人工智能时代专利制度的实践挑战与应对策略

The Practical Challenges and Countermeasures of Patent System in the Era of Artificial Intelligence

人工智能系统日益提高的复杂度、自主决策能力,以及在更广泛领域的应用,已经对现行法律制度和监管体系构成重大挑战。特别是在专利等知识产权领域,从技术方案到创造性审查,从辅助决策到自主发明创造,整个生态系统都面临前所未有的挑战。侧重从实践角度探寻解决人工智能与专利制度冲突的手段和途径,首先,阐述现阶段人工智能专利制度的实践特征;然后,着重从人工智能的技术、应用两个层面梳理、分析和探讨实践中面临的困境与挑战;最后,结合相关专利制度、规则、程序提出针对性的应对策略和建议。

Nowadays with the increasing complexity,the autonomous decision-making abilities and deep applications in a wider range of fields,AI systems have posed significant challenges to the current legal and regulatory systems.Particularly,in the field of intellectual property,the entire ecosystem is facing unprecedented challenges,from technical solutions to the review of inventiveness,and from assisted decision-making to autonomous inventions.In this article,patent systems of artificial intelligence in major countries are sorted out,two characteristics of positive incentive and reverse constraint are summarized.On the one hand,the object of the patent protection is definite and the uniqueness in the internal structure design of the system is pursued.On the other hand,since artificial intelligence system has prominent autonomy,monopoly and invisibility,the public is seriously concerned with a series of risks and issues,such as security,privacy,integrity,dignity,autonomy and data rights.The sound development of AI in a secure and trusted system has become the focus of attention.To this end,the guidance of "justice" is important,and the construction of collaborative governance system and security barrier should be explored to eliminate the potential harms.This study further analyzes the practical challenges of the current patent system from the perspective of technology and application of artificial intelligence.From the technical perspective,the " black box of algorithm" leads to complexity of the novelty,creativity and practicability of patents.To be more specific,the algorithm black box makes it extremely difficult to judge and deduce the technical scheme.Especially when the artificial intelligence system is applied to specific field scenes to perform specific tasks,it is almost impossible to accurately understand all the thinking processes and details of the machine,and even the inventor may be confused about the algorithm;the current algorithm is difficult to ensure fairness in judging the "creativity standard";the high unpredictability in the algorithm decision-making process is likely to lead to the lack of repeatability and practicality of the invention,which may hinder the application and progress of technology.Model defects leads to the defects in applicability and robustness of the patent technology solutions.The data crisis brings the problems in openness,transparency,interpretability and traceability.From the perspective of application,the identification and supervision of the products of artificial intelligence,the impacts of inventors of artificial intelligence,the monopoly of patent technologies and markets,and the security and credibility of technology have all posed great challenges to the current patent system.The study focuses on the practice of patent system,and puts forward four suggestions according to the above challenges.First,the patent disclosure rules of architecture system of algorithm,objective function and data should be improved to promote the innovation,application and flow of artificial intelligence technology.Second,the top-level design should be improved,and the relevant patent application process and review means should be optimized,thus meeting the urgent needs of innovation protection.Third,the identification system of artificial intelligence products should be established to provide basic guarantee for effective identification and management.Fourth,the linkage role of the patent systems should come into play to help build long-term risk prevention and control mechanisms dominated by technical regulation and legal control.By analyzing the impacts and challenges of the patent system in the era of artificial intelligence,this paper puts forward specific suggestions on the optimization and improvement of the patent system related to artificial intelligence in China.With the continuous optimization and improvement of the intellectual property system represented by patents,the deep integration of artificial intelligence technology and industry will be promoted,and the high-quality development of the whole society will be boosted.