专利法不正当行为原则的功效及正当性研究

A Study on the Efficacy and Legitimacy of the Inequitable Conduct Doctrine of Patent Law

作为一种司法创制原则,美国专利法不正当行为原则在规制不正当专利申请、提升专利申请授权质量方面发挥着积极作用。但对该制度进行本土化的前提是需要充分论证该制度下的信息披露义务以及专利不可执行性的正当性。专利契约论下的对价和正义原则能够对这两方面给予充分证实:专利契约论下的实质对价要求专利申请人的信息披露义务应延伸至专利申请人所知悉的与专利申请的可专利性相关的所有信息;在正义原则之下,专利权人对其通过不正当行为而获取的专利权的主张行为使其不正当行为延伸至司法程序,法院拒绝向其提供司法救济是正义原则的应有之义。

As a judicial doctrine, the US inequitable conduct doctrine plays an active role in regulating improper patent applications and improving the quality of patent applications. However, the premise of localization of this doctrine is to fully demonstrate the legitimacy of the information disclosure obligations and the unenforceability of the patent under the doctrine. The principles of consideration and justice under the patent contract theory can fully demonstrate these two aspects: the substantive consideration under the patent contract theory requires that the patent applicant's information disclosure obligation should extend to the patent applicant's knowledge of all the information related to the patentability of the patent application. And under the principle of justice, the patentee’s claim for patent rights obtained through misconduct is intended to obtain benefits that should not belong to it, and the court’s refusal to provide relief to the patentee is in accordance with the requirements of this principle.