中华人民共和国专利法(修正)(附英文)

【时 效 性】 有效 【颁布日期】 1984-03-12
【颁布单位】 全国人大常委会 【实施日期】 1985-04-01
【法规层次】 法律及有关法律问题的决定 【文  号】
【首选类别】 国家基本法规 【次选类别】
【其它类别】 【其它类别】
【关 键 字】 关于修改<中华人民共和国专利法>的决定

(题注:1984312日第六届全国人民代表大会常务委员会第四次会议通过  根据199294日第七届全国人民代表大会常务委员会第二十七次会议《关于修改<中华人民共和国专利法>的决定》修正)

目录

    第一章 总则

    第二章 授予专利权的条件

    第三章 专利的申请

   第四章 专利申请的审查和批准

    第五章 专利权的期限、终止和无效

    第六章 专利实施的强制许可

    第七章 专利权的保护

    第八章 附则

第一章  总则

    第一条 为了保护发明创造专利权,鼓励发明创造,有利于发明创造的推广应用,促进科学技术的发展,适应社会主义现代化建设的需要,特制定本法。

    第二条 本法所称的发明创造是指发明、实用新型和外观设计。

    第三条 中华人民共和国专利局受理和审查专利申请,对符合本法规定的发明创造授予专利权。

   第四条 申请专利的发明创造涉及国家安全或者重大利益需要保密的,按照国家有关规定办理。

    第五条 对违反国家法律、社会公德或者妨害公共利益的发明创造,不授予专利权。

    第六条 执行本单位的任务或者主要是利用本单位的物质条件所完成的职务发明创造,申请专利的权利属于该单位;非职务发明创造,申请专利的权利属于发明人或者设计人。申请被批准后,全民所有制单位申请的,专利权归该单位持有;集体所有制单位或者个人申请的,专利权归该单位或者个人所有。

    在中国境内的外资企业和中外合资经营企业的工作人员完成的职务发明创造,申请专利的权利属于该企业;非职务发明创造,申请专利的权利属于发明人或者设计人。申请被批准后,专利权归申请的企业或者个人所有。

    专利权的所有人和持有人统称专利权人。

    第七条 对发明人或者设计人的非职务发明创造专利申请,任何单位或者个人不得压制。

    第八条 两个以上单位协作或者一个单位接受其他单位委托的研究、设计任务所完成的发明创造,除另有协议的以外,申请专利的权利属于完成或者共同完成的单位;申请被批准后,专利权归申请的单位所有或者持有。

    第九条 两个以上的申请人分别就同样的发明创造申请专利的,专利权授予最先申请的人。

    第十条 专利申请权和专利权可以转让。

    全民所有制单位转让专利申请权或者专利权的,必须经上级主管机关批准。

    中国单位或者个人向外国人转让专利申请权或者专利权的,必须经国务院有关主管部门批准。

    转让专利申请权或者专利权的,当事人必须订立书面合同,经专利局登记和公告后生效。

    第十一条 发明和实用新型专利权被授予后,除法律另有规定的以外,任何单位或者个人未经专利权人许可,不得为生产经营目的制造、使用、销售其专利产品,或者使用其专利方法以及使用、销售依照该专利方法直接获得的产品。

    外观设计专利权被授予后,任何单位或者个人未经专利权人许可,不得为生产经营目的制造、销售其外观设计专利产品。

    专利权被授予后,除法律另有规定的以外,专利权人有权阻止他人未经专利权人许可,为上两款所述用途进口其专利产品或者进口依照其专利方法直接获得的产品。

    第十二条 任何单位或者个人实施他人专利的,除本法第十四条规定的以外,都必须与专利权人订立书面实施许可合同,向专利权人支付专利使用费。被许可人无权允许合同规定以外的任何单位或者个人实施该专利。

    第十三条 发明专利申请公布后,申请人可以要求实施其发明的单位或者个人支付适当的费用。

    第十四条 国务院有关主管部门和省、自治区、直辖市人民政府根据国家计划,有权决定本系统内或者所管辖的全民所有制单位持有的重要发明创造专利允许指定的单位实施,由实施单位按照国家规定向持有专利权的单位支付使用费。

    中国集体所有制单位和个人的专利,对国家利益或者公共利益具有重大意义,需要推广应用的,由国务院有关主管部门报国务院批准后,参照上款规定办理。

    第十五条 专利权人有权在其专利产品或者该产品的包装上标明专利标记和专利号。

    第十六条 专利权的所有单位或者持有单位应当对职务发明创造的发明人或者设计人给予奖励;发明创造专利实施后,根据其推广应用的范围和取得的经济效益,对发明人或者设计人给予奖励。

    第十七条 发明人或者设计人有在专利文件中写明自己是发明人或者设计人的权利。

    第十八条 在中国没有经常居所或者营业所的外国人、外国企业或者外国其他组织在中国申请专利的,依照其所属国同中国签订的协议或者共同参加的国际条约,或者依照互惠原则,根据本法办理。

    第十九条 在中国没有经常居所或者营业所的外国人、外国企业或者外国其他组织在中国申请专利和办理其他专利事务的,应当委托中华人民共和国国务院指定的专利代理机构办理。

    中国单位或者个人在国内申请专利和办理其他专利事务的,可以委托专利代理机构办理。

    第二十条 中国单位或者个人将其在国内完成的发明创造向外国申请专利的,应当首先向专利局申请专利,并经国务院有关主管部门同意后,委托国务院指定的专利代理机构办理。

    第二十一条 在专利申请公布或者公告前,专利局工作人员及有关人员对其内容负有保密责任。

第二章  授予专利权的条件

    第二十二条 授予专利权的发明和实用新型,应当具备新颖性、创造性和实用性。

    新颖性,是指在申请日以前没有同样的发明或者实用新型在国内外出版物上公开发表过、在国内公开使用过或者以其他方式为公众所知,也没有同样的发明或者实用新型由他人向专利局提出过申请并且记载在申请日以后公布的专利申请文件中。

    创造性,是指同申请日以前已有的技术相比,该发明有突出的实质性特点和显著的进步,该实用新型有实质性特点和进步。

    实用性,是指该发明或者实用新型能够制造或者使用,并且能够产生积极效果。

    第二十三条 授予专利权的外观设计,应当同申请日以前在国内外出版物上公开发表过或者国内公开使用过的外观设计不相同或者不相近似。

    第二十四条 申请专利的发明创造在申请日以前六个月内,有下列情形之一的,不丧失新颖性:

    一、在中国政府主办或者承认的国际展览会上首次展出的;

    二、在规定的学术会议或者技术会议上首次发表的;

    三、他人未经申请人同意而泄露其内容的。

    第二十五条 对下列各项,不授予专利权:

    一、科学发现;

    二、智力活动的规则和方法;

    三、疾病的诊断和治疗方法;

    四、动物和植物品种;

    五、用原子核变换方法获得的物质。

    对上款第四项所列产品的生产方法,可以依照本法规定授予专利权。

第三章  专利的申请

    第二十六条 申请发明或者实用新型专利的,应当提交请求书、说明书及其摘要和权利要求书等文件。

    请求书应当写明发明或者实用新型的名称,发明人或者设计人的姓名,申请人姓名或者名称、地址,以及其他事项。

    说明书应当对发明或者实用新型作出清楚、完整的说明,以所属技术领域的技术人员能够实现为准;必要的时候,应当有附图。摘要应当简要说明发明或者实用新型的技术要点。

    权利要求书应当以说明书为依据,说明要求专利保护的范围。

    第二十七条 申请外观设计专利的,应当提交请求书以及该外观设计的图片或者照片等文件,并且应当写明使用该外观设计的产品及其所属的类别。

    第二十八条 专利局收到专利申请文件之日为申请日。如果申请文件是邮寄的,以寄出的邮戳日为申请日。

    第二十九条 申请人自发明或者实用新型在外国第一次提出专利申请之日起十二个月内,或者自外观设计在外国第一次提出专利申请之日起六个月内,又在中国就相同主题提出专利申请的,依照该外国同中国签订的协议或者共同参加的国际条约,或者依照相互承认优先权的原则,可以享有优先权。

    申请人自发明或者实用新型在中国第一次提出专利申请之日起十二个月内,又向专利局就相同主题提出专利申请的,可以享有优先权。

    第三十条 申请人要求优先权的,应当在申请的时候提出书面声明,并且在三个月内提交第一次提出的专利申请文件的副本;未提出书面声明或者逾期未提交专利申请文件副本的,视为未要求优先权。

   第三十一条 一件发明或者实用新型专利申请应当限于一项发明或者实用新型。属于一个总的发明构思的两项以上的发明或者实用新型,可以作为一件申请提出。

    一件外观设计专利申请应当限于一种产品所使用的一项外观设计。用于同一类别并且成套出售或者使用的产品的两项以上的外观设计,可以作为一件申请提出。

    第三十二条 申请人可以在被授予专利权之前随时撤回其专利申请。

    第三十三条 申请人可以对其专利申请文件进行修改,但是,对发明和实用新型专利申请文件的修改不得超出原说明书和权利要求书记载的范围,对外观设计专利申请文件的修改不得超出原图片或者照片表示的范围。

第四章  专利申请的审查和批准

    第三十四条 专利局收到发明专利申请后,经初步审查认为符合本法要求的,自申请日起满十八个月,即行公布。专利局可以根据申请人的请求早日公布其申请。

    第三十五条 发明专利申请自申请日起三年内,专利局可以根据申请人随时提出的请求,对其申请进行实质审查;申请人无正当理由逾期不请求实质审查的,该申请即被视为撤回。

    专利局认为必要的时候,可以自行对发明专利申请进行实质审查。

    第三十六条发明专利的申请人请求实质审查的时候,应当提交在申请日前与其发明有关的参考资料。

    发明专利已经在外国提出过申请的,申请人请求实质审查的时候,应当提交该国为审查其申请进行检索的资料或者审查结果的资料;无正当理由不提交的,该申请即被视为撤回。

    第三十七条 专利局对发明专利申请进行实质审查后,认为不符合本法规定的,应当通知申请人,要求其在指定的期限内陈述意见,或者对其申请进行修改;无正当理由逾期不答复的,该申请即被视为撤回。

    第三十八条 发明专利申请经申请人陈述意见或者进行修改后,专利局仍然认为不符合本法规定的,应当予以驳回。

    第三十九条 发明专利申请经实质审查没有发现驳回理由的,专利局应当作出授予发明专利权的决定,发给发明专利证书,并予以登记和公告。

    第四十条 实用新型和外观设计专利申请经初步审查没有发现驳回理由的,专利局应当作出授予实用新型专利权或者外观设计专利权的决定,发给相应的专利证书,并予以登记和公告。

    第四十一条 自专利局公告授予专利权之日起六个月内,任何单位或者个人认为该专利权的授予不符合本法有关规定的,都可以请求专利局撤销该专利权。

    第四十二条 专利局对撤销专利权的请求进行审查,作出撤销或者维持专利权的决定,并通知请求人和专利权人。撤销专利权的决定,由专利局登记和公告。

    第四十三条 专利局设立专利复审委员会。对专利局驳回申请的决定不服的,或者对专利局撤销或者维持专利权的决定不服的,可以自收到通知之日起三个月内,向专利复审委员会请求复审。专利复审委员会复审后,作出决定,并通知专利申请人、专利权人或者撤销专利权的请求人。

    发明专利的申请人、发明专利权人或者撤销发明专利权的请求人对专利复审委员会的复审决定不服的,可以自收到通知之日起三个月内向人民法院起诉。

    专利复审委员会对申请人、专利权人或者撤销专利权的请求人关于实用新型和外观设计的复审请求所作出的决定为终局决定。

    第四十四条 被撤销的专利权视为自始即不存在。

第五章  专利权的期限、终止和无效

    第四十五条 发明专利权的期限为二十年,实用新型专利权和外观设计专利权的期限为十年,均自申请日起计算.

    第四十六条 专利权人应当自被授予专利权的当年开始缴纳年费。

    第四十七条 有下列情形之一的,专利权在期限届满前终止:

    一、没有按照规定缴纳年费的;

    二、专利权人以书面声明放弃其专利权的。

    专利权的终止,由专利局登记和公告。

    第四十八条 自专利局公告授予专利权之日起满六个月后,任何单位或者个人认为该专利权的授予不符合本法有关规定的,都可以请求专利复审委员会宣告该专利权无效。

    第四十九条 专利复审委员会对宣告专利权无效的请求进行审查,作出决定,并通知请求人和专利权人。宣告专利权无效的决定,由专利局登记和公告。

    对专利复审委员会宣告发明专利权无效或者维持发明专利权的决定不服的,可以在收到通知之日起三个月内向人民法院起诉。

    专利复审委员会对宣告实用新型和外观设计专利权无效的请求所作出的决定为终局决定。

    第五十条 宣告无效的专利权视为自始即不存在。

    宣告专利权无效的决定,对在宣告专利权无效前人民法院作出并已执行的专利侵权的判决、裁定,专利管理机关作出并已执行的专利侵权处理决定,以及已经履行的专利实施许可合同和专利权转让合同,不具有追溯力。但是因专利权人的恶意给他人造成的损失,应当给予赔偿。

    如果依照上款规定,专利权人或者专利权转让人不向被许可实施专利人或者专利权受让人返还专利使用费或者专利权转让费,明显违反公平原则,专利权人或者专利权转让人应当向被许可实施专利人或者专利权受让人返还全部或者部分专利使用费或者专利权转让费。

    本条第二款、第三款的规定适用于被撤捎的专利权。

第六章  专利实施的强制许可

    第五十一条 具备实施条件的单位以合理的条件请求发明或者实用新型专利权人许可实施其专利,而未能在合理长的时间内获得这种许可时,专利局根据该单位的申请,可以给予实施该发明专利或者实用新型专利的强制许可。

    第五十二条 在国家出现紧急状态或者非常情况时,或者为了公共利益的目的,专利局可以给予实施发明专利或者实用新型专利的强制许可。

    第五十三条 一项取得专利权的发明或者实用新型比前已经取得专利权的发明或者实用新型在技术上先进,其实施又有赖于前一发明或者实用新型的实施的,专利局根据后一专利权人的申请,可以给予实施前一发明或者实用新型的强制许可。

    在依照上款规定给予实施强制许可的情形下,专利局根据前一专利权人的申请,也可以给予实施后一发明或者实用新型的强制许可。

    第五十四条 依照本法规定申请实施强制许可的单位或者个人,应当提出未能以合理条件与专利权人签订实施许可合同的证明。

    第五十五条 专利局作出的给予实施强制许可的决定,应当予以登记和公告。

    第五十六条 取得实施强制许可的单位或者个人不享有独占的实施权,并且无权允许他人实施。

    第五十七条 取得实施强制许可的单位或者个人应当付给专利权人合理的使用费,其数额由双方商定;双方不能达成协议的,由专利局裁决。

    第五十八条 专利权人对专利局关于实施强制许可的决定或者关于实施强制许可的使用费的裁决不服的,可以在收到通知之日起三个月内向人民法院起诉。

第七章  专利权的保护

    第五十九条 发明或者实用新型专利权的保护范围以其权利要求的内容为准,说明书及附图可以用于解释权利要求。

    外观设计专利权的保护范围以表示在图片或者照片中的该外观设计专利产品为准。

    第六十条 对未经专利权人许可,实施其专利的侵权行为,专利权人或者利害关系人可以请求专利管理机关进行处理,也可以直接向人民法院起诉。专利管理机关处理的时候,有权责令侵权人停止侵权行为,并赔偿损失;当事人不服的,可以在收到通知之日起三个月内向人民法院起诉;期满不起诉又不履行的,专利管理机关可以请求人民法院强制执行。

    在发生侵权纠纷的时候,如果发明专利是一项新产品的制造方法,制造同样产品的单位或者个人应当提供其产品制造方法的证明。

    第六十一条 侵犯专利权的诉讼时效为二年,自专利权人或者利害关系人得知或者应当得知侵权行为之日起计算。

    第六十二条 有下列情形之一的,不视为侵犯专利权:

    一、专利权人制造或者经专利权人许可制造的专利产品售出后,使用或者销售该产品的;

    二、使用或者销售不知道是未经专利权人许可而制造并售出的专利产品的;

    三、在专利申请日前已经制造相同产品、使用相同方法或者已经作好制造、使用的必要准备,并且仅在原有范围内继续制造、使用的;

    四、临时通过中国领土、领水、领空的外国运输工具,依照其所属国同中国签订的协议或者共同参加的国际条约,或者依照互惠原则,为运输工具自身需要而在其装置和设备中使用有关专利的;

    五、专为科学研究和实验而使用有关专利的。

    第六十三条 假冒他人专利的,依照本法第六十条的规定处理;情节严重的,对直接责任人员比照刑法第一百二十七条的规定追究刑事责任。

    将非专利产品冒充专利产品的或者将非专利方法冒充专利方法的,由专利管理机关责令停止冒充行为,公开更正,并处以罚款。

    第六十四条 违反本法第二十条规定,擅自向外国申请专利,泄露国家重要机密的,由所在单位或者上级主管机关给予行政处分;情节严重的,依法追究刑事责任。

    第六十五条 侵夺发明人或者设计人的非职务发明创造专利申请权和本法规定的其他权益的,由所在单位或者上级主管机关给予行政处分。

    第六十六条 专利局工作人员及有关国家工作人员徇私舞弊的,由专利局或者有关主管机关给予行政处分;情节严重的,比照刑法第一百八十八条的规定追究刑事责任。

第八章  附则

    第六十七条 向专利局申请专利和办理其他手续,应当按照规定缴纳费用。

    第六十八条 本法实施细则由专利局制订,报国务院批准后施行。

    第六十九条 本法自198541日起施行。

附件:全国人民代表大会常务委员会关于修改《中华人民共和国专利法》的决定

    第七届全国人民代表大会常务委员会第二十七次会议审议了国务院关于《中华人民共和国专利法修正案(草案)》的议案,决定对《中华人民共和国专利法》作如下修改:

    一、第十一条第一款修改为:“发明和实用新型专利权被授予后,除法律另有规定的以外,任何单位或者个人未经专利权人许可,不得为生产经营目的制造、使用、销售其专利产品,或者使用其专利方法以及使用、销售依照该专利方法直接获得的产品。”

    第十一条第二款修改为:“外观设计专利权被授予后,任何单位或者个人未经专利权人许可,不得为生产经营目的制造、销售其外观设计专利产品。”

    第十一条增加一款,作为第三款:“专利权被授予后,除法律另有规定的以外,专利权人有权阻止他人未经专利权人许可,为上两款所述用途进口其专利产品或者进口依照其专利方法直接获得的产品。”

    二、第二十五条第一款修改为:“对下列各项,不授予专利权:

    一、科学发现;

    二、智力活动的规则和方法;

    三、疾病的诊断和治疗方法;

    四、动物和植物品种;

    五、用原子核变换方法获得的物质。”

    第二十五条第二款修改为:“对上款第四项所列产品的生产方法,可以依照本法规定授予专利权。”

    三、第二十九条第一款修改为:“申请人自发明或者实用新型在外国第一次提出专利申请之日起十二个月内,或者自外观设计在外国第一次提出专利申请之日起六个月内,又在中国就相同主题提出专利申请的,依照该外国同中国签订的协议或者共同参加的国际条约,或者依照相互承认优先权的原则,可以享有优先权。”

    第二十九条第二款修改为:“申请人自发明或者实用新型在中国第一次提出专利申请之日起十二个月内,又向专利局就相同主题提出专利申请的,可以享有优先权。”

    四、第三十条修改为:“申请人要求优先权的,应当在申请的时候提出书面声明,并且在三个月内提交第一次提出的专利申请文件的副本;未提出书面声明或者逾期未提交专利申请文件副本的,视为未要求优先权。”

    五、第三十三条修改为:“申请人可以对其专利申请文件进行修改,但是,对发明和实用新型专利申请文件的修改不得超出原说明书和权利要求书记载的范围,对外观设计专利申请文件的修改不得超出原图片或者照片表示的范围。”

    六、第三十四条修改为:“专利局收到发明专利申请后,经初步审查认为符合本法要求的,自申请日起满十八个月,即行公布。专利局可以根据申请人的请求早日公布其申请。”

    七、第三十九条修改为:“发明专利申请经实质审查没有发现驳回理由的,专利局应当作出授予发明专利权的决定,发给发明专利证书,并予以登记和公告。”

    八、第四十条修改为:“实用新型和外观设计专利申请经初步审查没有发现驳回理由的,专利局应当作出授予实用新型专利权或者外观设计专利权的决定,发给相应的专利证书,并予以登记和公告。”

    九、第四十一条修改为:“自专利局公告授予专利权之日起六个月内,任何单位或者个人认为该专利权的授予不符合本法有关规定的,都可以请求专利局撤销该专利权。”

    十、第四十二条修改为:“专利局对撤销专利权的请求进行审查,作出撤销或者维持专利权的决定,并通知请求人和专利权人。撤销专利权的决定,由专利局登记和公告。”

    十一、第四十三条第一款修改为:“专利局设立专利复审委员会。对专利局驳回申请的决定不服的,或者对专利局撤销或者维持专利权的决定不服的,可以自收到通知之日起三个月内,向专利复审委员会请求复审。专利复审委员会复审后,作出决定,并通知专利申请人、专利权人或者撤销专利权的请求人。”

    第四十三条第二款修改为:“发明专利的申请人、发明专利权人或者撤销发明专利权的请求人对专利复审委员会的复审决定不服的,可以自收到通知之日起三个月内向人民法院起诉。”

    第四十三条第三款修改为:“专利复审委员会对申请人、专利权人或者撤销专利权的请求人关于实用新型和外观设计的复审请求所作出的决定为终局决定。”

    十二、第四十四条修改为:“被撤销的专利权视为自始即不存在。”

    十三、第四十五条修改为:“发明专利权的期限为二十年,实用新型专利权和外观设计专利权的期限为十年,均自申请日起计算。”

    十四、第四十八条修改为:“自专利局公告授予专利权之日起满六个月后,任何单位或者个人认为该专利权的授予不符合本法有关规定的,都可以请求专利复审委员会宣告该专利权无效。”

    十五、第五十条修改为:“宣告无效的专利权视为自始即不存在。

    宣告专利权无效的决定,对在宣告专利权无效前人民法院作出并已执行的专利侵权的判决、裁定,专利管理机关作出并已执行的专利侵权处理决定,以及已经履行的专利实施许可合同和专利权转让合同,不具有追溯力。但是因专利权人的恶意给他人造成的损失,应当给予赔偿。

    如果依照上款规定,专利权人或者专利权转让人不向被许可实施专利人或者专利权受让人返还专利使用费或者专利权转让费,明显违反公平原则,专利权人或者专利权转让人应当向被许可实施专利人或者专利权受让人返还全部或者部分专利使用费或者专利权转让费。

    本条第二款、第三款的规定适用于被撤销的专利权。”

    十六、第五十一条修改为:“具备实施条件的单位以合理的条件请求发明或者实用新型专利权人许可实施其专利,而未能在合理长的时间内获得这种许可时,专利局根据该单位的申请,可以给予实施该发明专利或者实用新型专利的强制许可。”

    十七、第五十二条修改为:“在国家出现紧急状态或者非常情况时,或者为了公共利益的目的,专利局可以给予实施发明专利或者实用新型专利的强制许可。”

    十八、第六十条第二款修改为:“在发生侵权纠纷的时候,如果发明专利是一项新产品的制造方法,制造同样产品的单位或者个人应当提供其产品制造方法的证明。”

    十九、第六十三条增加一款,作为第二款:“将非专利产品冒充专利产品的或者将非专利方法冒充专利方法的,由专利管理机关责令停止冒充行为,公开更正,并处以罚款。”

    本决定自199311日起施行。本决定施行前提出的专利申请和根据该申请授予的专利权,适用修改以前的专利法的规定。但是,专利申请在本决定施行前尚未依照修改以前的专利法第三十九条、第四十条的规定公告的,该专利申请的批准和专利权的撤销、宣告无效的程序适用修改后的专利法第三十九条至第四十四条和第四十八条的规定。

    《中华人民共和国专利法》根据本决定作相应的修正,重新公布。

PATENT LAW OF THE PEOPLE'SREPUBLIC OF CHINA(Adopted at the 4th Session of the StandingCommittee of the SixthNational People's Congress on March  12,  1984 Amended  by  the  DecisionRegarding the Revision of thePatent  Law of  the  People's  Republic ofChina, adopted at the 27th  Session  of the  Standing  Committee  of theSeventh National People's Congress onSeptember 4, 1992)

    Important Notice: (注意事项)

    当发生歧意时,应以法律法规颁布单位发布的中文原文为准.

    In case of discrepancy, the original version inChinese shall prevail.

    Whole Document (法规全文)

PATENT LAW OF THE PEOPLE'SREPUBLIC OF CHINA

(Adopted at the 4th Session ofthe Standing Committee of the Sixth

National People's Congress onMarch  12, 1984  Amended  by  the Decision

Regarding the Revision of the Patent  Law  of the  People's  Republic  of

China, adopted at the27th  Session  of the  Standing  Committee  of the

Seventh National People'sCongress on September 4, 1992)

(Translated by thePatent  Office of  the  People's  Republic of  China.

In case of discrepancy, theoriginal version in  Chinese shall  prevail.)

    TABLE OF CONTENTS [*1]

Chapter I GeneralProvisions

Article

1 Purpose of the Law

2 Subject Matter of Patents:Inventions-Creations (Inventions and Utility

  Models; Designs)

3 Tasks of the PatentOffice

4 Subject Matters to be KeptSecret

5 Subject Matter Contrary toPublic Order

6 Right to Apply for Patent;Ownership of Patent Right

7 Prohibition of PreventingFiling Application for Non Service Inventions-

  Creations

8 Inventions-Creations MadeJointly or on Commission

9 First-to-File Rule

10 Assignment of Right to Applyfor Patent or of Patent Right

11 Rights Conferred byPatent

12 Patent LicenseContract

13 Inventions: Exploitationafter Publication of Application

14 Planned Exploitation ofCertain Patents Owned by Chinese Entities or

   Individuals

15 Marking of Patents

16 Reward of Inventors orCreators of Service Inventions-Creations

17 Naming of Inventor or Creatorin Patent

18 Foreigners Entitled to FilePatent Applications

19 Representation by ChineseAgency

20 Filing of Applications Abroadby Chinese

21 Secrecy of PatentApplication

Chapter II Requirements forGrant of Patent Right

22 Inventions and UtilityModels: Substantive Requirements of

   Patentability

23 Designs: SubstantiveRequirements of Patentability

24 Disclosures Not Causing Lossof Novelty

25 Subject Matters Excluded fromPatentability

Chapter III Application forPatent

26 Inventions and UtilityModels: Documents Required for Filing Patent

   Application

27 Designs: Documents Requiredfor Filing Patent Application

28 Filing Date

29 Right of Priority

30 Claiming of Right ofPriority

31 Unity of SubjectMatter

32 Withdrawal ofApplication

33 Amendment ofApplication

Chapter IV Examination andApproval of Application for Patent

34 Inventions: Publication ofApplication

35 Inventions: Initiative forExamination as to Substance

36 Inventions: Information byApplicant for Examination as to Substance

37 Inventions: Invitation toAmend or Make Observations

38 Inventions: Rejection ofApplication after Examination as to Substance

39 Inventions: Grant of PatentRight after Examination as to Substance

40 Utility Model and Designs:Grant of Patent Right after Preliminary

   Examination

41 Request forRevocation

42 Decision on Request forRevocation

43 Reexamination and, forInventions, Court Proceedings

44 Effect ofRevocation

Chapter V Duration, Cessationand Invalidation of Patent Right

45 Duration

46 Annual Fees

47 Cessation of PatentRight

48 Request forInvalidation

49 Decision on Request forInvalidation

50 Effect ofInvalidation

Chapter VI Compulsory Licensefor Exploitation of Patent

51 Inventions and UtilityModels: Compulsory Licenses in Case of Failure

   to Obtain Authorization from Patentee

52 Inventions and UtilityModels: Compulsory Licenses in Case of Use for

   Public Interest

53 Inventions and UtilityModels: Compulsory Licenses in Case of Dependent

   Patents

54 Inventions and UtilityModels: Proof Required from Requestor of

   Compulsory License

55 Inventions and UtilityModels: Registration and Announcement of

   Compulsory License

56 Inventions and UtilityModels: Limitation of Rights of Compulsory

   Licensee

57 Inventions and UtilityModels: Exploitation Fee to be Paid by

   Compulsory Licensee

58 Inventions and UtilityModels: Court Proceedings by Patentee Concerning

   Compulsory License

Chapter VII Protection of PatentRight

59 Determination of Extent ofProtection

60 Definition of Infringementand Remedies; Inventions: Proof in Case of

   Process of Patents

61 Prescription for InstitutingLegal Proceedings for Infringements

62 Acts not ConstitutingInfringement

63 Remedies and Penalties forPassing Off

64 Sanctions for Not RespectingProvision of Article 20

65 Sanctions for Usurpation ofRights of Inventor or Creator

66 Sanctions Against OffendingOfficials

Chapter VIII SupplementaryProvisions

67 Fees

68 ImplementingRegulations

69 Date of Entry Into Force ofthe Law

    Chapter I GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1.

This Law is enacted to protectpatent rights for inventions-creations,  to

encourage inventions-creations,to foster the spreading and application of

inventions-creations,and  to  promote the  development  of  science and

technology, for  meeting  the needs  of  the  construction  of  socialist

modernization.

Article 2.

In this Law,"inventions-creations" mean inventions,  utility  models  and

designs.

Article 3.

The Patent Office of thePeople's Republic of China receives and  examines

patent applications and grantspatent rights for inventions-creations that

conform with the provisions ofthis Law.

Article 4.

Where the invention-creation forwhich a patent is applied for relates  to

the security or other vitalinterests of the State and is required  to  be

kept secret, the applicationshall  be treated  in  accordance  with the

relevant prescriptions of theState.

Article 5.

No patent rightshall  be granted  for  any  invention-creation  that  is

contrary to  the  laws of  the  State  or social  morality  or  that is

detrimental to publicinterest.

Article 6.

For a serviceinvention-creation, made by a person  in  execution  of the

tasks of the entity to which hebelongs or made by him mainly by using the

material means of the entity,the right to apply for a patent belongs  to

the entity. For any non serviceinvention-creation, the right to apply for

a patent belongs to the inventoror creator.   After the  application  is

approved, if it was filedby  an  entity under  ownership  by  the whole

people, the patent right shallbe held by the entity; if it was filed  by

an entity under collectiveownership or by an individual, the patent right

shall be owned by the entity orindividual.

For a service invention-creationmade by any staff member or worker of  a

foreign enterprise, orof  a  Chinese-foreign  joint  venture  enterprise,

located in China,  the  right to  apply  for  a patent  belongs  to  the

enterprise. For any non serviceinvention-creation, the right to apply for

a patent belongs to the inventoror  creator.  After the  application  is

approved, the patentright  shall be  owned  by  the enterprise  or  the

individual that applied forit.

The owner of the patent rightand the  holder of  the  patent  right are

referred to as"patentee".

Article 7.

No entity or individual shall prevent the inventor or creator from  filing

an application for a patent fora non service invention-creation.

Article 8.

For an invention-creation madein cooperation by two or more entities,  or

made by an entity in executionof a commission for research or  designing

given to it by another entity,the right to apply for  a patent  belongs,

unless otherwise agreed upon, tothe entity which made, or to the entities

which jointly made,  the  invention-creation.  After  the  application  is

approved, the patent rightshall  be owned  or  held  by the  entity  or

entities that applied forit.

Article 9.

Where two  or  more applicants  file  applications  for patent  for  the

identical invention-creation,the patent right shall  be granted  to  the

applicant whose application wasfiled first.

Article 10.

The right to apply for a patentand the patent right may be assigned.  Any

assignment, by an entity underownership by the whole people, of the right

to apply for a patent, or of thepatent right, must  be approved  by  the

competent authority at thehigher level.

Any assignment, by a Chineseentity or individual, of the right to  apply

for a patent, or of the patentright, to a foreigner must be approved  by

the competent departmentconcerned of the State Council.

Where the right to apply for apatent or the patent right is assigned, the

parties must conclude a writtencontract, which will come into force after

it is registered with andannounced by the Patent Office.

Article 11. [*2] [*3]

After the grant of the patentright for an  invention or  utility  model,

except as otherwise provided forin the law, no entity or individual may,

without the authorization of thepatentee, make, use or sell the patented

product, or use the patentedprocess and use or sell the product directly

obtained by the patentedprocess, for production or business purposes.

After the grant of the patentright for a design, no entity or individual

may, without the authorizationof the patentee, make or sell the product,

incorporating its orhis  patented  design, for  production  or  business

purposes.

After the grant of the patentright, except as otherwise provided for  in

the law, the patentee has theright  to prevent  any  other  person from

importing, without its or hisauthorization, the patented product, or  the

product directly obtained by itsor his patented  process, for  the  uses

mentioned in the preceding twoparagraphs.

Article 12.

Any entity or individualexploiting the patent of another must, except  as

provided for in Article 14 ofthis  Law,  conclude with  the  patentee  a

written license contract forexploitation and pay the patentee a fee  for

the exploitation of the patent.The licensee has no right to authorize any

entity or individual, other thanthat referred  to in  the  contract  for

exploitation, to exploit thepatent.

Article 13.

After the publication of theapplication for a patent for invention,  the

applicant may require the entityor individual exploiting the invention to

pay an appropriatefee.

Article 14.

The competent departmentsconcerned of the State Council and the  people's

governments of provinces,autonomous regions  or municipalities  directly

under the Central Governmenthave the power to decide, in accordance  with

the State plan, that any entityunder ownership by the whole people  that

is within their system ordirectly under  their administration  and  that

holds the patent right toan  important  invention-creation  is  to  allow

designated entities to exploitthat invention-creation; and the exploiting

entity shall, according to theprescriptions of the State, pay a fee  for

exploitation to the entityholding the patent right.

Any patent of a Chineseindividual or entity under collective  ownership,

which is of great significanceto the interests of the State  or  to  the

public interest and is in needof spreading and  application,  may,  after

approval by the  State  Council at  the  solicitation  of its  competent

department  concerned,  be treated  alike  by  making reference  to  the

provisions of the precedingparagraph.

Article 15.

The patentee has the right toaffix a patent marking and to indicate  the

number of the patent on thepatented product or on  the packing  of  that

product.

Article 16.

The entity owning or holding thepatent right shall award to the inventor

or creator of a serviceinvention-creation a reward and, upon exploitation

of the patentedinvention-creation, shall award to the inventor or creator

a reward based on the extent ofspreading and application and the economic

benefits yielded.

Article 17.

The inventor or creator has theright to be named as such in  the  patent

document.

Article 18.

Where any foreigner,foreign  enterprise or  other  foreign  organization

having no  habitual  residence or  business  office  in China  files  an

application for a patent inChina, the application shall be treated  under

this Law in accordance with anyagreement concluded between the country to

which  the  applicant belongs  and  China,  or in  accordance  with  any

international treaty to whichboth countries are party, or on the basis of

the principle ofreciprocity.

Article 19.

Where any foreigner,foreign  enterprise or  other  foreign  organization

having no habitual residence orbusiness office in  China applies  for  a

patent, or has other patentmatters to attend to, in China, he or it shall

appoint a patent agencydesignated by the State Council of  the  People's

Republic of China to act as hisor its agent.  Where any Chinese entity or

individual applies for a patentor has other patent matters to attend  to

in the country, it or he mayappoint a patent agency to act as its or  his

agent.

Article 20.

Where any Chinese entity orindividual intends to file an application in a

foreign country for a patent forinvention-creation made in the  country,

it or he shall file first anapplication for patent with the Patent Office

and, with the sanction of thecompetent department concerned of the  State

Council, shall appoint a patentagency designated by the State Council  to

act as its or hisagent.

Article 21.

Until the publication orannouncement of the  application  for  a  patent,

staff members of the PatentOffice and persons involved have the  duty  to

keep its contentsecret.

    Chapter II REQUIREMENTS FOR GRANT OF PATENT RIGHT

Article 22.

Any invention or utility modelfor which patent right may be granted  must

possess novelty, inventivenessand practical applicability.

Novelty means that, before thedate of filing, no identical invention  or

utility model has been publiclydisclosed in publications in the  country

or abroad or has been publiclyused or made known to  the public  by  any

other means in the country, norhas any other person filed previously with

the Patent Office an applicationwhich described the  identical invention

or utility model and waspublished after the said date of filing.

Inventiveness means that, ascompared with the technology existing  before

the date of filing the inventionhas prominent  substantive  features  and

represents a notable progressand that the utility model has  substantive

features and representsprogress.  Practical applicability means that  the

invention or utility model canbe made or used and can produce  effective

results.

Article 23.

Any design for which patentright may be granted  must not  be  identical

with or similar to any designwhich, before the date of filing, has  been

publicly disclosed inpublications in the country or abroad  or  has  been

publicly used in thecountry.

Article 24.

An invention-creation for whicha patent is applied for does not lose  its

novelty where, within six monthsbefore the date of  filing, one  of  the

following eventsoccurred:

(1) where it was first exhibitedat an international exhibition sponsored

or recognized by the ChineseGovernment;

(2)  where  it was  first  made  public at  a  prescribed  academic   or

technological meeting;

(3) where it was disclosedby  any  person without  the  consent  of the

applicant.

Article 25. [*4]

For any of the following, nopatent right shall be granted:

(1) scientificdiscoveries;

(2) rules and methods for mentalactivities;

(3) methods for the diagnosis orfor the treatment of diseases;

(4) animal and plantvarieties;

(5) substances obtained by meansof nuclear transformation.

For processes used in producingproducts referred to in items (4) of  the

preceding paragraph, patentright may be granted in accordance with  the

provisions of thisLaw.

    Chapter III APPLICATION FOR PATENT

Article 26.

Where an application for apatent for invention or utility model is filed,

a request, a description and itsabstract, and claims shall be submitted.

The request shall state thetitle of the invention or utility model,  the

name of the inventor or creator,the name and the address of the applicant

and other relatedmatters.

The description shall set forththe invention or utility model in a manner

sufficiently clear and completeso as to enable a person skilled  in  the

relevant field of technology tocarry it out;  where necessary,  drawings

are required. The abstract shallstate briefly the main  technical points

of the invention or utilitymodel.

The claims shall be supportedby  the  description  and  shall  state the

extent of the patent protectionasked for.

Article 27.

Where an application for apatent for design is filed, a request, drawings

or  photographs  of  the design  shall  be  submitted, and  the  product

incorporating the design and theclass to which that product belongs shall

be indicated.

Article 28.

The date on which the PatentOffice receives the application shall be  the

date of filing. If theapplication is sent by mail, the date  of  mailing

indicated by the postmark shallbe the date of filing.

Article 29. [*5]

Where, within twelve months fromthe date on  which any  applicant  first

filed in a foreign country anapplication for a patent for  invention  or

utility model, or within sixmonths from the date on which any  applicant

first filed in a foreign countryan application for a patent for  design,

he or it files in China anapplication for a patent for the same  subject

matter, he or it may, inaccordance with any agreement concluded between

the  said  foreign country  and  China,  or in   accordance  with   any

international treaty to whichboth countries are party, or on the basis of

the principle of mutualrecognition of the  right of  priority,  enjoy  a

right of priority.

Where, within twelve months fromthe date on  which any  applicant  first

filed in China an applicationfor a patent for invention or utility model,

he or it files with the PatentOffice an application for a patent for  the

same subject matter, he or itmay enjoy a right of priority.

Article 30. [*6]

Any applicant who claimsthe  right  of priority  shall  make  a written

declaration when the  application  is filed,  and  submit,  within three

months, a copy of the patentapplication document which was first filed;

if the applicant fails to makethe written declaration or to meet the time

limit for submitting the patentapplication document,  the claim  to  the

right of priority shall bedeemed not to have been made.

Article 31.

An application for apatent  for invention  or  utility  model shall  be

limited to one invention orutility  model. Two  or  more  inventions or

utility models belonging to asingle  general inventive  concept  may  be

filed as oneapplication.

An application for a patent fordesign shall  be limited  to  one  design

incorporated in one product. Twoor more designs which are incorporated in

products belonging to the sameclass and are sold or used in sets may  be

filed as oneapplication.

Article 32.

An applicant may withdraw his orits application for a patent at any time

before the patent right isgranted.

Article 33. [*7]

An applicant may amend hisor  its  application  for  a  patent, but  the

amendment to the application fora patent for invention or utility  model

may not go beyond the scope ofthe disclosure  contained in  the  initial

description and claims, and theamendment to the application for a patent

for design may not go beyond thescope of the disclosure as shown in  the

initial drawings orphotographs.

    Chapter IV EXAMINATION AND APPROVAL OF APPLICATION FORPATENT

Article 34. [*8]

Where, after receiving anapplication for  a patent  for  invention,  the

Patent Office, upon preliminaryexamination, finds the application to  be

in conformity with therequirements of this  Law,  it  shall  publish the

application promptly after theexpiration of eighteen months from the date

of filing. Upon the request ofthe applicant, the Patent Office publishes

the applicationearlier.

Article 35.

Upon the request of theapplicant for a patent for invention, made at  any

time within three years from thedate of filing, the  Patent Office  will

proceed to examine theapplication as to its substance. If,  without  any

justified  reason,  the applicant  fails  tomeet  the  time  limit for

requesting examination as tosubstance, the application shall be deemed to

have been withdrawn.

The Patent Office may, onits  own  initiative,  proceed  to  examine any

application for a patent forinvention as to its substance when it  deems

it necessary.

Article 36.

When the applicant for a patentfor invention requests examination as  to

substance, he or itshall  furnish pre-filing  date  reference  materials

concerning theinvention.  The applicant for a patent  for  invention who

has filed in a foreign countryan application for a patent for  the  same

invention shall, at the time ofrequesting examination  as to  substance,

furnish documents concerning anysearch made for the purpose of examining

that application, or concerningthe results of any  examination  made,  in

that country. If, without anyjustified reason, the said documents are not

furnished, the application shallbe deemed to have been withdrawn.

Article 37.

Where the Patent Office, afterit has made the examination as to substance

of the application for a patentfor invention, finds that the application

is not in conformity with theprovisions of this Law, it shall notify  the

applicant and request him or itto submit, within a specified time limit,

his or its observations orto  amend  the application.  If,  without any

justified reason, the time limitfor  making  response is  not  met,  the

application shall be deemed tohave been withdrawn.

Article 38.

Where, after the applicant hasmade the observations  or amendments,  the

Patent Office finds that theapplication for a  patent for  invention  is

still not in conformity with theprovisions of this Law, the  application

shall be rejected.

Article 39. [*9]

Where it is found afterexamination as to substance that there is no cause

for rejection of the applicationfor a patent for  invention, the  Patent

Office shall make a decision togrant  the patent  right  for  invention,

issue the certificate of patentfor invention, and register and  announce

it.

Article 40. [*10]

Where it is found afterpreliminary examination that there is no cause for

rejection of the application fora patent for utility model or design, the

Patent Office shall make adecision to grant the patent right for  utility

model  or  the patent  right  for  design, issue  the  relevant   patent

certificate, and register andannounce it.

Article 41. [*11]

Where, within six months fromthe date of the announcement of the grant of

the patent right by the PatentOffice, any entity or individual considers

that the grant of the saidpatent right is  not in  conformity  with  the

relevant provisions of this Law,it or he may request the Patent Office to

revoke the patentright.

Article 42. [*12]

The Patent Office shall examinethe request for revocation of the  patent

right, make a decision revokingor upholding the patent right, and notify

the person who made the requestand the patentee.  The decision  revoking

the patent right shall beregistered and announced by the Patent Office.

Article 43. [*13]

The Patent Office shall set up aPatent  Reexamination  Board.  Where  any

party is not satisfied with thedecision of the  Patent Office  rejecting

the application,  or  the decision  of  the  Patent Office  revoking  or

upholding the patent right, suchparty may, within three months from  the

date of receipt ofthe  notification,  request the  Patent  Reexamination

Board to make a reexamination.The Patent Reexamination Board shall, after

reexamination, make a decisionand notify the applicant, the patentee  or

the person who made the requestfor revocation of the patent right.

Where the applicantfor  a  patent for  invention,  the  patentee of  an

invention or the person who madethe request for revocation of the patent

right for invention is notsatisfied  with the  decision  of  the Patent

Reexamination Board, he or itmay, within three months from the  date  of

receipt of the notification,institute legal proceedings in the  people's

court.

The decision of the PatentReexamination Board in respect of any  request,

made by the applicant, thepatentee or the person who made the request for

revocation of the patent right,for  reexamination  concerning a  utility

model or design isfinal.

Article 44. [*14]

Any patent right which has beenrevoked shall be deemed to be nonexistent

from the beginning.

    Chapter V DURATION, CESSATION AND INVALIDATION OFPATENT RIGHT

Article 45. [*15]

The duration of patent right forinventions shall  be twenty  years,  the

duration of patent right forutility models and patent right for  designs

shall be ten years, counted fromthe date of filing.

Article 46.

The patentee shall pay an annualfee beginning with the year in which  the

patent right wasgranted.

Article 47.

In any of the following cases,the patent right  shall cease  before  the

expiration of itsduration:

(1) where an annual fee is notpaid as prescribed;

(2) where the patentee abandonshis or  its patent  right  by  a written

declaration.  Anycessation of the patent right shall be  registered  and

announced by the PatentOffice.

Article 48. [*16]

Where,  after  the expiration  of  six  months from  the  date  of  the

announcement of the grant of thepatent right by the  Patent Office,  any

entity or individual considersthat the grant of the said patent right  is

not in conformity with therelevant provisions of this Law, it or  he  may

request the  Patent  Reexamination  Board  to  declare the  patent  right

invalid.

Article 49.

The Patent Reexamination Boardshall examine the request for invalidation

of the patent right, make adecision and notify the person who  made  the

request and the patentee. Thedecision declaring the patent right invalid

shall be registered andannounced by the Patent Office.

Where any  party  is not  satisfied  with  the decision  of  the  Patent

Reexamination Board declaringthe patent right for  invention invalid  or

upholding the patent right forinvention, such  party may,  within  three

months from receipt of thenotification of the decision, institute  legal

proceedings in the people'scourt.

The decision of the PatentReexamination Board in respect of a request  to

declare invalid the patent rightfor utility model or design is final.

Article 50. [*17]

Any patent right which has beendeclared invalid shall  be deemed  to  be

nonexistent from thebeginning.

The decision of invalidationshall  have no  retroactive  effect  on any

judgement or order on patentinfringement which has  been pronounced  and

enforced by the people's court,on any decision concerning the handling of

patent infringement which hasbeen made and enforced by the administrative

authority for patent affairs,and on any contract of patent license and of

assignment of patent  right  which have  been  performed,  prior to  the

decision of invalidation;however, the damages caused to other persons  in

bad faith on the part of thepatentee shall be compensated.

If, pursuant to the provisionsof the preceding paragraph, no  repayment,

by the patentee or the assignorof the patent right to the licensee or the

assignee of the patent right, ofthe  fee  for the  exploitation  of  the

patent or the price for theassignment of the patent right  is  obviously

contrary to the principle ofequity, the patentee or the assignor  of  the

patent right shall repay thewhole or part of the fee for the exploitation

of the patent or the price forthe assignment of the patent right to  the

licensee or the assignee of thepatent right.

The provisions of the second andthird paragraph  of this  Article  shall

apply to the patent right whichhas been revoked.

    Chapter VI COMPULSORY LICENSE FOR EXPLOITATION OF THEPATENT

Article 51. [*18]

Where any entity which isqualified to exploit the invention  or  utility

model has  made  requests for  authorization  from  the patentee  of  an

invention or utility model toexploit its  or his  patent  on  reasonable

terms and such efforts have notbeen successful within a reasonable period

of time, the Patent Office may,upon the application of that entity, grant

a compulsory license to exploitthe patent for invention or utility model.

Article 52. [*19]

Where a national emergency orany extraordinary state of affairs  occurs,

or where the public interest sorequires, the Patent Office may  grant  a

compulsory license to exploitthe patent for invention or utility model.

Article 53.

Where the invention orutility  model for  which  the  patent right  was

granted is technically moreadvanced than  another invention  or  utility

model  for  which a  patent  right  has been  granted  earlier  and the

exploitation of thelater  invention or  utility  model  depends on  the

exploitation of the earlierinvention or utility model, the Patent  Office

may, upon the request of thelater patentee, grant a compulsory license to

exploit the earlier invention orutility model.

Where, according tothe  preceding  paragraph, a  compulsory  license  is

granted, the Patent Office may,upon the request of the earlier patentee,

also grant a compulsory licenseto exploit the later invention or utility

model.

Article 54.

The entity or individualrequesting, in accordance with the provisions  of

this Law, a compulsory licensefor exploitation shall furnish proof  that

it or he has notbeen  able  to conclude  with  the  patentee a  license

contract for exploitation onreasonable terms.

Article 55.

The decision made by the PatentOffice granting a compulsory license  for

exploitation shall be registeredand announced.

Article 56.

Any entity  or  individual that  is  granted  a compulsory  license  for

exploitation shall not have anexclusive right to exploit and  shall  not

have the right to authorizeexploitation by any others.

Article 57.

The entity  or  individual that  is  granted  a compulsory  license  for

exploitation shall pay to thepatentee a reasonable exploitation fee,  the

amount of which shall be fixedby both parties in consultations. Where the

parties fail to reach anagreement, the Patent Office shall adjudicate.

Article 58.

Where the patentee is notsatisfied with the decision of the Patent Office

granting a compulsory licensefor exploitation or  with the  adjudication

regarding the exploitation feepayable for exploitation, he  or  it  may,

within three months from thereceipt of the notification, institute  legal

proceedings in the people'scourt.

    Chapter VII PROTECTION OF PATENT RIGHT

Article 59.

The extent of protection of thepatent  right for  invention  or  utility

model shall be determined by theterms of the claims. The description  and

the appended drawings may beused to interpret the claims.

The extent  of  protection of  the  patent  right for  design  shall  be

determined by the productincorporating the patented design as  shown  in

the drawings orphotographs.

Article 60.

For any exploitation ofthe  patent,  without the  authorization  of  the

patentee, constituting aninfringing act, the patentee or any  interested

party may requestthe  administrative  authority for  patent  affairs  to

handle the matter ormay  directly  institute legal  proceedings  in  the

people's court. Theadministrative authority for patent affairs  handling

the matter shall havethe  power  to order  the  infringer  to stop  the

infringing act and to compensatefor the damage.  Any party  dissatisfied

may, within three months fromthe receipt of the  notification,  institute

legal proceedings in thepeople's  court. If  such  proceedings  are not

instituted within the time limitand if the order is  not complied  with,

the administrative authority forpatent affairs may approach the people's

court for compulsoryexecution.

When any infringement disputearises, if the patent  for invention  is  a

process for the manufacture of anew product,  any entity  or individual

manufacturing the identicalproduct shall furnish  proof of  the  process

used in the manufacture of itsor his product. [*20]

Article 61.

Prescription for institutinglegal proceedings concerning the infringement

of patent right is two yearscounted from the date on which the  patentee

or any interested party obtainsor should have obtained knowledge of  the

infringing act.

Article 62.

None of the following shall bedeemed an infringement of the patent right:

(1) Where, after the sale of apatented  product that  was  made  by the

patentee or with theauthorization of the patentee, any other person  uses

or sells that product;

(2) Where any person uses orsells a patented product not knowing that  it

was made and sold without theauthorization of the patentee;

(3) Where, before the date offiling of the application for  patent,  any

person who has already madethe  identical  product, used  the  identical

process, or made necessarypreparations for its making or using, continues

to make or use it within theoriginal scope only;

(4) Where any foreign means oftransport which temporarily passes through

the territory, territorialwaters or territorial airspace of  China  uses

the patent concerned, inaccordance with any agreement concluded between

the country to which the foreignmeans of transport belongs and China,  or

in accordance with anyinternational treaty to which both  countries  are

party, or on the basis of theprinciple of reciprocity, for its own needs,

in its devices andinstallations;

(5) Where any person uses thepatent concerned solely for the purposes  of

scientific research andexperimentation.

Article 63.

Where any person passes off thepatent of another person, such passing off

shall be treated inaccordance  with Article  60  of  this Law.  If  the

circumstances are  serious,  any person  directly  responsible  shall be

prosecuted, for his  criminal  liability, by  applying  mutatis  mutandis

Article 127 of the CriminalLaw.

Where any person passes anyunpatented product off as patented product  or

passes any unpatented processoff as patented process, such person  shall

be ordered by the administrativeauthority for patent affairs to stop  the

passing off, correct itpublicly, and pay a fine. [*21]

Article 64.

Where any person, in violationof the provisions of  Article 20  of  this

Law, unauthorizedly files in aforeign country an application for a patent

that divulges an importantsecret of the State, he shall  be  subject  to

disciplinary sanctionby  the  entity to  which  he  belongs or  by  the

competent authority concerned atthe higher level.  If the  circumstances

are serious, he shall beprosecuted for his criminal liability  according

to the law.

Article 65.

Where any person usurps theright of an inventor or creator to apply for a

patent for a non serviceinvention-creation, or usurps any other right  or

interest of an inventor orcreator, prescribed by this Law, he  shall  be

subject to disciplinary sanctionby the entity to which he belongs or  by

the competent authority at thehigher level.

Article 66.

Where any staff member of thePatent Office, or any staff member concerned

of the State, acts wrongfullyout of personal  considerations  or  commits

fraudulent acts, he shallbe  subject  to disciplinary  sanction  by the

Patent Office or the competentauthority concerned. If the  circumstances

are serious, heshall  be prosecuted,  for  his  criminal liability,  by

applying mutatis mutandisArticle 188 of the Criminal Law.

    Chapter VIII SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS

Article 67.

Any application for a patentfiled with, and any other proceedings before,

the Patent Office shall besubject to the payment of a fee as prescribed.

Article 68.

The implementing Regulations ofthis Law shall be drawn up by the  Patent

Office and shall enter intoforce after approval by the State Council.

Article 69.

This Law shall enter into forceon April 1, 1985.

This Decision [*22]shall  enter into  force  on  January 1,  1993.  The

applications for patent filedbefore the entry into force of this Decision

and the patent rights granted onthe basis of the said applications shall

continue to be governed by theprovisions of the  Patent Law  before  its

amendment. However, theprocedures provided by the amended Articles 39  to

44 and the amended Article 48 ofthe Patent Law concerning the approval of

applications for patent, and therevocation and invalidation of the patent

right shall apply  to  the said  applications  which  are not  announced

according to the provisions ofArticles 39 and 40 of the Patent Law before

its amendment. (Extract from theDecision Regarding the  Revision of  the

Patent Law of the People'sRepublic of China, Adopted at the 27th  Session

of the Standing Committee of theSeventh  National People's  Congress  on

September 4, 1992)

[*1] This Table of Contents wasestablished for  the convenience  of  the

reader by the Patent LawsResearch Institute of the Chinese Patent Office.

The text of the PatentLaw  adopted  by the  Standing  Committee  of the

National People's Congress doesnot contain such a table and the Articles

have no titles in theLaw.

[*2] The texts of thosearticles  of the  Law  printed  in boldface  are

amended texts.  The  relevant old  texts  are,  for the  convenience  of

reference, printed in thefootnotes on the same page.

[*3] Old Article 11. After thegrant of the patent right for an invention

or utility model, except asprovided for in Article 14 of  this  Law,  no

entity or individualmay,  without  the authorization  of  the patentee,

exploit the patent, that is,make, use or sell the  patented product,  or

use the patented process, forproduction or business purposes.

After the grant of the patent right for a design, noentity or  individual

may, without the authorizationof the patentee, exploit the patent,  that

is, make or sell the  product,  incorporating  the  patented  design, for

production or businesspurposes.

[*4] Old Article 25. For any ofthe following, no patent right  shall  be

granted:

(1) scientificdiscoveries;

(2) rules and methods for mentalactivities;

(3) methods for the diagnosis orfor the treatment of diseases;

(4) food, beverages andflavorings;

(5) pharmaceutical products andsubstances obtained by means of a chemical

process;

(6) animal and plantvarieties;

(7) substances obtained by meansof nuclear transformation.

For processes used in producingproducts referred to in items (4) to (6)

of the preceding paragraph,patent right may be granted in accordance with

the provisions of thisLaw.

[*5] Old Article 29.

Where any foreign applicantfiles an application in China  within  twelve

months from the date on which heor it first filed in a foreign country an

application for a patent for theidentical invention or utility model,  or

within six months from the dateon which he or it first filed in a foreign

country an application for apatent for the identical design,  he  or  it

may, in accordance with anyagreement concluded  between the  country  to

which he or it belongs andChina, or in accordance with any international

treaty to which both countriesare party, or on the basis of the principle

of mutual recognition of theright of priority, enjoy a right of priority,

that is, the date on which theapplication was first filed in the foreign

country shall be regarded as thedate of filing.

Where the applicant claims aright of priority and where one of the events

listed in Article 24 of this Lawoccurred, the  period of  the  right  of

priority shall be counted fromthe date on which the event occurred.

[*6] Old Article 30. Anyapplicant who claims the right of priority  shall

make a written declaration whenthe application is filed, indicating  the

date of filing of the earlierapplication in the foreign country and  the

country in which thatapplication was  filed, and  submit,  within  three

months, a copy of thatapplication document, certified by  the  competent

authority of that country; ifthe applicant  fails to  make  the  written

declaration or to meet the timelimit for  submitting the  document,  the

claim to the right of priorityshall be deemed not to have been made.

[*7] Old Article 33. Anapplicant may amend his or its application  for  a

patent, but may not go beyondthe scope of the disclosure contained in the

initial description.

[*8] Old Article 34. Where,after receiving an application for  a  patent

for invention, the PatentOffice, upon preliminary examination, finds  the

application to be in conformitywith the  requirements  of  this  Law, it

shall publish the applicationwithin 18 months from the date of filing.

Upon the request  of  the applicant,  the  Patent  Office publishes  the

application earlier.

[*9] Old Article 39. Where it isfound after examination as to  substance

that there is no cause forrejection of the application for a patent  for

invention, the Patent Officeshall make a decision, announce it and notify

the applicant.

[*10] Old Article 40. Where,after receiving the application for a  patent

for utility model or design,the  Patent  Office finds  upon  preliminary

examination that the applicationis in conformity with the requirements of

this Law, it shall not proceedto examine it as  to substance  but  shall

immediately make an announcementand notify the applicant.

[*11]Old  Article  41. Within  three  months  from the  date  of   the

announcement  of  the application  for  a  patent, any  person  may,  in

accordance with the provisionsof this Law, file with the Patent Office an

opposition to that application.The Patent Office shall send a copy of the

opposition to the applicant,to  which  the applicant  shall  respond  in

writing within three months fromthe date of its receipt; if, without  any

justified reason, the time limitfor making the written  response is  not

met, the application shall bedeemed to have been withdrawn.

[*12] Old Article 42. Where,after examination, the  Patent Office  finds

that the opposition isjustified, it shall make a decision to  reject  the

application and notify theopponent and the applicant.

[*13]Old  Article  43. The  Patent  Office  shall set  up   a   Patent

Reexamination Board.  Where  the applicant  is  not  satisfied with  the

decision of the Patent Officerejecting the application, he  or  it  may,

within three months from thedate of receipt of the notification,  request

the Patent  Reexamination  Board to  make  a  reexamination.  The  Patent

Reexamination Board shall, afterreexamination, make a decision and notify

the applicant.

Where the applicant for a patentfor invention is not satisfied with  the

decision of thePatent  Reexamination  Board  rejecting  the request  for

reexamination, he or it maywithin three months from the date of  receipt

of the notification, institutelegal proceedings in the people's court.

The decision of the PatentReexamination Board in respect of any  request

by the applicant forreexamination concerning a utility model or design is

final.

[*14] Old Article 44. Where noopposition to the application for a patent

is filed  or  where, after  its  examination,  the opposition  is  found

unjustified, the Patent Officeshall make a decision to grant the  patent

right, issue  the  patent certificate,  and  register and  announce  the

relevant matters.

[*15] Old Article 45. Theduration of patent right for inventions shall be

15 years counted from the dateof filing.

The duration of patent right forutility models or designs shall be  five

years counted from the date offiling. Before the expiration of the  said

term, the patentee may apply fora renewal for three years.

Where the patentee enjoys aright of  priority, the  duration  of  patent

right shall be counted from thedate on which the application was filed in

China.

[*16] Old Article 48. Where,after the grant  of the  patent  right,  any

entity or individual considersthat the grant of the said patent right  is

not in conformity with theprovisions of this Law, it or he  may  request

the Patent Reexamination Boardto declare the patent right invalid.

[*17] Old Article 50. Any patentright which  has  been  declared  invalid

shall be deemed to benonexistent from the beginning.

[*18] Old Article 51. Thepatentee himself or itself has the obligation to

make the patented product, or touse the patented process, in  China,  or

otherwise to authorize otherpersons to make the patented product,  or  to

use the patented process, inChina.

[*19] Old Article 52. Where thepatentee of an invention or utility model

fails, without any justifiedreason, by the expiration of three years from

the date of the grant of thepatent right, to fulfil the  obligation  set

forth in Article 51, the PatentOffice may, upon the request of an entity

which is qualified to exploitthe invention  or utility  model,  grant  a

compulsory license to exploitthe patent.

[*20] The old second  paragraph  of Article  60:  When  any infringement

dispute arises,  if  the patent  for  invention  is a  process  for  the

manufacture of aproduct,  any entity  or  individual  manufacturing  the

identical  product  shall furnish  proof  of  the process  used  in  the

manufacture of its or hisproduct.

[*21] This is a new paragraphadded to Article 63.

[*22] This Decision relates tothe amendments of Articles 11, 25, 29,  30,

33, 34, 39-45, 48, 50-52, 60 and63 of the Patent Law.

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