专利无效宣告程序中的“依职权审查”
On the Scope of Conducting Examinations Ex Officio in China’s Patent Invalidation Procedure
Abstract
专利权无效宣告程序中的“依职权审查”的范围在实践中发生了争议,争议的起因是理论上对于专利权无效宣告程序的性质、目的、功能和原则的理解偏差。专利权无效宣告程序是专利审查程序的“补漏”机制,仍然是专利审查行为的组成部分。在法律适用中,对于审查目的和“公共领域”、“审查效率”的考虑优先于“形式中立性”,但是不以损害当事人的程序机会为前提。 The Scope of conducting examinations ex officio in patent invalidation procedure is diputed.The causes todispute are different explanation to the nature,purpose,funtion and principles of patent invalidation procedure.ConductingExaminations Ex Officio as part of patent invalidation procedure is"trapping"mechanism.In the application of law,theconsideration to the purpose of examination,the"public domain"and the efficiency is precedence over"formal neutrality",butthe order selection is based on the ensuring the client's procedure opportunities.