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美国专利法第112条第6款对于包含means/step-plus-function特征的权利要求的认定和解释做出了规定,美国行政和司法实践中对于该法条的审查标准和解释在逐步趋向于一致。本文重点区分了means/step-plus-function特征或称纯功能性描述与功能性限定的区别,并从一个具体案例入手,充分诠释了《补充审查指南》中的相关规定。在此基础上提出了一个新的问题,即根据当前美国相关规定认定需要启动第112条第6款审查的纯功能性描述,是否需要进一步区分其是否属于发明核心而选择性启动该法条,从而给与专利权人更合理的保护范围。
Paragraph 6 of Article 112 of the United States Patent Law provides for the determination and interpretation of claims containing the characteristics of means / step-plus-function. The standards and explanations for the examination of this law in administrative and judicial practice in the United States are gradually moving toward Consistent. This article focuses on the distinction between means / step-plus-function features or purely functional descriptions and functional limitations, and starts with a specific case to fully explain the relevant provisions of the Guidelines for Supplementary Review. On this basis, a new issue is raised, that is, whether it is necessary to start further the purely functional description of Article 112, paragraph 6, according to the relevant U.S. regulations and whether it is necessary to further distinguish whether it is the core of the invention or not and selectively activate the law, Thus giving the patentee a more reasonable scope of protection.