预料不到的技术效果在发明创造性评判中的关联性考量

Relevance Consideration on Unexpected Technical Effects in Inventive Step of Patent

"预料不到的技术效果"并非创造性评判中一个独立的考虑因素,"预料不到的技术效果",其本质上是发明客观上获得的技术效果,在创造性"三步法"的评判中应当作发明客观产生的技术效果予以考虑,将预料不到的技术效果当作发明客观产生的技术效果中的一种因子在"三步法"的使用中予以考量,而不将其独立于"三步法"的判断进行单独考量,符合专利法第二十二条第三款的法律逻辑,这样的评判方式也更为合理和有效。在将预料不到的技术效果纳入"三步法"判断中进行考量时,应将区别技术手段、所应用的技术领域、所解决的技术问题、相应实现的技术效果,这四个方面当做一个有机的整体进行综合化考量,从而得出更为合理的评判结论。

'Unexpected technical effect'is not a separate consideration factor in inventive step of Patent, however it is essentially the objective technical effect obtained by the invention, and should be considered as objective technical effect obtained by the invention in'three-step'determination method. Considering unexpected technical effects as objective technical effect obtained by the invention in'threestep'determination method, rather than separately considering without'three- step'determination method, meets the legal logic of Article 22(3) of the Patent law, and is more reasonable and effective manner of judgment. As unexpected technical effect is considered into'three- step'determination method, four aspects of distinguishing technical means, applied technical field, technical problem to be solved and corresponding technical effect, should be taken into an organic comprehensive consideration to arrive at a more reasonable conclusion in inventive step.