AI相關之專利審查實務

by | 11 月 1, 2023

背景

  • 在2022年06月所舉辦會議中，五大專利局承諾推動NET/AI專案 “蒐集五大專利局中與AI相關專利之現行審查實務資料、及其網站中所公告資料”。
  • 本專案目的在於，藉由提供五大專利局對於AI相關專利之審查實務概況，協助申請人掌握申請AI相關專利時所需注意的要點，進一步能於多個國家中順利取得專利權。
  • 本專案範疇為彙整五大專利局之相關法條及資訊，包含了各專利局之審查章節、審查基準、案例等與AI相關專利於各專利局審查時所適用的重點資訊。

蒐集現行資料結果

  • 作為一主導腳色，日本專利局寄出關於此專案之問卷，並已獲得其他專利局回覆。
  • 為避免資訊過時，提供網站資料連結與以下資訊。使用者可以於日後透過網站連結擷取最新資訊。
  • 五大專利局之完整回覆，如附件。
  • 五大專利局之回覆摘要列表，於下一頁呈現。

免責聲明：

所提供數據資料旨在強調五大專利局與AI專利相關之審查實務，但其內容於各種形式上皆不必然被視為或推斷為具有法律效力。五大專利局並不擔保其所提供之資料於某特定用途之完整、精確及適用性。

EPO JPO KIPO CNIPO USPTO
Q1. 請提供最新專利法之網站連結

The European Patent Convention

[English] [German] [French]

Patent Act

[English] [Japanese]

Patent Act

[English] [Korean]

Patent Law of the People’s  Republic of China [Chinese]

Rules for the Implementation of  the Patent Law of the People’s  Republic of China

[English] [Chinese]

 United States Code Title 35 –  Patents [English]

Q2.貴局對於AI相關之專利的審查標準及相關適用法規等材料有哪些?

[特點:]
材料特別說明AI相關專利之審查實務及標準
材料說明軟體相關專利之審查實務及標準，包含與AI相關者
材料說明所有技術領域之審查實務及標準
其他

Guidelines for examination in the  European Patent Office (2022)  [English] [German] [French]  [Feature: 1, 2, 3]

Section G-II, 3.3.1 of the  Guidelines for examination in the  European Patent Office (2022)  [English] [German] [French]  [Feature: 1]

Index for Computer-Implemented  Inventions containing links to  sections of Guidelines relating  particularly to CIIs

[English] [German] [French]  [Feature: 1, 2, 3]

Case Law of the Boards of  Appeal of the European Patent  Office, 10th Edition, July 2022  [English] [German] [French]  [Feature: 1, 2, 3, 4]

Opinion G 3/08 of the Enlarged  Board of Appeal dealing with the  patentability of computer programs  [English] [German] [French]  [Feature: 2]

Decision G 1/19 of the Enlarged  Board of Appeal on computer-  implemented simulations  [English] [German] [French]  [Feature: 2]

Examination Guidelines for  Patent and Utility Model in Japan  [English] [Feature: 3]

Examination Handbook for Patent  and Utility Model, Annex B,  Chapter 1, Computer software  related Inventions

[English] [Feature: 2]

Outline of the Examination  Guidelines for Patent and Utility  Model

[English] [Feature: 3]

Newly Added Case Examples for  AI-related Technologies  [English] [Feature: 1]

Examination Guidelines in  Manga: AI/IoT Edition  [English] [Feature: 2]

Points of Revision of the  Examination Guidelines and  Examination Handbook for  Computer Software-Related  Inventions

[English] [Feature: 2]

Examination Guidelines pertinent  to IoT related technologies  [English] [Feature: 2]

Case Examples pertinent to AI-  related technologies

[English] [Feature: 1]

Case examples pertinent to IoT  related technology, etc.  [English] [Feature: 2]

Explanation of Examination  Guidelines and Examination  Handbook for Computer  Software-Related Inventions  [Japanese] [Feature: 2]

Examination practice guide by  technology field

[Korean] [Feature: 1, 2]

Patent Examination Guideline  [English] [Korean] [Feature: 3]

Guidelines for Patent  Examination (2010)

[Chinese] [Feature: 3]

The Order of Amending  Guidelines for Patent  Examination (No.74)  [Chinese] [Feature: 2]

The Announcement of Amending  Guidelines for Patent  Examination (No.343)

[Chinese] [Feature: 1]

Manual of Patent Examining  Procedure

[English] [Feature: 3]

Chapter 2106, 2161-2166, 2181-

2186 of Manual of Patent  Examining Procedure  [English] [Feature: 2]

AI-related patent resources  [English] [Feature: 1]

AI Policy Report  [English] [Feature: 2, 3]

Q3.貴局是否與其他專利局合作對於AI相關之專利的審查實務及標準進行比較研析?

[特點:]

1.比較研析聚焦於AI相關專利之審查實務及標準

2..比較研析聚焦於軟體相關專利之審查實務及標準，包含與AI相關者

[EPO & KIPO]

Comparative study on computer-  implemented inventions/software-  related inventions (2021)

[English] [Feature: 2]

[EPO & JPO]

Comparative study on computer-  implemented inventions/software-  related inventions (2021)

[English] [Feature: 2]

[EPO & CNIPA]

Comparative study on computer-  implemented inventions/software-  related inventions (2019)

[English] [Feature: 2]

[JPO & EPO]

Comparative Study on Computer  Implemented Inventions/Software  related Inventions

[English] [Japanese] [Feature: 2]

[Five IP Offices]  International Symposium on

Patent Examination Practices on  AI-related Inventions

[English] [Japanese] [Feature: 1]

[EPO, JPO & USPTO]

Report on Comparative Study  Carried Out Under Trilateral  Project 24.2

[English] [Feature: 2]

[EPO & KIPO]

Comparative study on computer-  implemented inventions/software  related inventions

[English] [Korean] [Feature: 2]

[EPO & CNIPA]

Comparative study on computer  implemented inventions/software  related inventions

[Chinese] [English] [Feature: 2]

 N/A
Q4. 關於專利適格性之法規規定?

Art. 52 EPC

[English] [German] [French]

Main Paragraph of Article 29(1)  of Patent Act

[English] [Japanese]

Article 2, Article 29(1) and Article  32 of Patent Act

[English] [Korean]

 Article 2, Article 5 and Article 25  of Patent Law of PRC.  [Chinese]

35 U.S.C. 101

[English]
Q5. 若有評估AI相關專利之專利適格性的審查指南或其他資料，請列出

Guidelines for Examination in the

European Patent Office (2022)

[Index for Computer-  Implemented Inventions]

[G-I] [G-II, 1 ] [G-II, 2]

[G-II, 3.3] [G-II, 3.3.1] [G-II, 3.3.2]

[G-II, 3.5] [G-II, 3.6] [G-II, 3.7]

Examination Handbook for Patent

and Utility Model, Annex B  [Chapter 1, Section 2.1]

Examination practice guide by  technology field

[Pages 1301~1310, 7301~7306]

The Announcement of Amending

Guidelines for Patent  Examination (No.343)  [Section 6.1.1 and 6.1.2.]

Manual of Patent Examining  Procedure

[2106 Patent Subject Matter Eligibility]

The Subject Matter Eligibility  webpage [Link]
Q6. 若評估AI或軟體相關專利之專利適格性的審查指南或其他資料中，有列舉可被接受、不可被接受之專利主體、或專利範圍撰寫形式者，請列出

Guidelines for Examination in the  European Patent Office (2022)  [G-II, 3.3] [G-II, 3.3.1]

[G-II 3.3.2] [G-II, 3.5.1]

[G-II, 3.5.2] [G-II, 3.5.3]

[G-II 3.6] [G-II 3.6.1]

[G-II 3.6.2] [G-II 3.6.3]

[G-II 3.6.4] [G-II 3.7]

[G-II 3.7.1] [G-VII, 5.4]

[G-VII, 5.4.1] [G-VII, 5.4.2]

[F-IV, 3.9] [F-IV, 3.9.1]

[F-IV, 3.9.2] [F-IV, 3.9.3]

Case Law of the Boards of  Appeal of the European Patent  Office, 10th Edition, July 2022  [I.A.2.2.2] [I.A.2.4]

[I.A.2.5] [I.A.2.6]

 Examination Handbook for Patent  and Utility Model, Annex B  [Chapter 1, Section 2.1.2]

Examination practice guide by  technology field

[Pages 1205~1211, 1301~1310,  6203~6204, 7301~7306, 55~76]

The Announcement of Amending  Guidelines for Patent  Examination (No.343)

[Section 6.2, Exmaple 1~6]

The Order of Amending  Guidelines for Patent  Examination (No.74)  [Section 2, 3, 4]

Guidelines for Patent  Examination (2010), Part 2  [Chapter 9, Section 2]  [Chapter 9, Section 3]  [Chapter 9, Section 5.2]

Manual of Patent Examining  Procedure

[2106.03 Eligibility Step 1: The  Four Categories of Statutory  Subject Matter]

The Subject Matter Eligibility  webpage [Link]

Q7. 為了能理解如何評估AI相關專利之專利適格性，若有任何相關案例，請提供

[結論:]

1.符合專利適格性的案例

2.不符合專利適格性的案例

Decision T 1173/97 of the Boards  of Appeal [Link] [Summary: 1]

Decision T 1820/16 of Technical  Board of Appeal [Link] [Summary: 2]

Hypothetical example of applying  the COMVIK approach (GL G-  VII, 5.4.2.5) [Link] [Summary: 1]

Examination Handbook for Patent  and Utility Model, Annex B

[Case 2-13] [Summary: 1]  [Case 2-14] [Summary: 1]

Examination Handbook for Patent  and Utility Model, Annex A

[Case 3-2] [Summary: 1, 2]

Examination practice guide by  technology field

[Pages 1301~1310, 7301~7306]

[Summary: 1, 2]

The Announcement of Amending  Guidelines for Patent Examination  (No.343), Section 6.2

[Example 2,3,4] [Summary: 1]  [Example 1,5,6] [Summary: 2]

The Subject Matter Eligibility  webpage

[Example 36] [Summary: 1, 2]  [Example 39] [Summary: 1]

Q8. 專利中法中對於說明書規定的相關法條?

  1. 明確性

2.支持性要求或說明書撰寫規定

[3]. 可據以實施性或揭露充分性

1Art. 84 EPC

[English] [German] [French]

2Art. 84 EPC

[English] [German] [French]

3Art. 83 EPC

[English] [German] [French]

1Article 36(6)(ii)  [English] [Japanese]

2Article 36(6)(i)  [English] [Japanese]

3Article 36(4)(i)  [English] [Japanese]

[1] Article 42(4)2  [English] [Korean]

[2] Article 42(3)2, 42(4)1

[English] [Korean]

[3] Article 42(3)1  [English] [Korean]

1Paragraph 3 of Article 26  [Chinese]

2Paragraph 4 of Article 26  [Chinese]

3Paragraph 3 of Article 26  [Chinese]

[1] 35 U.S.C. 112(b)

[English]

[2] 35 U.S.C. 112(a)

[English]

[3] 35 U.S.C. 112(a)

[English]
Q9. 若有評估AI相關專利之明確性的審查指南或其他資料，請列出

Guidelines for Examination in the  European Patent Office (2022)  [F-IV] [F-IV, 3.9] [F-IV, 3.9.1]

[F-IV, 3.9.2] [F-IV, 3.9.3]

 Examination Handbook for Patent  and Utility Model, Annex B  [[Chapter 1, Section 1.2.1]

Examination practice guide by  technology field

[Pages 1205~1211, 6203~6204,  7206~7208, 7402~7407]

Guidelines for Patent  Examination (2010), Part 2  [Chapter 2, Section 2.1.1]  [Chapter 9, Section 5.1]

The Announcement of Amending  Guidelines for Patent  Examination (No.343)

[Section 6.3.1 and 6.3.2]

Manual of Patent Examining  Procedure

[2171 Two Separate  Requirements for Claims]
Q10. 若有評估AI相關專利之支持性要求或說明書撰寫規定的審查指南或其他資料，請列出 Guidelines for Examination in the  European Patent Office (2022)  [F-IV, 6] [F-II, 4.12]

Examination Handbook for Patent  and Utility Model, Annex A

[Case 49] [Case 50] [Case 51]

Newly Added Case Examples for  AI-related Technologies

[Page 10]

Examination practice guide by  technology field

[Pages 1204~1205]

Guidelines for Patent  Examination (2010), Part 2  [Chapter 2, Section 3.2.1]  [Chapter 9, Section 5.1~5.2 ]

The Order of Amending  Guidelines for Patent  Examination (No.74)  [Part 4 of the amendment]

Manual of Patent Examining  Procedure

[2163 “Written Description”  Requirement ]
Q11.若有評估AI相關專利之可據以實施性或揭露充分性的審查指南或其他資料，請列出 Guidelines for Examination in the  European Patent Office (2022)  [F-III, 1, par. 4] Examination Handbook for Patent  and Utility Model, Annex B  [Chapter 1, Section 1.1.1 ]

Examination practice guide by  technology field

[Pages 1201~1204, 6201~6203,  7201~7206, 7401~7402]

Guidelines for Patent  Examination (2010), Part 2  [Chapter 2, Section 2.1.3]  [Chapter 9, Section 5.1~5.2]

The Order of Amending  Guidelines for Patent  Examination (No.74)  [Part 4 of the amendment]

Manual of Patent Examining  Procedure

[2164 The Enablement  Requirement]
Q12:若有可評估利用AI技術結合人為發展出的產品相關專利之支持性要求/ 說明書撰寫規定、或可據以實施性/ 揭露充分性的審查指南或其他資料，請列出 Guidelines for Examination in the  European Patent Office (2022)  [F-IV, 4.12] [F-III, 4] [F-III, 12]

Examination Handbook for Patent  and Utility Model, Annex A

[Case 51]

Examination practice guide by  technology field

[Pages 1201~1205, 3402~3403,  3502~3511]

 N/A Examination Guidance and  Training Materials | USPTO

Q13. 為了能理解如何評估AI相關專利之說明書撰寫規定，若有任何相關案例，請提供

[結論:]

1.符合明確性的案例

2.不符合明確性的案例

3.符合可據以實施性

  /揭露充分性的案例

  1. 不符合可據以實施性

  /揭露充分性的案例

  1. 符合支持性要求

  /說明書撰寫的案例

  1. 不符合支持性要求

  /說明書撰寫的案例

Decision T 410/96 of the Boards  of Appeal [Link] [Summary: 1]

Decision T 2140/08 of the Boards  of Appeal [Link] [Summary: 2]

Decision T 161/18 of the Boards  of Appeal [Link] [Summary: 4]

Decision T 2574/16 of the Boards  of Appeal [Link] [Summary: 1,3]

Decision T 637/03 of the Boards  of Appeal [Link] [Summary: 6]

Examination Handbook for Patent  and Utility Model, Annex A

[Case 46] [Summary: 4]

[Case 47] [Summary: 3]  [Case 48] [Summary: 3]  [Case 49] [Summary: 3,4,5,6]

[Case 50] [Summary: 3,4,5,6]  [Case 51] [Summary: 4,6]

Examination practice guide by  technology field

[Chapter 1, Case 1 (Pages  1403~1407)] [Summary: 4,6]

[Chapter 6, Case 1~7 (Pages  6401~6419)] [Summary: 3,4]

[Chapter 7, Case 2 (Pages  7504~7506)] [Summary: 4]

 N/A N/A
Q14. 專利中法中對於新穎性規定的相關法條?

Art. 54 EPC

[English] [German] [French]

 Article 29(1)  [English] [Japanese] Article 29(1)  [English] [Korean] Paragraph 2 of Article 22  [Chinese]

35 U.S.C. 102

[English]
Q15. 若有可評估AI相關專利之新穎性的審查指南或其他資料，請列出

Guidelines for Examination in the  European Patent Office (2022)  [G-VI]

Case Law of the Boards of  Appeal of the European Patent  Office, 10th Edition, July 2022  [I.C.1-5]

 Examination Handbook for Patent  and Utility Model, Annex B  [Chapter 1, Section 2.2.2]

Examination practice guide by  technology field

[Pages 1311~1324]

Guidelines for Patent  Examination (2010), Part 2  [Chapter 3, Section 3]

The Announcement of Amending  Guidelines for Patent  Examination (No.343)

[Section 6.1.3]

Manual of Patent Examining  Procedure

[2120 Rejection on Prior Art]  [2131 Anticipation – Application  of 35 U.S.C. 102]

Q16. 為了能理解如何評估AI相關專利之新穎性規定，若有任何相關案例，請提供

[結論:]

1.符合新穎性規定的案例

  1. 因新穎性被駁回的案例
 Decision T 2440/12 of the Boards  of Appeal [Link] [Summary: 2] N/A N/A N/A N/A
Q17. 專利中法中對於進步性規定的相關法條?

Art. 56 EPC

[English] [German] [French]

 Article 29(2)  [English] [Japanese] Article 29(2)  [English] [Korean] Paragraph 3 of Article 22  [Chinese]

35 U.S.C. 103

[English]
Q18. 若有可評估AI相關專利之進步性的審查指南或其他資料，請列出

Guidelines for Examination in the  European Patent Office

[G-VII, 5.4] [G-VII, 5.4.1]

[G-VII, 5.4.2]

Case Law of the Boards of  Appeal of the European Patent  Office, 10th Edition, July 2022  [I.D.9.1] [I.D.9.2]

Examination Handbook for Patent

and Utility Model, Annex B  [Chapter 1, Section 2.2.3]

Examination practice guide by  technology field

[Pages 1311~1324, 6301~6302,  7306~7316]

Guidelines for Patent

Examination (2010), Part 2  [Chapter 4, Section 3]

The Announcement of Amending  Guidelines for Patent  Examination (No.343)

[Section 6.1.3]

Manual of Patent Examining  Procedure

[2141 Examination Guidelines for  Determining Obviousness]

Q19. 為了能理解如何評估AI相關專利之進步性規定，若有任何相關案例，請提供

[結論:]

1.符合進步性規定的案例

  1. 因進步性被駁回的案例

3.其他

Decision T 1286/09 of  the Boards of Appeal

[Link] [Summary: 1]

Decision G 1/19 of the Enlarged  Board of Appeal

[Link] [Summary: 3]

EPO-JPO Comparative study on  computer-implemented  inventions/software-related  inventions (2021)

[Case C-8] [Summary: 2]

Examination Handbook for Patent  and Utility Model, Annex A

[Case 31] [Summary: 2]  [Case 32] [Summary: 2]  [Case 33] [Summary: 2]  [Case 34] [Summary: 1, 2]  [Case 35] [Summary: 2]  [Case 36] [Summary: 1]

Examination Handbook for Patent  and Utility Model, Annex B,  Chapter 1, Section 2.2.3.3  [Example 1] [Summary: 2]  [Example 2] [Summary: 2]  [Example 4] [Summary: 1]  [Example 5] [Summary: 1]

Examination practice guide by  technology field

[Chapter 1, Case 2~5 (Pages  1407~1432)]

[Summary: 1, 2]

[Chapter 6, Case 8~18 (Pages  6420~6444)]

[Summary: 1, 2]

[Chapter 7, Case 3, 5, 6 (Pages  7507~7510, 7515~7522)]

[Summary: 1, 2]

The Announcement of Amending  Guidelines for Patent  Examination (No.343)

[Example 7, 9] [Summary: 1]

[Example 8, 10 8, 10] [Summary: 2]

N/A

總結

  • 五大專利局皆提供關於AI相關專利之專利適格性案例。(請見Q7)
  • EPO, JPO 及 KIPO提供關於AI相關專利說明書規定案例。(請見Q13)
  • EPO提供一關於AI相關專利新穎性規定案例。(請見Q16)
  • EPO, JPO, KIPO及CNIPA提供關於AI相關專利進步性規定案例 (請見Q19)
  • 對於處理AI技術相關專利，EPO, JPO及CNIPA對於AI相關專利的審查，提出了審查指南等資料的相關章節或案例。KIPO則有AI相關技術領域專章的審查基準。USIPO發布了網站資訊蒐集與AI相關專利資訊。(請見Q2)