美國於2012年正式實施美國發明法(Leahy-Smith America Invents Act,AIA),新增領證後複審程序,其中包括「多方複審程序」(inter partes review,簡稱IPR),也就是指專利核發9個月後,可向美國專利商標局提出申請,質疑該專利請求項之有效性,並由專利商標局內組成的專利審理暨訴願委員會進行審理。在多方複審程序中,對請求項之解釋,採取的是最大合理解釋標準。
美國於2012年正式實施美國發明法(Leahy-Smith America Invents Act,AIA),新增領證後複審程序,取代了舊有的再審查程序(Reexamination)。其中,領證後複審程序,包括了多方複審程序。所謂「多方複審程序」,乃指專利核發9個月後,可向美國專利商標局(以下簡稱專利商標局)提出申請,質疑該專利請求項之有效性,並由專利商標局內組成的專利審理暨訴願委員會進行審理。
專利商標局啟動程序後,由專利審理暨訴願委員會(以下簡稱審理委員會)審理,最後決定中指出,在請求項10的「integrally attached」的解釋,是系爭專利請求項是否有效的關鍵。而審理委員會採取最大合理解釋標準(broadest reasonable interpretation standard),將「integrally attached」這個詞,解釋為「分散的部分整合為一個元件,但每一個部分又不喪失其獨立個體」(discrete parts physically joined together as a unit without each part losing its own separate identity)。最後,審理委員會認為,結合Aumayer專利、Evans專利和Wendt專利等三件專利,或結合Tegethoff專利、Awada專利、Evans專利和Wendt專利等四件專利,可使請求項10、14和17顯而易見(註4)。.
本案中,請求項10包含下述限制:車速計完整地附加於該彩色顯示器上(a speedometer integrally attached to said colored display)。Cuozzo主張,審理委員會對「完整地附加」一詞的解釋,並不適當。審理委員會將「完整地附加」解釋為「物理上分離的部分,連結在一起成為一單元,但二者仍不失其獨自分離的個體。」(discrete parts physically joined together as a unit without each part losing its own separate identity)。
但Cuozzo主張,正確的解釋應該是更廣泛,包括「連結或者合併,作為一個完整的單元而作用」(joined or combined to work as a complete unit)。亦即,Cuozzo認為,其應該包含計速器和速限指示在同一個液晶顯示器上,但審理委員會之解釋,卻不當排除了這種可能性(註24)。
In re Cuozzo Speed Techs., LLC, 778 F.3d 1271, 1274 (Fed. Cir. 2015).
In re Cuozzo, 778 F.3d at 1275.
Id. at 1275.
Id. at 1275.
Id. at 1276.
Id. at 1276.
35 U.S.C. § 312(a)(3)(“(3) the petition identifies, in writing and with particularity, each claim challenged, the grounds on which the challenge to each claim is based, and the evidence that supports the grounds for the challenge to each claim, including—”).
35 U.S.C. § 314(a)(“(a) Threshold.— The Director may not authorize an inter partes review to be instituted unless the Director determines that the information presented in the petition filed under section 311 and any response filed under section 313 shows that there is a reasonable likelihood that the petitioner would prevail with respect to at least 1 of the claims challenged in the petition.”).
35 U.S.C. § 314(d)(“(d) No Appeal.— The determination by the Director whether to institute an inter partes review under this section shall be final and nonappealable.”).
Id. at 1276-77.
35 U.S.C. § 318(a)(“(a) Final Written Decision.— If an inter partes review is instituted and not dismissed under this chapter, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board shall issue a final written decision with respect to the patentability of any patent claim challenged by the petitioner and any new claim added under section 316 (d).”).
Id. at 1278.
Id. at 1279-80.
Id. at 1280.
Id. at 1280.
35 U.S.C. § 316(d)(1)(“(d) Amendment of the Patent.—(1) In general.— During an inter partes review instituted under this chapter, the patent owner may file 1 motion to amend the patent in 1 or more of the following ways:(A) Cancel any challenged patent claim. (B) For each challenged claim, propose a reasonable number of substitute claims.”).
35 U.S.C. § 316(d)(3)(“(3) Scope of claims.— An amendment under this subsection may not enlarge the scope of the claims of the patent or introduce new matter.”).
37 C.F.R. § 42.221(a).
37 C.F.R. § 42.221(a)(2).
35 U.S.C. § 316(a)(2)(“(2) setting forth the standards for the showing of sufficient grounds to institute a review under section 314 (a);”).
35 U.S.C.§ 316(a)(4)(“(4) establishing and governing inter partes review under this chapter and the relationship of such review to other proceedings under this title;”).