外观设计专利判断中引入设计空间要素的思考

Reflection on Introduction of Design Space Element in Determination of Design Patent

对于外观设计专利的设计空间，在《专利法》、《专利法实施细则》、《专利审查指南》中均没有作出规定。然而在实践中，产品设计空间已经成为外观设计专利的专利性判断中的考量因素之一。目前在外观设计专利审查和相关司法实践中，引入设计空间要秦分析和确定外观设计专利中对整体视觉效果具有显着影响的创新性设计内容（即创新点），从而确定外观设计的专利性，已经是较为常见的做法。本文介绍了国外关於外观设计专利设计空间的立法十青况，对我国外观设计专利制度中引入设计空间要素的可行性进行了分析，并以制度构建的方式，提出了设计空间的确定方式、影响因素、基本理念，以及设计空间与专利性判断规则的啣接。

As regards the issue of design space in the design patent system, the Patent Law, the Implementing Regulations of the Patent Law and the Guidelines for Patent Examination do not set forth any provisions. In practice, however, product design space has become one of the factors considered in the assessment of the patentability of designs. To date, in the examination of, and in the relevant judicial practice in relation to, the design patent, intro- ducing design space elements in analysing and determining the content （namely innova- tive point） of an innovative design that has significant impact on the overall visual effect of a design patent to find patentability of designs has now been a relatively common practice. The article will be presenting an overview of foreign legislation on design space of design patent, analysing the feasibility to incorporate design space element in the design patent system in China to develop a mode for determining design space, influencing factors and basic concepts of design space and harmonisation of design space with the rules for de- termining patentability.