美国专利权用尽原则的最新发展及其启示

The Latest Development and Enlightenment of American Doctrine of Patent Exhaustion

专利权用尽原则是美国司法判例的产物,是对专利权人所享有专利权效力的一种限制。司法实践中,美国联邦最高法院对售后限制条款能否限制专利权用尽以及专利权能否国际用尽在不同时期持有不同态度,折射出专利权用尽原则背后的政策性考量。2017年5月30日,美国联邦最高法院对Lexmark International v.Impression Products一案作出判决,重新界定了专利权用尽原则,明确专利权用尽包括国内和国际两个层面,反对将售后限制应用于专利侵权诉讼。这对我国专利权用尽原则的完善与适用具有重要的借鉴意义。

The doctrine of patent exhaustion is a product of American judicial precedent, and it＇s a limitation to the patent right. In the judicial practice, the Federal Supreme Court of the United States, on whether the post-sale restrictions can limit the exhaustion of patent right and patent right exhaustion worldwide, holds different attitudes in different periods, and it reflects the policy considerations behind the doctrine of patent exhaustion. On May 30-（th） 2017, the U.S. Federal Supreme Court ruled on the Lexmark International vs. Impression Products case, redefined the doctrine of patent exhaustion, clarified that the patent exhaustion contains both the domestic and international; against the use of post-sale restrictions to patent infringement litigation. This is great significance to the perfection and application of our country＇s doctrine of patent exhaustion.