美國專利法名詞解釋(一)
眾律國際法律事務所 專利工程師 劉淑貞
2014-09-19

一、 前言：
解釋美國專利法的一些法律規定的專有名詞。
二、 先申請原則：
美國專利法第100條定義並規定了美國專利的「發明人先申請」原則：「35 U.S.C. 100 (note) AIA First inventor to file provisions.
The first inventor to file provisions of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (AIA) apply to any application for patent, and to any patent issuing thereon, that contains or contained at any time—
(A) a claim to a claimed invention that has an effective filing date on or after March 16, 2013 wherein the effective filing date is:
(i) if subparagraph (ii) does not apply, the actual filing date of the patent or the application for the patent containing a claim to the invention; or
(ii) the filing date of the earliest application for which the patent or application is entitled, as to such invention, to a right of priority under section 119, 365(a), or 365(b) or to the benefit of an earlier filing date under section 120 , 121, or 365(c); or
(B) a specific reference under section 120 , 121, or 365(c) of title 35, United States Code, to any patent or application that contains or contained at any time such a claim. 」
美國發明法案(AIA)第100條「發明人先申請」條款：「梨亥-史密斯美國發明法案的發明人先申請條款，適用於發明的申請及其專利的授予在任何時候包含或已包含—
(A)一個請求發明的請求項，其有效申請日期在2013年3月16日當天或之後，此有效申請日是：
(i)如果次段落(ii)不適用，包含一個發明的請求項的專利或專利的申請之實際的申請日 或者
(ii)此發明的專利或核准的申請的最早申請日，優先權，根據119、365(a)或365(b)條，或根據120、121或365(c)條較早申請日的利益或
(B)任何專利或申請在任何時候包含或已包含此請求項的特殊的參考，根據美國法典35篇的120、121或365(c)條。」美國從2013年3月16日起，從「先發明原則」改成「先申請原則」。
三、 解釋名詞：
美國專利法第100條定義美國專利法的一些專有名詞：「35 U.S.C. 100 Definitions. When used in this title unless the context otherwise indicates
(a) The term “invention” means invention or discovery.
(b) The term “process” means process, art, or method, and includes a new use of a known process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, or material.
(c) The terms “United States” and “this country” mean the United States of America, its territories and possessions.
(d) The word “patentee” includes not only the patentee to whom the patent was issued but also the successors in title to the patentee.
(e) The term “third-party requester” means a person requesting ex parte reexamination under section 302 who is not the patent owner.
(f) The term "inventor" means the individual or, if a joint invention, the individuals collectively who invented or discovered the subject matter of the invention.
(g) The terms "joint inventor" and "coinventor" mean any 1 of the individuals who invented or discovered the subject matter of a joint invention.
(h) The term "joint research agreement" means a written contract, grant, or cooperative agreement entered into by 2 or more persons or entities for the performance of experimental, developmental, or research work in the field of the claimed invention.
(i) (1) The term "effective filing date" for a claimed invention in a patent or application for patent means—
(A) if subparagraph (B) does not apply, the actual filing date of the patent or the application for the patent containing a claim to the invention; or
(B) the filing date of the earliest application for which the patent or application is entitled, as to such invention, to a right of priority under section 119, 365(a), or 365(b) or to the benefit of an earlier filing date under section 120, 121, or 365(c).
(2) The effective filing date for a claimed invention in an application for reissue or reissued patent shall be determined by deeming the claim to the invention to have been contained in the patent for which reissue was sought.
(j) The term "claimed invention" means the subject matter defined by a claim in a patent or an application for a patent. 」

參考資料:
1. 美國專利法。