歐洲單一專利制度於 2023 年 6 月 1 日開始實施，這被歐洲專利局視為「自 50 年前簽署歐洲專利公約以來歐洲專利領域最重大的發展」。在本文中，我們將回顧讀者需要了解的有關歐洲單一專利，也就是上述的單一專利制度中的兩個重要組成部分之一，的所有信息。

 

• 什麼是單一專利制度？

「制度」一詞通常是指一組相互關聯的，並作為一個整體共同運作以達到特定目的事物。單一專利制度也是如此，其由單一專利和統一專利法院兩大塊組成，共同運作，為專利權人提供歐洲層面統一的專利保護和專利糾紛裁決機制。

 

• 什麼是單一專利？

簡單地說，單一專利是一項歐洲專利，應專利權人的請求，在所有加入在建立單一專利保護領域的加強合作並批准統一專利法院協議的歐盟成員國[1]中生效。這種「單一效力」本質上意味著專利所附的權利及其任何例外或限制在所有上述參與國中都是相同的。

 

• 如何獲得單一專利？

專利申請人需要牢記的是:並非所有歐洲專利都可以成為單一專利。事實上，只有「就所有參與在建立單一專利保護領域的加強合作的（...）歐盟成員國被授予同一套權利要求」[2]的歐洲專利才能獲得單一效力。因此，必須在專利申請中指定所有上述成員國，總共 25 個，包括因尚未批准統一專利法院協議的成員國，在這些成員國，專利不能取得單一效力。

 

 

另一件要注意的事情是，滿足上述要求的任何歐洲專利都不會自動授予單一效力，其只是有資格被申請註冊成為單一專利。轉換必須由專利權人在歐洲專利公報中公告專利授權的提及之後的一個月內提出請求。該「單一效力請求」必須以專利申請程序的語言以書面形式提出，並且必須包含專利說明書的翻譯[3]。可以在線、傳真、郵寄或親自提交。

 

在單一效力請求得到處理並且歐洲專利賦予單一效力後，註冊證書將交付給專利權人。

 

• 請求單一效力要多少錢？

請求單一效力完全免費。因進行單一專利保護管理業務而所產生的額外成本和開支預計將由每年支付的維持費，以及申請人在歐洲專利授權前、專利申請階段支付的所有費用支付。

 

• 有什麼好處？

一般來說，對於那些希望通過單一專利申請在歐洲多個國家（但僅限於參與國家境內）的專利保護中受益的人來說，單一專利是一種具有成本效益的選擇。

 

然而，歸根結底，很難絕對性地討論單一專利的好處。事實上，申請符合前述資格要求的歐洲專利並提出單一效力請求的決定是一個具有高度戰略性的決定，為了做出此決定，需要考慮其他備選專利申請途徑和申請人的具體情況。特別是，申請人應衡量擁有在統一專利法院的專屬管轄權下專利的影響。這將是我們關注單一專利制度的系列文章中下一篇文章的主題。

 

參考資料:

1. 歐洲專利局，Europe embarks on a new era of patent protection，2023年5月26日, 2023年6月7日訪問，https://www.epo.org/news-events/news/2023/20230526a.ht ml;
2. 2012 年 12 月 17 日第 1257/2012號歐洲議會和理事會條例，旨在於建立單一專利保護領域實施加強合作;

2012 年 12 月 17 日第 1260/2012 號理事會條例，旨在於建立單一專利保護領域實施加強合作，涉及適用的翻譯安排方面。

 

Unitary Patent 101: What you need to know.

 

The unitary patent system came into operation on June 1, 2023, an event regarded by the European Patent Office as “the most significant development in the European patent landscape since the signing of the European Patent Convention 50 years ago.” In this article, we will review everything our readers need to know about the unitary patent, one of two essential cogs in this new unitary patent system.

 

2. What is the unitary patent system?

The term “system” typically refers to a set of connected things that operate together as a whole toward a particular purpose. The same goes for the unitary patent system, which consists of two blocks, the unitary patent and the unified patent court, operating together to provide patent owners with uniform patent protection and unified patent dispute adjudication mechanisms at the European level.

 

3. What is a unitary patent?

Simply put, a unitary patent is a European patent which is given effect, at the patent owner’s request, in all European Members States having joined the enhanced cooperation in the area of the creation of unitary patent protection and ratified the Agreement on a Unified Patent Court[4]. This “unitary effect” means essentially that the rights attached to the patent, as well as any exceptions or limitations thereto, are the same in all such participating states.

 

4. How to obtain a unitary patent?

Applicants need to bear in mind that not all European patents can become unitary patents. As a matter of fact, only European patents “granted with the same set of claims in respect of all (...) Member States which participate in enhanced cooperation in the area of the creation of unitary patent protection”[5] can be given a unitary effect. Accordingly, all such Member States, twenty-five in total including those which have not ratified the Agreement on a Unified Patent Court and thus where unitary effect cannot be achieved, must be designated in the patent application.

 

The other thing to keep in mind is that any European patent meeting the above requirements will not automatically be conferred a unitary effect. It will simply be eligible for registration as a unitary patent. The conversion must be requested by the patent owner within one month of the publication of the mention of the grant in the European Patent Bulletin. This “request for unitary effect” must be made in writing and in the language of the patent application proceedings, and must contain a translation of the patent specification[6]. It can be filed online, by fax, by post or in person.

 

After the request is processed and the European patent conferred a unitary effect, a certificate of registration will be delivered to the patent owner.

 

5. How much does it cost?

        The request for unitary effect is entirely free of charge. The extra costs and expenses generated by the administration of the unitary patent protection are expected to be covered by the renewal fees, payable annually, and all the fees paid by applicants at the European patent application stage, prior to the grant.

 

6. What are the benefits?

        Generally speaking, the unitary patent is a cost-effective option for those who are looking to benefit from patent protection in multiple countries across Europe (but limited to the territory of the participating states) through a single patent application.

 

Ultimately, however, it is difficult to discuss the benefits of the unitary patent in absolute terms. As a matter of fact, the decision to apply for a European patent meeting the abovementioned eligibility requirements and file a request for unitary effect is a highly strategic one, which needs to be taken in consideration of the other alternative routes for application and the applicant’s situation. In particular, applicants should measure the implications of owning a patent under the exclusive jurisdiction of the unified patent court. This will be the topic of our next article in this series of articles focusing on the unitary patent system. 

 

Reference Materials: References:

1. European Patent Office, “Europe embarks on a new era of patent protection,” May 26, 2023, accessed June 7, 2023, https://www.epo.org/news-events/news/2023/2 0230526a.html;
2. Regulation (EU) No 1257/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2012 implementing enhanced cooperation in the area of the creation of unitary patent protection;
3. Council Regulation (EU) No 1260/2012 of 17 December 2012 implementing enhanced cooperation in the area of the creation of unitary patent protection with regard to the applicable translation arrangements.

 

 

by 黃愷蜜 顧問