文档介绍：计算机软件法律保护 Legal Protection puter Software 课件(3c)
主讲人:贺炯 办公室:崇法楼416室 电话:67790083 电子邮件:******@ecupl.
三、计算机程序发明的可专利性在欧洲的发展
欧盟内部存在着多元化的专利体系,目前有多种体系并存:既有《欧洲专利公约(EPC)》体系,也有欧盟各成员国自己的专利制度。按照EPC规定,由欧洲专利局(EPO)授予的专利在成员国授权后具有与指定国专利同样的效力,同时与该国专利一样要满足该国专利条件的要求。EPO授予专利后,有9个月的异议期,在异议期内,各国可根据本国的法律审查权利要求,要求对其进行修改或无效。在专利纠纷的解释时仍然由各国的司法机关独立负责。因此,不同体系彼此独立,又相互影响和渗透,共同构成了欧洲专利制度的总体。
(一)EPC的早期探索
1973年10月,欧洲共同体各国签署了《欧洲专利公约》,于1977年10月开始生效。
(1) European patents shall be granted for any inventions, in all fields of technology, provided that they are new, involve an inventive step and are susceptible of industrial application.
(2) The following in particular shall not be regarded as inventions within the meaning of paragraph 1:
(a) discoveries, scientific theories and mathematical methods;
(b) aesthetic creations;
(c) schemes, rules and methods for performing mental acts, playing games or doing business, and programs puters;
(d) presentations of information.
(3) Paragraph 2 shall exclude the patentability of the subject-matter or activities referred to therein only to the extent to which a European patent application or European patent relates to such subject-matter or activities as such. (Article 52, EPC)
EPC第52条用这种递进的形式表明本条所指的不授予专利权的计算机程序仅仅指没有任何技术效果的抽象的概念和单纯的智力规则。
(二)欧洲专利局审查指南的进一步探索
欧洲专利局(EPO)于1978年6月颁布《欧洲专利局审查指南(EPO Guidelines)》。
指南指出:发明要用技术手段解决技术问题同时产生技术效果。(A further technical effect going beyond these normal physical effects, it is not excluded from patentability. )
 Programs puters
…… if puter program is capable of bringing about, when running on puter, a further technical effect going beyond these normal physical effects, it is not excluded from patentability. This further technical effect may be known in the prior art. A further technical effect which lends technical character to puter program may be found . in the control of an industrial process or in processing data which represent physical entities or in the internal functioning of puter itself or its interfaces un