基于语境主义的专利权利要求解释

Patent Claim Construction based on Contextualism

语境主义是哲学上的一种认识论,它强调动作、说话或表达所发生的语境的作用,认为只有结合语境才能理解动作、说话或表达。专利权利要求是一种语言文本,对专利权利要求的理解或解释,同样应当遵守语境主义的认识论。专利权利要求的语境主要由专利文件、专利审查历史档案及同族专利文件等构成。权利要求的语境主要有两个方面的作用,一为限定权利要求中语词的含义,二为排除权利要求中语词的歧义。根据语境主义认识论,权利要求的解释不应当限定时机,但是,专利授权、无效及侵权程序中,语境的限定作用应当有所不同。

Contextualism is a epistemology which emphasizes the role of the context in which an action, utterance, or expression occurs, and argues that the action, utterance, or expression can only be understood relative to the context. Patent claims are expressed in a certain text of language, and therefore, claim construction or interpretation should also follow the methodology of views of contextualism. The context of patent claims may include the patent file, prosecution history, patent family file, etc. The context of claims may play two roles： first, defining the meaning of a claim term; and second, excluding the ambiguity of a claim term. According to the methodology of contextualism, claim construction should not be based on timing, but the limitation of the context should differ in patent prosecution, invalidation, and infringement proceedings.