerce, but otherwise shall retain responsibility for decisions regarding the management and administration of its operations and shall exercise independent control of its budget allocations and expenditures, personnel decisions and processes, procurements, and other administrative and management functions in accordance with this title and applicable provisions of law. Those operations designed to grant and issue patents and those operations which are designed to facilitate the registration of trademarks shall be treated as separate operating units within the Office.

USPTO下屬於美國商業部,其運作是分開由不同的單位執行專利核准與發證、商標登記等業務

(b)OFFICES.— The United States Patent and Trademark Office shall maintain its principal office in the metropolitan Washington, D.C., area, for the service
of process and papers and for the purpose of carrying out its functions. The United States Patent and Trademark Office shall be deemed, for purposes of venue in civil actions, to be a resident of the district in which its principal office is located, except where jurisdiction is otherwise provided by law. The United States Patent and Trademark Office may establish satellite offices in such other places in the United States as it considers necessary and appropriate in the conduct of its business.

這裡規定USPTO應該坐落於華盛頓特區,且可以設置分部

(c)REFERENCE.— For purposes of this title, the United States Patent and Trademark Office shall also be referred to as the “Office” and the “Patent and Trademark Office”.

註:因為怕翻譯不好,還是避免好了,只是說明這個USPTO的立法起源
Ron

專利專有名詞解釋

專利專有名詞解釋
這個網站對每個名詞有些概略的解釋
對初學者有點幫助
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/help/item/Term-of-Patent.html



Ron

低電壓伺服器?


最近家中的伺服器掛了
原因找尋中, 從CPU(還有同事支援舊的Cpu), 主機板...到被入侵(確實曾經有過), 目前判斷是天氣太熱電源掛了
...
24小時開機, 整年下來也是要花一些錢, 就看看EeeBox這種低電壓的電腦可否
網路上一些人的使用狀況還好, 就買了沒有掛OS的版本, 自己架上linux

首先找上了我最熟悉的Fedora, 目前到11版, 我前次使用竟然是6版, 這段時間大家辛苦了!#!%
網站上很友善地一下子就找到最新版的Live CD
http://fedoraproject.org/


在還未直接安裝完整版以前, 試試看
用外接光碟開機, 確實慢, 但是值得等待, 這也是一種伺服器的方案
而且網站有問題, 馬上從開機就又恢復了
只是一些設定值需要先寫在硬碟或是這台可用的記憶卡中

可參考一下, EeeBox的能耐還要時間證明
Ron

2009年9月4日 星期五

About Claims XXIV - product-by-process

Product-by-Process Claims

此類寫法是透過流程描述一個物品或元件
特別可用在利用特定方法完成的物品的寫法
以電阻上所被覆的碳為例,即可寫為被覆的碳透過分解碳氫化合物的氣體沈澱於核心上
(a coating of carbon deposited on the core by decomposition of a hydrocarbon gas in the presence of the core)

實務上,可以在獨立項用一般方式描述各元件,而再於附屬項以product-by-process描述特定元件

透過product by process的描述,可以把不是新的元件,寫成利用特別的步驟形成的元件,即具有新穎性了
但針對進步性的判斷,則應該還是視最終產物(final product)是否具有進步性,此時,用何步驟已經不是重點!也就是步驟具有專利性,並不代表最終產物具有專利性,除非此步驟會影響此裝置的特性,則可能因為此步驟具有專利性,而使得整個發明具有專利性!
Patentability of a product-by-process claim is based on the product itself and does not depend on its method of production.

然而,在侵權的角度,Product-by-Process的權利範圍中,其中記載描述特定元件的步驟皆會被作為侵權判斷的範圍

有個範例,提到LED晶圓的製作:
A wafer for production of an LED prepared by a process comprising the steps of:
(a) providing an n-GaAs single crystalline substrate;
(b) contacting the substrate with a melt comprising GaAs and Si in an amount of from 0.1 to 0.5 wt% at a temperature of from 900 to 950EC;
(c) cooling the melt while maintaining contact with the substrate at a rate of 5E/min to form a Si-doped GaAs epitaxial layer on the substrate comprising a pn junction; and
(d) separating the substrate from the melt.
雖然形式像是流程,但是明顯就是透過流程描述出各部元件,所以專利性仍會考慮最終產物,而非流程步驟


參考資料:Landis on Mechanics of Patent Claim Drafting
http://www.sughrue.com
Ron

About Claims XXIII - article of manufacture

Article of Manufacture Claims

美國專利法第101條所提到的manufacture,與apparatus有所不同

裝置範圍中,各元件應有連接關係,為一個整體的發明
所謂article of manufacture,則可准許一些沒有相互連結的元件形成一個專利範圍 但兩者的區隔確實有一些模糊的地帶

article of manufacture的範圍包括列舉特定物品的各部位,如電阻包括:陶瓷核心、包覆碳,與為導電材料的長條結構在核心的兩端;包括可以means plus function方式撰寫

所謂Article of Manufacture Claims就是將一些並非"硬體"相互連結的元件寫在一起,article of manufacture也可用在電腦軟體上
舉例
US 6,233,573為一電腦軟體案,範圍是用以解決臨時詢問的具有多維的資料庫結構的記憶體
1. One or more computer memories collectively containing a dimensional database data structure for resolving temporal queries, comprising:

a time dimension table whose rows each represent a time and are each uniquely identified by a time key;

a second dimension table whose rows each represent one state of a time-variable attribute of a particular item, each row containing an item identifier for the item, a time-variable attribute value, and a time key identifying a row of the time dimension table representing a time at which the time-variable attribute value is effective for the item; and

a fact table whose rows each contain an item identifier identifying an item to which the row relates, such that a temporal query specifying a condition of the time-variable attribute and effective time may be resolved by using the time dimension table to identify rows of the second dimension table satisfying the condition, generating an intermediate table whose rows each contain an item identifier from an identified row of the second dimension table, and joining the intermediate table and the fact table.

US 5,903,881
1. A computer readable memory storing a computer program executable by a processor, for producing a user interface of an online banking system, the user interface comprising:

a first display area for listing a plurality of transaction instructions in a user selected account to be sent to a financial institution for processing, each transaction instruction including a description, and an amount;

a second display area, visually distinguished from and concurrently displayed with the first display area, for listing a plurality of uncleared transactions in the user selected account that have been sent to a financial institution as transaction instructions for processing, each uncleared transaction including a description and an amount;

an executable process that sends a transaction instruction in the first display area to a financial institution for processing, and removes the transaction instruction from the first display area and displays it in the second display area as an uncleared transaction;

a third display area, visually distinguished from and concurrently displayed with the first and second display areas, for listing a plurality of cleared transactions for the user selected account, each cleared transaction including a description and an amount, each uncleared transaction in the second display area being removed therefrom and listed in the third display area as a cleared transaction at a time subsequent to the transaction being cleared by a financial institution; and

a first account balance for the cleared transactions in the user selected account, and a second account balance for both cleared and uncleared transactions in the user selected account, the first and second account balances updated in response to the transactions present in the second and third display areas, and concurrently displayed with the first, second, and third display areas.

參考資料:USPTO, Landis on Mechanics Patent Claim Drafting
Ron

2009年9月3日 星期四

Soopat.com

曾經介紹Soopat(http://www.soopat.com/)這個網
現在突然認為它在圖案的檢索上超方便
以下是中國設計專利的檢索畫面,查圖十分方便!


Ron

巴黎公約第四條

巴黎公約第四條
Article 4
其中A項至I項為專利、創作(新型)、工業設計、標誌(Patents, Utility Models, Industrial Designs, Marks),其他還包括優先權、分割申請案等的規定,這些規定適用於成為會員(聯合國)的大多數國家,其實算是已經包括全世界,因為如不是會員(比如台灣)要與會員國來往,自然也適用公約

A.
(1) Any person who has duly filed an application for a patent, or for the registration of a utility model, or of an industrial design, or of a trademark, in one of the countries of the Union, or his successor in title, shall enjoy, for the purpose of filing in the other countries, a right of priority during the periods hereinafter fixed.
A項(1)款
任何人(或其繼承人)在聯合國會員國提出專利申請案,或是登記制的新型案,或是工業設計、商標,應享有申請其他國的一定期限的優先權待遇

(2) Any filing that is equivalent to a regular national filing under the domestic legislation of any country of the Union or under bilateral or multilateral treaties concluded between countries of the Union shall be recognized as giving rise to the right of priority.
A項(2)款
根據各會員國國內法,或是相互(雙邊、多邊)間的約定所提出的申請案,申請人應享有優先權的權利

(3) By a regular national filing is meant any filing that is adequate to establish the date on which the application was filed in the country concerned, whatever may be the subsequent fate of the application.
A項(3)款
所謂一般國家的申請是指任何符合獲得申請日要求(各國要求不一)的申請案

B.
Consequently, any subsequent filing in any of the other countries of the Union before the expiration of the periods referred to above shall not be invalidated by reason of any acts accomplished in the interval, in particular, another filing, the publication or exploitation of the invention, the putting on sale of copies of the design, or the use of the mark, and such acts cannot give rise to any third-party right or any right of personal possession. Rights acquired by third parties before the date of the first application that serves as the basis for the right of priority are reserved in accordance with the domestic legislation of each country of the Union
B項
在任何國家(會員國)提出的後續申請案,在優先權優惠期間內完成的發明,不會使該案無效,特別是指其他公開或使用的發明、設計、商標

C.
(1) The periods of priority referred to above shall be twelve months for patents and utility models, and six months for industrial designs and trademarks.
C項(1)款
上述優先權期限,專利、新型為12個月、設計與商標為6個月

(2) These periods shall start from the date of filing of the first application; the day of filing shall not be included in the period.
C項(2)款
上述期限由第一申請案申請日(當日不計)開始計算

(3) If the last day of the period is an official holiday, or a day when the Office is not open for the filing of applications in the country where protection is claimed, the period shall be extended until the first following working day.
C項(3)款
上述期限的最後一天若為官方規定的假日,應順延至下一工作天

(4) A subsequent application concerning the same subject as a previous first application within the meaning of paragraph (2), above, filed in the same country of the Union shall be considered as the first application, of which the filing date shall be the starting point of the period of priority, if, at the time of filing the subsequent application, the said previous application has been withdrawn, abandoned, or refused, without having been laid open to public inspection and without leaving any rights outstanding, and if it has not yet served as a basis for claiming a right of priority. The previous application may not thereafter serve as a basis for claiming a right of priority.
C項(4)款
若第一申請案被撤回、拋棄、拒絕而未有公開,且未被其他案子引用任何權利,如優先權,則此案即不能再為其他申請案的優先權基礎案

D.
(1) Any person desiring to take advantage of the priority of a previous filing shall be required to make a declaration indicating the date of such filing and the country in which it was made. Each country shall determine the latest date on which such declaration must be made.
D項(1)款
任何主張優先權的人應要求宣告其申請日與國別

(2) These particulars shall be mentioned in the publications issued by the competent authority, and in particular in the patents and the specifications relating thereto.
D項(2)款
上述主張優先權的訊息應記載於公開文件上

(3) The countries of the Union may require any person making a declaration of priority to produce a copy of the application (description, drawings, etc.) previously filed. The copy, certified as correct by the authority which received such application, shall not require any authentication, and may in any case be filed, without fee, at any time within three months of the filing of the subsequent application. They may require it to be accompanied by a certificate from the same authority showing the date of filing, and by a translation.
D項(3)款
主張優先權時,應提出相對前案副本(後申請案申請日後三個月內)

(4) No other formalities may be required for the declaration of priority at the time of filing the application. Each country of the Union shall determine the consequences of failure to comply with the formalities prescribed by this Article, but such consequences shall in no case go beyond the loss of the right of priority.
D項(4)款
優先權主張沒有其他拘泥的格式,即使各國有規定,但其後果應不能使其喪失優先權

(5) Subsequently, further proof may be required.
Any person who avails himself of the priority of a previous application shall be required to specify the number of that application; this number shall be published as provided for by paragraph (2), above.
D項(5)款
應明確記載優先權前案數量

E.
(1) Where an industrial design is filed in a country by virtue of a right of priority based on the filing of a utility model, the period of priority shall be the same as that fixed for industrial designs.
E項(1)款
若有工業設計主張專利案的優先權,應以工業設計的期限為主

(2) Furthermore, it is permissible to file a utility model in a country by virtue of a right of priority based on the filing of a patent application, and vice versa.
E項(2)款
專利、新型可相互主張優先權

F.
No country of the Union may refuse a priority or a patent application on the ground that the applicant claims multiple priorities, even if they originate in different countries, or on the ground that an application claiming one or more priorities contains one or more elements that were not included in the application or applications whose priority is claimed, provided that, in both cases, there is unity of invention within the meaning of the law of the country.

With respect to the elements not included in the application or applications whose priority is claimed, the filing of the subsequent application shall give rise to a right of priority under ordinary conditions.
F項
任何會員國不應拒絕複數優先權,包括來自多個不同國家

G.
(1) If the examination reveals that an application for a patent contains more than one invention, the applicant may divide the application into a certain number of divisional applications and preserve as the date of each the date of the initial application and the benefit of the right of priority, if any.
G項(1)款
經審理,若發現一個申請案包括多個發明案,可要求分割申請,並保留原申請日作為其優先權日

(2) The applicant may also, on his own initiative, divide a patent application and preserve as the date of each divisional application the date of the initial application and the benefit of the right of priority, if any. Each country of the Union shall have the right to determine the conditions under which such division shall be authorized.
G項(2)款
申請人亦可自發地提出分割申請案,並請求原案申請日為優先權日

H.
Priority may not be refused on the ground that certain elements of the invention for which priority is claimed do not appear among the claims formulated in the application in the country of origin, provided that the application documents as a whole specifically disclose such elements.
H項
若優先權基礎案未揭露後申請案中的特定權利範圍,可拒絕其優先權主張

I.
(1) Applications for inventors’ certificates filed in a country in which applicants have the right to apply at their own option either for a patent or for an inventor’s certificate shall give rise to the right of priority provided for by this Article, under the same conditions and with the same effects as applications for patents.
I項(1)款
在一國家提出的發明人證書申請案,申請人有權提出專利申請,或是發明人證書的優先權主張

(2) In a country in which applicants have the right to apply at their own option either for a patent or for an inventor’s certificate, an applicant for an inventor’s certificate shall, in accordance with the provisions of this Article relating to patent applications, enjoy a right of priority based on an application for a patent, a utility model, or an inventor’s certificate.
I項(2)款
發明人證書可基於先前發明、新型、或是發明人證書的申請日,主張優先權
此類話題可參考:MPEP 201.13(a) Right of Priority Based Upon an Application for an Inventor's Certificate

Ron

2009年9月1日 星期二

Bluetooth是個商標

IBM, Microsoft大家都知道是註冊商標,並不適合寫在專利範圍

此類規定可參考專利審查基準:
說明書中的計量單位應適當使用國家法定度量衡單位(參照度量衡法)或國際單位制計量單位,必要時得使用該領域公知的其他計量單位。此外,應避免使用註冊商標、商品名稱(trade name)或其他類似文字表示材料或物品;若必須使用時,應註明其型號、規格、性能及製造廠商等,以符合充分揭露而可據以實施之要件。



(wikipedia)

從同事處理的一件專利申請案看到Bluetooth雖然是一種公知的通訊協定,但仍是一個註冊商標,該案審查委員即要求要在文件中加上RTM,成為Bluetooth(RTM)
Bluetooth商標為Bluetooth SIG, Inc.(藍牙特別興趣組(SIG,Special Interest Group))所有雖然這是一個開放(open)的無線通訊協定,但使用上仍需考慮到商標的使用


若在專利文件中要使用此商標(Bluetooth)可參考使用RTM如下:




當然,還有更多是沒有這樣用的,所以,就請參考一下!其他一些業界公認的規格也有這類考量,比如HDMI

Ron