|
法 規 報 導
Laws and
Regulations
1、歐盟智財權發展趨勢
歐盟有關基因專利之動態
歐洲議會於日前要求歐盟重新檢討一九九八年98/44/EC指
令之規定，並延緩要求歐盟會員國將該指令轉換為本國法之
期限。緣關於存有人類基因問題及生化科技發明保護規定之
該指令，要求各歐盟會員國須於二○○○年七月底前將其制
定為本國法。
歐盟國會通過歐盟新式樣專利的立法
歐盟國會於二○○○年六月十六日通過歐盟新式樣專利的
立法，該新法將自最後簽署日後六十日生效。歐盟新式樣專
利的權利期間為五年，自申請註冊之日起算，最久可享有二
十五年的權利保護期間。該法生效後，申請人可向原僅受理
商標申請之歐盟市場調合局，申請註冊歐盟新式樣專利。
歐盟網路著作權保護的立法動態
經過三年的談判之後，歐盟會員國於二○○○年六月八日
達成協議，同意制定給予會員國有很大決定空間之網際網路
上著作權保護的著作權指令-著作權及資訊社會中之相關權
利"(Copyright and Related Rights in the Information
Society)；歐盟各會員國可自行決定要維持其國內的現行
規範抑或遵循此一著作權指令的規定。
（以上歐盟相關智財權資料彙整自
http：//www.moeaipo.gov.tw/sub6/n0038.htm、
http：//www.moeaipo.gov.tw/sub6/n0041.htm、
http：//www.moeaipo.gov.tw/sub6/i0002.htm、
http：//www.moeaipo.gov.tw/sub6/i0001.htm。）
1. IPR Developments in the European Union
EU genetic patent developments
The European Parliament recently requested the EU to reconsider the provisions of a 1998 directive (98/44/EC), and extended the deadline for enactment of the provisions into law by member countries. The directive, which dealt with issues relating to human genetic information and regulations for protection of biotechnology, was originally to have been enacted into law by member nations by the end of July 2000.
European Parliament passes new design patent legislation
On 26 June 2000, the European Parliament passed legislation dealing with new design patents, which will become effective 60 days after the date of final signing. The effective term for such patents will be for five years after the date of registration, which can be extended for a full 25 years of patent rights protection. After the law takes effect, applicants may apply to the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (previously responsible only for trademark applications) for registration of an EU new design patent.
EU legislation for protection of copyrighted works on the Internet
After three years of negotiations, EU member nations on 8 June 2000 reached agreement on the draft of a directive dealing with protection of copyrighted works on the Internet, the "Copyright and Related Rights in the Information Society." Individual member nations are given great leeway in choosing to either adopt the provisions of the new directive or maintain their own current regimes. (The above information excerpted from:
http://www.moeaipo.gov.tw/sub6//n0038.htm, http://www.moeaipo.gov.tw/sub6/n0041.htm, http://www.moeaipo.gov.tw/sub6/i0002.htm, http://www.moeaipo.gov.tw/sub6/i0001.htm)
2、日本智財權發展動態
日本網域名稱侵害保護發展動態
日本有關網域名稱侵害保護問題，近來有兩項重要的發展，其一為由日本
網際網路資訊中心(Japan Network Information Center)所制定，而於二○○○年十月十九日生效之網域名稱爭端解決政策(DomainName Dispute Resolution Policy)，另一重要的發展為日本國際貿易暨工業部將提議修改不正競爭禁止法(Japan's Law to Prevent Unfair Competition)的規定。
商標專用權人依該爭端解決政策，對於他人明顯惡意使用其商標，註冊為網域名稱的之侵害事件，可獲得較法院司法程序為迅速、經濟的救濟，而不服救濟程序者，可向法院提起訴訟。
另前揭將修正之不正競爭禁止法，將擴大不公平競爭的保護範圍及於網域名稱侵害事件，而保護的客體也不限於在日本註冊的商標，亦及於由法院依個案判定之著名的公司名稱或其他著名的名稱等。
日本擬定「產業發明實施準則」及「電腦軟體相關發明實施準則」修正草案
為因應個人電腦與網際網路的普及化，及「商業方法相關發明」所致之網路商業化，電腦網路系統亦得被視為是一種利用網路技術傳輸電腦程式的方法，日本特許廳已針對前揭二項實施準則擬定修正草案。草案內容公布於以下網址：http://www.jpo-miti.go.jp/ikene-/feedback_121102.htm
（以上日本相關智財權資料彙整自
http：//www.moeaipo.gov.tw/sub6/i0004.htm。）
2. IPR Developments in Japan
Protection against infringement of domain names
There have been two important developments recently in Japan's protection of domain names. The first is the new "Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy" drafted by the Japan Network Information Center, which took effect on 19 October 2000. Secondly, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry has proposed revision of Japan's "Law to Prevent Unfair Competition".
Under the former development, holders of trademark rights can obtain remedies in faster and less costly manners than in the courts when there has been deliberate infringement of their trademarks by persons who register the trademarks as domain names. Final decisions may be appealed to courts.
Revisions in the "Law to Prevent Unfair Competition" will expand the scope of protection against unfair competition and domain name infringement offered under that law. The subjects of protection will not be limited to trademarks registered in Japan, but will extend to well-known company names and other names as decided on a case-by-case basis in the courts.
Japan revises guidelines for industrial and software-related inventions
Japan has drafted revisions to its "Guidelines for Implementation of Industrial Inventions" and "Guidelines for Implementation of Software-related Inventions." Given the growing use of computers and the Internet, and the commercialization of the latter encouraged by provisions of the "Inventions Related to Commercial Methods," computer networks must be seen as a method for transmission of computer programs. Revisions were made by the Japanese Patent Office. The guidelines are posted at: http://www.jp-miti.go.jp/ikene-/feedback-121102.htm.
(The above information was taken from: http://www.moeaip.gov.tw/sub6/i0004.htm)
3、「中紐保護工業財產權辦法」及「中紐著作權保護暨執行互惠辦法」分別自八十九年十二月十九日及二十二日 起生效
「中紐保護工業財產權辦法」（計有八 條）及「中紐著作權保護暨執行互
惠辦法」（共有三十一條）已分別自八十九年十二月十九日及同年月二十二日起生效。雙方深信兩國在對等之基礎及互惠之原則上，將可提供智慧財產權適當及有效之保護。
3. Taiwan, New Zealand Sign Industrial Property and Copyright Agreements
Taiwan and New Zealand signed agreements protecting industrial property and copyrights on 19 December 2000 and 20 December 2000 respectively. The industrial property agreement contains eight articles while the copyright agreement provides 31 articles. The two sides expressed hope that the agreements will provide appropriate and effective protection of intellectual property based on principles of equality and reciprocity.
4、智慧局研擬商標法修正草案
現行商標法之主要架構係民國八十二年十二月二十二日總統公布之商標法，之後，為配合加入世界貿易組織，於八十六年五月七日總統公布修正第四條等八條部分條文，並於八十七年十一月一日施行，合先敘明。揆自八十二年以來，因商標法若干規定未能與時俱進，又鑑於商標流通具國際性，而世界主要國家均朝商標制度統合及協調化而努力，我國自應密切關注。有感於國內企業發展需要、國際立法趨勢，現行商標制度確應作整體改進及調整，經濟部智慧財產局爰擬具商標法修正草案。該局為使本草案更益妥善，於去（八十九）年共陸續召開八次公聽會，並將於本（九十）年繼續召開公聽會。
茲將本商標法修正草案修正要點說明如下：
一、商標法修正為九章一百零三條，章節條次重新編排
二、擴張商標之意義及於服務標章
三、增訂立體形狀商標之保護
四、因應電子商務及國際網路之發達，修正商標使用定義
五、將現行不得申請註冊事由集中於同一條文
六、納入著名商標或標章識別性減弱及毀損商譽之禁止規定七、申請人為不失其商標之完整性，經聲明商標中所包含說明性或不具特別顯著性之部分不請求專用者，得以註冊之「聲明不專用制度」納入本法。
八、採行一案多類別申請制度
九、廢除聯合商標制度及逐步廢除防護商標制度
十、引進分割制度
十一、採行審查官具名制度
十二、核駁理由先行通知制度納入本法
十三、縮短異議期間為二個月
十四、商標移轉不影響異議程序進行
十五、商標註冊規費分期繳納
十六、廢除延展註冊申請之實體審查
十七、商標專用權移轉不影響授權關係之存續
十八、加強商標授權管理，被授權人應有標示商標之義務
十九、增訂未得質權人同意者，不得就同一商標專用權再行設定質權於第三人。
二十、增訂拋棄商標專用權應經被授權人或質權人同意之限制
二十一、修正商標專用權消滅之規定
二十二、新增部分商品或服務專用權評定無效之規定
二十三、增訂相關合理之除斥期間之規定
二十四、評定制度採言詞辯論
二十五、評定事件採行不經訴願，逕提行政訴訟
二十六、新增商標評定之再審制度
二十七、配合行政程序法之制定，現行撤銷制度修改名稱為「廢止」
二十八、廢除申請廢止案之利害關係人資格限制
二十九、明定喪失識別性得構成廢止商標專用權之事由
三十、新增商標審議委員會
三十一、增訂商標虛偽陳述或標示之相關規定
三十二、增列產地證明標章申請註冊之法源
三十三、團體標章修正為團體會員標章
三十四、除表彰團體會籍之團體會員標章外，增訂對表彰團體之成員所提供之商品或服務之團體商標
三十五、明列標章不當使用之態樣
三十六、明訂過渡期間適用新舊法之規定
三十七、明定商標註冊無效之事由，以其註冊時及本次修正之規定均列為得申請評定者為限
4. IPO Drafts Amendments to the Trademark Law
The Presidential Office promulgated the basic framework of the current Trademark Law on 22 December 1994. Later, in anticipation of entry into the World Trade Organization, amendments to Articles 4 and 8 were announced on 7 May 1997 and took effect on 1 November 1998.
The Trademark Law has been receiving close attention because in 1993 current developments began to outpace the effectiveness of some provisions, and because many countries have been moving toward integration and harmonization of their trademark systems due to the international nature of trademarks. International legislative trends and the needs of domestic industries have created the need for a comprehensive overhaul of the current trademark regime, which is being undertaken by the Intellectual Property Office. In order to ensure the appropriateness of the revisions, the IPO held eight public hearings in 1999 and further hearings throughout 2000. Key points of the amendments are as follows:
1. Content of the law to be rearranged into 103 Articles in 9 Chapters.
2. Trademark definition to be extended to include service marks.
3. Protection to be given to three-dimensional marks.
4. Definitions of trademark use will be revised in response to the development of electronic commerce and the Internet.
5. Current standards for rejection of registration will be collated in one article.
6. Provisions to be included prohibiting dilution of the distinctiveness of famous marks and damage to commercial reputation.
7. In order to preserve the integrity of applicants' marks, registration with "disclaimer of exclusive use" will be adopted in the law for applicants willing to disclaim exclusive rights to the descriptive or non-distinctive portions of marks.
8. One application may include multiple classes.
9. Associated mark system to be abolished with phased abolishment of defensive mark system.
10. Assignment of trademarks may be made for individual products and services.
11. Trademark examiner's names to be disclosed.
12. Current system for rejection notices will be included in the law.
13. Period for opposition will be reduced to two months.
14. Transfer of mark will not impede opposition process.
15. Trademark fees to be paid in installments.
16. Substantive review for trademark renewal will be abolished.
17. Transfer of mark will not influence continuation of licensing.
18. Controls over licensing will be strengthened; licensees will be obligated to display the mark.
19. New provision preventing transfer of an exclusive trademark right pledge to a new pledgee without permission from the original pledgee.
20. New provision requiring approval from authorized users or pledgees prior to abandonment of trademark rights.
21. Revision of regulations regarding extinguishments of trademark rights.
22. New provisions for invalidation of trademark rights for individual products or services.
23. New provisions relating to reasonable period for statute of limitations.
24. Trademark review may include oral interview with examiner.
25. Appeal may take place only by direct initiation of administrative litigation.
26. New provisions added for re-examination of marks.
27. The term "cancel" will be amended to read "abolish" in accordance with new administrative procedure rules.
28. Application for cancellations will no longer be limited to "interested parties".
29. Loss of distinctiveness must be one requirement for abolishment.
30. New trademark review board will be created.
31. New provisions relating to false claims or presentations in trademarks.
32. Legal basis for registration of indications of origin will be added.
33. Collective marks will be revised to become membership marks.
34. "Collective marks" category will be expanded to included not only marks indicating membership, but to indicate the goods or services provided by members.
35. Conditions comprising inappropriate use of a mark to be specified.
36. Transition period between old and new laws to be defined.
37. Conditions under which registration is invalid to be stipulated; both the currently amended version of the law and that current at the time of application may be used as approval criteria.
|
