馬飛 蔣營(yíng)營(yíng) 王 晗 李宏利
摘 要:為客觀公正的評(píng)判發(fā)明專利的創(chuàng)造性,應(yīng)該準(zhǔn)確認(rèn)定申請(qǐng)事實(shí),基于客觀證據(jù)得出正確的結(jié)論。在創(chuàng)造性“三步法”運(yùn)用中,應(yīng)基于申請(qǐng)文件的記載,準(zhǔn)確全面理解發(fā)明,確定發(fā)明解決的技術(shù)問(wèn)題,采取的關(guān)鍵技術(shù)手段為某些技術(shù)特征的組合,當(dāng)與最接近的現(xiàn)有技術(shù)比較時(shí),功能上彼此支持、存在相互作用關(guān)系的技術(shù)特征都應(yīng)將其作為一個(gè)整體考慮。對(duì)于區(qū)別技術(shù)特征,應(yīng)當(dāng)將其放在要求保護(hù)的技術(shù)方案整體中客觀判斷能夠起到的作用,將其作為重新確定要解決的技術(shù)問(wèn)題。認(rèn)定公知常識(shí)應(yīng)從為解決某個(gè)技術(shù)問(wèn)題而采取某種技術(shù)手段的角度來(lái)考慮。本文選擇兩個(gè)案例,從正反兩個(gè)方面探討區(qū)別技術(shù)特征的認(rèn)定和公知常識(shí)正確使用。
關(guān)鍵詞:三步法;區(qū)別技術(shù)特征;公知常識(shí)
中圖分類號(hào):D923.42 ? ?文獻(xiàn)標(biāo)識(shí)碼:A ? ?文章編號(hào):1003-5168(2021)21-0138-04
A research about the Relationship between the Accuracy Recognition of Distinguishing Feature and the Correct Usage of Common General Knowledge
MA Fei? ? JIANG Yingying? ? WANG Han? ? LI Hongli
(Patent Examination Cooperation (Henan) Center of the Patent Office, CNIPA, Zhengzhou Henan 450000)
Abstract: For judging the creativity of patent application justly and objectively, the factor of application should be recognized accuracy, the conclusion should be correctly based on objective evidence. Among the usage of "three step" judgment method of creativity, we should understand the application accuracy upon the application document and find the problem to be solved and the key technical means used. When the key technical means is the combination of some technical feature or supported with each other on the function or interaction with each other compared with the closest prior art, the key technical means should be considered as a whole. For distinguishing feature, the actual effect in the technical proposal should reconsidered based on the technical proposal as a whole. The confirming of common general knowledge should considered based on the technical problem and the technical means adopted. This paper, the accuracy recognition of Distinguishing technical feature and the correct usage of common general knowledge have discussed with two casings.
Keywords: the "three step" method; distinguishing technical feature; common general knowledge
1 引言
專利審查是依據(jù)《專利法》進(jìn)行行政審批的過(guò)程,這要求審查員必須以證據(jù)為支撐形成客觀公正的審查結(jié)論。
創(chuàng)造性的“三步法”判斷中,會(huì)找到要求保護(hù)的發(fā)明的權(quán)利要求與最接近的現(xiàn)有技術(shù)存在的區(qū)別技術(shù)特征,對(duì)于這些區(qū)別技術(shù)特征,或多或少都會(huì)遇到公知常識(shí)的使用。但是,專利審查指南中并沒(méi)有公知常識(shí)的準(zhǔn)確概念,僅為列舉性的,即屬于本領(lǐng)域中解決重新確定的技術(shù)問(wèn)題的慣用手段,或教科書(shū)、工具書(shū)中披露的,可以解決該重新確定的技術(shù)問(wèn)題的技術(shù)手段。為規(guī)范公知常識(shí)的使用,在審查意見(jiàn)通知書(shū)中引用的本領(lǐng)域的公知常識(shí)應(yīng)當(dāng)是確鑿的,同時(shí),如果將權(quán)利要求中對(duì)技術(shù)問(wèn)題的解決做出貢獻(xiàn)的技術(shù)特征認(rèn)定為公知常識(shí)時(shí),通常應(yīng)當(dāng)提供證據(jù)予以證明[1]。
2 區(qū)別技術(shù)特征的認(rèn)定與公知常識(shí)正確使用
在公知常識(shí)的判斷中涉及區(qū)別技術(shù)特征的準(zhǔn)確認(rèn)定,而區(qū)別特征的認(rèn)定要建立在正確理解發(fā)明、確定發(fā)明構(gòu)思之上。對(duì)于發(fā)明構(gòu)思,其為解決發(fā)明的技術(shù)問(wèn)題而采用的關(guān)鍵技術(shù)手段,如果關(guān)鍵技術(shù)手段為某些特征的組合,在創(chuàng)造性的評(píng)判過(guò)程中,審查員應(yīng)將這些特征的組合作為一個(gè)整體看待,不能割裂這些技術(shù)特征。同時(shí),對(duì)于功能上彼此相互支持、存在相互作用關(guān)系的技術(shù)特征,應(yīng)當(dāng)將其作為一個(gè)整體看待[2]。
在公知常識(shí)的判斷中涉及重新確定發(fā)明實(shí)際解決的技術(shù)問(wèn)題。應(yīng)當(dāng)按照區(qū)別技術(shù)特征在要求保護(hù)的發(fā)明中整體所能達(dá)到的技術(shù)效果確定發(fā)明實(shí)際解決的技術(shù)問(wèn)題。同時(shí),本領(lǐng)域技術(shù)人員從申請(qǐng)說(shuō)明書(shū)中所記載的內(nèi)容得到的發(fā)明取得的任何技術(shù)效果,都可以作為確定發(fā)明實(shí)際解決的技術(shù)問(wèn)題的基礎(chǔ)。判斷區(qū)別技術(shù)特征是否為公知常識(shí),應(yīng)當(dāng)基于該部分特征在發(fā)明整體中能夠起到的作用和能夠解決的技術(shù)問(wèn)題,而不是區(qū)別技術(shù)特征本身的作用。在認(rèn)定區(qū)別技術(shù)特征屬于公知常識(shí)時(shí),應(yīng)當(dāng)充分檢索,盡量提供證據(jù)予以支持,避免影響創(chuàng)造性判斷的準(zhǔn)確性。