對外國人申請中國專利中常見程序問題的處理

How to Deal with Procedural Issues Often Encountered by Foreign Applicants for Chinese Patent

在中国对外开放和全球经济一体化的进程中，中国市场对於海外投资者变得越来越具吸引力。为了占据市场上的竞争优势，越来越多的外国企业选择将他们的最新发明在中国申请专利，亚将此作为企业的一项长期的市场策略。据国家知识产权局最近的统计，截至今年8月底，来自国外的专利申请已经达到85，029件，与去年同期相比增幅高达28％。为了帮助外国企业及其律师正确理解中国的《专利法》、《专利法实施细则》以及国家知识产权局的《审查指南》的一些重要规定，了解专利申请过程中的一些实践要求，本文拟就外国人委托中国涉外代理机构代为办理专利申请的过程中，在程序方面应当特别注意的问题，提供个人的意见和建议。

With China＇s opening to the outside world and within the process of global economic integration, the Chinese market increasingly appeals to overseas investors. To achieve their competitive edge in the marketplace, more and more foreign enterprises choose to apply for Chinese patent for their latest inventions as part of their long-term market strategy. According to the State Intellectual Property Office＇s （SlPO＇s） recent statistics, by the end of this August, the number of patent applications filed by foreign applicants had reached 62,594, representing an increase by 31% as compared with that in the same period of the previous year. To help foreign enterprises and their attorneys correctly understand the major provisions of the Chinese Patent Law, the Implementing Regulations of the Patent Law, and the SlPO＇s Guidelines for Examination, and familiarise themselves with the practical requirements in the course of patent application,