(Revision Approved by the State Council on December
12, 1992 and Promulgated by the Patent Office of the
People's Republic of China on December 21, 1992)
(Translated by the Patent Office of the
People's Republic of China. In case of discrepancy, the original
version in Chinese shall prevail.)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
* This Table of Contents was established for the convenience
of the reader by the Patent Laws Research Institute of the Chinese
Patent Office. The text of the Implementing Regulations of the
Patent Law approved by the State Council does not
contain such a table and the rules have no titles in the
Regulations.
CHAPTER
I GENERAL PROVISIONS
Rule
1 Basis of the
Implementing Regulations
2 Definitions of Invention, Utility Model and
Design
3 Requirement of Written Form for Procedures
4 Language of
Documents
5 Filing and Service of Documents
6 Computation of Time
Limits
7 Restoration of Right and Extension of Time Limit
8
Applications Relating to State Security
9 Meaning of Date of
Filing
10 Service Inventions-Creations
11 Inventors and
Creators
12 Prohibition of Double Patenting
13 Record of Patent
License Contract
14 Designation of Foreign-Related Patent Agency
15
Dispute Concerning Right to Patent and Patent Ownership
CHAPTER
II APPLICATION FOR PATENT
16 Application
Document; Appointment of Patent Agency
17 Request
18
Description
19 Drawings
20 Claims
21 Independent Claim and
Dependent Claim
22 Form of Independent Claim
23 Form of Dependent
Claim
24 Abstract
25 Deposit of Sample of Micro-Organism
26
Request for Use of Sample of Micro-Organism
27 Drawings or Photographs
of Design
28 Brief Explanation of Design
29 Sample or Model of
Product Incorporating a Design
30 Existing Technology
31 Claiming
Grace Period
32 Claiming Right of Priority
33 Claiming One or More
Priorities; Claiming Domestic Priority
34 Documents Required for
Claiming Foreign Priority
35 Unity of Invention and Utility Model
36
Unity of Design
37 Withdrawal of Patent Application
CHAPTER
III EXAMINATION AND APPROVAL OF APPLICATION FOR PATENT
38
Exclusion
39 Notification of Date of Filing and Filing Number
40
Unacceptable Patent Application
41 Belated Furnishing of Drawings
42
Filing of Divisional Application
43 Date of Filing and Date of Priority
of Divisional Application
44 Preliminary Examination
45 Submission
of Other Related Documents
46 Early Publication of Patent
Application
47 Classification of Products Incorporating the
Design
48 Observations on Application for Patent for Invention
49
Documents Concerning Search or Results of Examination to Be
Furnished Later
50 Examination by the Patent Office on its Own
Initiative
51 Time for Amending Patent Application
52 Form of
Amending Patent Application
53 Grounds for Rejecting Application for
Patent for Invention
54 Grant of Patent Right
55 Grounds for
Revocation
56 Request for Revocation
57 Examination of Request for
Revocation
58 Patent Reexamination Board
59 Request for
Reexamination
60 Rectification of Request for Reexamination
61
Pre-Examination by Former Examination Department
62 Examination of
Request for Reexamination
63 Withdrawal of Request for
Reexamination
64 Correction of Mistakes by the Patent Office
CHAPTER
IV INVALIDATION OF PATENT RIGHT
65 Request for Invalidation
66
Rectification of Request for Invalidation; Grounds for Request for
Invalidation
67 Observations by the Patentee
CHAPTER
V COMPULSORY LICENSE FOR EXPLOITATION OF PATENT
68 Request for
Compulsory License; Observations by the Patentee; Grant of
Compulsory License
69 Adjudication of Fees for Exploitation
CHAPTER
VI REWARDS TO INVENTOR OR CREATOR OF SERVICE INVENTION-CREATION
70
Rewards
71 Money Prize
72 Remuneration Drawn from Profits of
Exploitation
73 Remuneration Drawn from Exploitation fee of
License
74 Disbursement of Remunerations
75 Applicability to
Entities Owning Patent Right
CHAPTER
VII ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY FOR PATENT AFFAIRS
76 Administrative
Authority for Patent Affairs
77 Function of Administrative Authority
for Patent Affairs to Settle Patent Disputes; Prescription
78
Punishment for Act of Passing Off
79 Jurisdiction of Trans-departmental
or Trans-regional Infringement Disputes
CHAPTER
VIII PATENT REGISTER AND PATENT GAZETTE
80 Patent
Registration
81 Patent Gazette
CHAPTER
IX FEES
82 Kinds of Fees
83 Methods of Payment
of Fees
84 Time Limit for Payment of Application Fee
85 Time Limit
for Payment of Fees Relating to Examination, Reexamination, Restoration of
Right and Revocation
86 Time Limit for Payment of Application
Maintenance Fee
87 Time Limit for Payment of Patent Registration Fee
and Annual Fee
88 Grace Period for Application Maintenance Fee and
Annual Fee
89 Time Limit for Payment of Other Fees
90 Reduction or
Postponement of Payment of Fees
CHAPTER
X SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS
91 Inspection, Copy and Keeping of
Files
92 Prescribed Form of Documents; Changes in the Bibliographic
Data
93 Sending of Documents by Mail
94 Formal Requirements for
Application Documents
95 Interpretation of the Implementing
Regulations
96 Date of Entry into Force and Transitional Provisions
CHAPTER I
GENERAL
PROVISIONS
Rule 1. These Implementing Regulations are
drawn up in accordance with the Patent Law of the People's Republic of
China ( hereinafter referred to as the Patent Law).
Rule
2. "Invention" in the Patent Law means any new technical solution
relating to a product, a process or improvement thereof.
"Utility
model" in the Patent Law means any new technical solution relating to the
shape, the structure, or their combination, of a product, which is fit for
practical use.
"Design" in the Patent Law means any new design of
the shape, pattern, color, or their combination, of a product, which
creates an aesthetic feeling and is fit for industrial
application.
Rule 3. Any proceedings provided for by
the Patent Law and these Implementing Regulations shall be conducted in a
written form.
Rule 4. Any document submitted under the Patent
Law and these Implementing Regulations shall be in Chinese. The standard
scientific and technical terms shall be used if, there is a prescribed one
set forth by the State. Where no generally accepted translation in Chinese
can be found for a foreign name or scientific or technical term, the one
in the original language shall be also indicated.
Where any
certificate and certified document submitted in accordance with the Patent
Law and these Implementing Regulations are in foreign languages, and where
the Patent Office deems it necessary, it may request a Chinese translation
of the certificate and the certified document to be submitted within a
specified time limit; where the translation is not submitted within the
specified time limit, the certificate and certified document shall be
deemed not to have been submitted.
Rule 5. For any
document sent by mail to the Patent Office, the date of mailing indicated
by the postmark on the envelope shall be presumed to be the date of
filing. If the date of mailing indicated by the postmark on the envelope
is illegible, the date on which the Patent Office receives the document
shall be the date of filing, except where the date of mailing is proved by
the addressor.
Any document of the Patent Office may be served by
mail, by personal delivery or by public announcement. Where any party
concerned appoints a patent agency, the document shall be sent to the
patent agency; where no patent agency is appointed, the document shall be
sent to the person first named in the request or to the representative. If
such person refuses to accept the document, it shall be presumed to have
been served.
For any document sent by mail by the Patent Office,
the 16th day from the date of mailing shall he presumed to be the date on
which the addressee receives the document.
For any document which
shall be delivered personally in accordance with the prescription of the
Patent Office, the date of delivery is the date on which the addressee
receives the document.
Where the address of a document is not
clear and cannot be sent by mail, the document may be served by making an
announcement in the Patent Gazette. At the expiration of one month from
the date of the announcement, the document shall be presumed to have been
served.
Rule 6. The first day of any time limit
prescribed in the Patent Law and these Implementing Regulations shall not
be counted. Where a time limit is counted by year or by month, it shall
expire on the corresponding day of the last month; if there is no
corresponding day in that month, the time limit shall expire on the last
day of that month.
If a time limit expires on an official holiday,
the time limit shall expire on the first working day after that official
holiday.
Rule 7. Where a time limit prescribed in the
Patent Law or these Implementing Regulations or specified by the Patent
Office is not observed because of force majeure, resulting the loss of any
right on the part of the party concerned, he or it shall, within two
months from the date on which the impediment is removed, at the latest
within two years immediately following the expiration of that time limit,
state the reasons, together with relevant supporting documents and request
the Patent Office to restore his or its rights.
Where a time limit
prescribed in the Patent Law or these Implementing Regulations or
specified by the Patent Office is not observed because of any justified
reason, resulting the loss of any right on the part of the party
concerned, he or it shall, within two months from the date of receipt of a
notification from the Patent Office, state the reasons and request the
Patent Office to restore his or its rights.
Where the party
concerned makes a request for an extension of a time limit specified by
the Patent Office, he or it shall, before the time limit expires, state
the reasons to the Patent Office and complete the relevant
procedures.
The provisions of paragraphs one and two of this Rule
shall not be applicable to the time limits referred to in Articles 24, 29,
41, 45 and 61 of the Patent Law.
The provisions of paragraph two
of this Rule shall not be applicable to the time limit referred to in Rule
88 of these Implementing Regulations.
Rule 8. Where the
invention for which a patent is applied for by the entity of the national
defence system relates to the security of the State concerning national
defence and is required to be kept secret, the application for patent
shall be filed with the patent organization set up by the competent
department of science and technology of national defence under the State
Council. Where any application for patent for invention relating to the
secrets of the State concerning national defence and requiring to be kept
classified is received by the Patent Office, the Patent Office shall
transfer the application to the said patent organization. The Patent
Office shall make a decision on the basis of the observations of the
examination of the application presented by the said patent
organization.
Subject to the preceding paragraph, the, Patent
Office, after receipt of an application for patent for invention which is
required to be examined for the purpose of security, shall send it to the
competent department concerned if the State Council for examination. The
said department shall, within four months from receipt of the application,
send a report on the results of the examination to the Patent Office.
Where the invention for which a patent is applied for is required to be
kept classified, the Patent Office shall handle it as an application for
secret patent and notify the applicant accordingly.
Rule
9. The date of filing referred to in the Patent Law, except that
mentioned in Articles 28 and 45, means the priority date where a right of
priority is claimed.
The date of filing referred to in these
Implementing Regulations means the date on which the application for
patent is filed with the Patent Office.
Rule 10. "
Service invention-creation made by a person in execution of the tasks of
the entity to which he belongs " mentioned in Article 6 of the Patent Law
refers to any invention-creation made:
(1) in the course of
performing his own duty;
(2) in execution of any task, other than
his own duty, which was entrusted to him by the entity to which he
belongs;
(3) within one year from his resignation, retirement or
change of work, where the invention- creation relates to his own duty or
the other task entrusted to him by the entity to which he previously
belonged.
" Material means of the entity" mentioned in Article 6
of the Patent Law refers to entity's money, equipment, spare parts, raw
materials, or technical data which are not to be disclosed to the
public.
Rule 11. "Inventor" or "creator" mentioned in
the Patent Law refers to any person who has made creative contributions to
the substantive features of the invention-creation. Any person who, during
the course of accomplishing the invention-creation, is responsible only
for organization work, or who offers facilities for making use of material
means, or who takes part in other auxiliary frunctions, shall not be
considered as inventor or creator.
Rule 12. For any
identical invention-creation, only one patent right shall be
granted.
Two or more applicants who file, on the same day,
applications for patent for the identical invention-creation, as provided
for in Article 9 of the Patent Law, shall, after receipt of a notification
from the Patent Office, hold consultation among themselves to decide the
person or persons who shall be entitled to file the
application.
Rule 13. Any license contract for
exploitation of the patent which has been concluded by the patentee with
an entity or individual shall, within three months from the date of entry
into force of the contract, be submitted to the Patent Office for
record.
Rule 14. "The patent agency" referred to in
Article 19, Paragraph one, and Article 20 of the Patent Law shall, on the
authorization of the State Council, be designated by the Patent
Office.
Rule 15. Where any dispute arises concerning
the right to apply for a patent for an invention- creation or the right to
own a patent right which has been granted, any of the parties concerned
may request the administrative authority for patent affairs to handle the
matter or may institute legal proceedings in the people's court.
Any party to a dispute concerning the right to apply for a patent or the
right to own a patent right which is pending before the administrative
authority for patent affairs or the people's court, may request the Patent
Office to suspend the relevant procedures.
Any party requesting
suspension of the procedure before the Patent Office in accordance with
the preceding paragraph, shall submit a request to the Patent Office,
together with the relevant document of the administrative authority for
patent affairs or the people's court before which the dispute is
pending.
CHAPTER II
APPLICATION FOR
PATENT
Rule 16. Anyone who applies for a patent shall
submit application documents in two copies.
Any applicant who
appoints a patent agency for filing an application for a patent with, or
for dealing with other patent matters before, the Patent Office, shall
submit a power of attorney indicating the scope of the power
entrusted.
Rule 17. Other related matters mentioned in
Article 26, paragraph two, of the Patent Law refer to:
(1) the
nationality of the applicant;
(2) where the applicant is an
enterprise or other organization, the name of the country in which the
applicant has the principal business office;
(3) where the
applicant has appointed a patent agency, the relevant matters which should
be indicated;
(4) where the priority of an earlier application is
claimed, the relevant matters which should be indicated;
(5) the
signature or seal of the applicant or the patent agency;
(6) a
list of the documents constituting the application;
(7) a list of
the documents appending the application;
(8) any other related
matter which needs to be indicated.
Where there are two or more
applicants and where they have not appointed a patent agency, they shall
designate a representative.
Rule 18. The description of
an application for a patent for invention or utility model shall be
presented in the following manner and order:
(1) state the title
of the invention or utility model as appearing in the request;
(2)
specify the technical field to which the invention or utility model
relates;
(3) indicate the background art which, as far as known to
the applicant, can be regarded as useful for the understanding, searching
and examination of the invention or utility model, and cite the documents
reflecting such art;
(4) specify the purpose which the invention
or utility model is designed to fulfill;
(5) disclose the
technical solution of the invention or utility model, as claimed, in such
terms that a person having ordinary skill in the art can understand it and
fulfill the purpose of the invention or utility model;
(6) state
the advantageous effects of the invention or utility model, with reference
to the background art;
(7) briefly describe the figures in the
drawings, if any;
(8) describe in detail the best mode
contemplated by the applicant for carrying out the invention or utility
model; this shall be done in terms of examples, where appropriate, and
with reference to the drawings, if any.
The manner and order
mentioned in the preceding paragraph shall be observed by the applicant of
a patent for invention or a patent for utility model, unless, because of
the nature of the invention or utility model, a different manner or order
would afford a better understanding and a more economical
presentation.
The description of the invention or utility model
shall not contain such references to the claims as: "as described in
part-- -- - of the claim", nor shall it contain commercial
advertising.
Rule 19. The same sheet of drawings may
contain several figures of the invention or utility model, and the
drawings shall be numbered and arranged in numerical order consecutively
as "Figure 1, Figure 2, - - - - - - ".
The scale and the
distinctness of the drawings shall be such that a reproduction with a
linear reduction in size to two-thirds would still enable all details to
be clearly distinguished.
Drawing reference signs not appearing in
the text of the description of the invention or utility model shall not
appear in the drawings. Drawing reference signs not appearing in the
drawings shall not appear in the text of the description. Drawing
reference signs for the same composite part used in an application
document shall be consistent throughout.
The drawings shall not
contain any other explanatory notes, except words which are
indispensable.
Rule 20. The claims shall define clearly
and concisely the matter for which protection is sought in terms of the
technical features of the invention or utility model.
If there are
several claims, they shall be numbered consecutively in Arabic
numerals.
The technical terminology used in the claims shall be
consistent with that used in the description. The claims may contain
chemical or mathematical formulae but no drawings. They shall not, except
where absolutely necessary, contain such references to the description or
drawings as: "as described in part --- -- - of the description", or "as
illustrated in figure - - - - - - of the drawings".
The technical
features mentioned in the claims may, in order to facilitate quicker
understanding of the claim, make reference to the corresponding reference
signs in the drawings of the description. Such reference signs shall
follow the corresponding technical features and be placed between
parentheses. They shall not be construed as limiting the
claims.
Rule 21. The claims shall have an independent
claim, and may also contain dependent claims.
An independent claim
shall outline the technical solution of an invention or utility model and
describe the indispensable technical features necessary for fulfilling the
purpose of the invention or utility model.
A dependent claim shall
further define the claim which it refers to by additional features which
it is desired to protect.
Rule 22. An independent claim
of an invention or utility model shall contain a preamble portion and a
characterizing portion, and be presented in the following form:
(1) a preamble portion,indicating the title of the claimed subject matter
of the invention or utility model, and those technical features of the
invention or utility model which are necessary for the definition of the
claimed subject matter but which, in combination, are part of the prior
art;
(2) a characterizing portion, stating, in such words as
"characterized in that - -- - " or in similar expressions, the technical
features of the invention or utility model, which distinguish it from the
prior art. These features, in combination with the features stated in the
preamble portion, served to define the scope of protection of the
invention or utility model.
Independent claims may be presented in
any other form, where it is not appropriate, according to the nature of
the invention or utility model, to present them in the form prescribed in
the preceding paragraph.
Each invention or utility model shall
have only one independent claim, which shall precede all the dependent
claims relation to the same invention or utility model.
Rule 23. A dependent claim of an invention or utility model shall
contain a reference portion and a characterizing portion, and be presented
in the following form:
(1) a reference portion, indicating the
serial number(s) of the claim(s) referred to, and the title of the subject
matter;
(2) a characterizing portion, stating the additional
technical features of the invention or utility model.
A dependent
claim referring to one or more other claims shall refer only to the
preceding claim or claims. A multiple dependent claim which refers to more
than one other claim shall not serve as a basis for any other multiple
dependent claim.
Rule 24. The abstract shall indicate
the technical field to which the invention or utility model pertains, the
technical problems to be solved, the essential technical features and the
use or uses of the invention or utility model. The abstract may contain
the chemical formula which best characterizes the invention. In an
application for a patent which contains drawings, the applicant shall
indicate and provide a drawing which best characterizes the invention or
utility model. The scale and the distinctness of the drawings shall be
such that a reproduction with a linear reduction in size to 4cm x 6cm
would still enable all details to be dearly distinguished. The whole text
of the abstract shall contain not more than 200 Chinese characters. There
shall be no commercial advertising in the abstract.
Rule
25. Where an application for a patent for invention concerns a new
micro-organism, a micro- biological process or a product thereof and
involves the use of a micro-organism which is not available to the public,
the applicant shall, in addition to the other requirements provided for in
the Patent Law and these Implementing Regulations, complete the following
procedures.
(1) deposit a sample of the micro-organism with a
depository institution designated by the Patent Office before the date of
filing, or, at the latest, on the date of filing, and submit,at the time
of filing, or, at the latest, within three months from the filing date, a
receipt of deposit and the viability proof from the depository
institution; where they are not submitted within the specified time limit,
the sample of the micro-organism shall be deemed not to have been
deposited;
(2) give in the application document relevant
information of the characteristics of the micro- organism;
(3)
indicate, where the application relates to the deposit of the
micro-organism, in the request and the description the scientific name
(with its Latin name) and the name of the depository institution. the date
on which the sample of the micro-organism was deposited and the accession
number of the deposit; where, at the time of filing, they are not
indicated, they shall be supplied within three months from the date of
filing; where after the expiration of the time limit they are not
supplied, the sample of the micro- organism shall be deemed not to have
been deposited.
Rule 26. After the publication of an
application for a patent for invention relating to a micro- organism, any
entity or individual which or who intends to make use of the
micro-organism mentioned in the application for the purpose of experiment
shall make a request to the Patent Office containing the
following:
(1) the name and address of the entity or individual
making the request;
(2) an undertaking not to make the
micro-organism available to any other person;
(3) an undertaking
to use the micro-organism for experimental purpose only before the grant
of the patent right.
Rule 27. The size of drawings or
photographs of a design submitted in accordance with the provisions of
Article 27 of the Patent Law shall not be smaller than 3cm x 8cm, nor
larger than 15cm x 22cm.
Where an application for a patent for
design seeking concurrent protection of colors is filed, a drawing or
photograph in color, and a drawing or photograph in white and black, shall
be submitted.
The applicant shall submit, in respect of the
subject matter of the product incorporating the design which is in need of
protection, the relevant views and stereoscopic drawings or photographs,
so as to clearly show the subject matter for which protection is
sought.
Rule 28. Where an application for a patent for
design is filed, a. brief explanation of the design shall, when necessary,
be indicated.
The brief explanation of the design shall include
the main creative portion of the design, the colors for which protection
is sought and the omission of the view of the product incorporating the
design. The brief explanation shall not contain any commercial advertising
and shall not be used to indicate the function and the uses of the
product.
Rule 29. Where the Patent Office finds it
necessary, it may require the applicant for a patent for design to submit
a sample or model or the product incorporating the design. The volume of
the sample or model submitted shall not exceed 30cm x 30cm x 30cm, and its
weight shall not surpass 15 kilos. Articles easy to get rotten or broken,
or articles that are dangerous may not be submitted as sample or
model.
Rule 30. The existing technology mentioned in
Article 22, paragraph three, of the Patent Law means any technology which
has been publicly disclose in publications in the country or abroad, or
has been publicly used or made known to the public by any other means in
the country, before the date of filing (or the priority date where
priority is claimed), that is, prior art.
Rule 31. The
academic or technological meeting mentioned in item (2) of Article 24 of
the Patent Law means any academic or technological meeting organized by a
competent department concerned of the State Council or by a national
academic or technological association.
Where any application for a
patent falls under the provisions of item (1) or item (2) of Article 24 of
the Patent Law, the applicant shall, when filing the application, make a
declaration and, within a time limit of two months from the date of
filing, submit a certificate issued by the entity which organized the
international exhibition or academic or technological meeting, stating
that the invention-creation was in fact exhibited or made public there and
also the date of its exhibition or making public.
Where any
application for a patent falls under the provisions of item (3) of Article
24 of the Patent Law, the Patent Office may, when necessary, require the
applicant to submit the relevant proof.
Rule 32. Where
the applicant is to comply with the requirements for claiming the right of
priority in accordance with Article 30 of the Patent Law, he or it shall,
in his or its written declaration, indicate the date of filing and the
filing number of the application which was first filed (hereinafter
referred to as the earlier application) and the country in which that
application was filed. If the written declaration does not contain the
date of filing of the earlier application and the name of that country,
the declaration shall be deemed not to have been made.
Where the
foreign priority is claimed, the copy of the earlier application document
submitted by the applicant shall be certified by the competent authority
of the foreign country; where the domestic priority is claimed, the copy
of the earlier application document shall be prepared by the Patent
Office.
Rule 33. Any applicant may claim one or more
priorities for an application for a patent; where the priorities of
several earlier applications are claimed, the priority period for the
application shall be calculated from the earliest priority date.
Where any applicant claims the right of domestic priority, if the earlier
application is one for a patent for invention, he or it may file an
application for a patent for invention or utility model for the same
subject matter; if the earlier application is one for a patent for utility
model, he or it may file an application for a patent for utility model or
invention for the same subject matter. But when the later application is
filed, if the earlier application falls under any of the following, it may
not be the basis or domestic priority.
(1) where it has claimed
foreign or domestic priority;
(2) where it has been granted a
patent right;
(3) where it is a divisional application filed as
prescribed.
Where the domestic priority is claimed, the earlier
application shall be deemed to be withdrawn from the date on which the
later application is filed.
Rule 34. Where an
application for a patent is filed or the right of foreign priority is
claimed by any applicant having no habitual residence or business office
in China, the Patent Office may, when necessary, require the applicant to
submit the following documents:
(1) a certificate concerning the
nationality of the applicant;
(2) a certificate concerning the
seat of the business office or the headquarters, if the applicant is an
enterprise or other organization;
(3) a testimonial showing that
the country, to which the foreigner, foreign enterprise or other foreign
organization belongs, recognizes that Chinese citizens and entities are,
under the same conditions applied to its nationals, entitled to patent
right, right of priority and other related rights in that
country.
Rule 35. Two or more inventions or utility
models belonging, to a single general inventive concept which may be filed
as one application in accordance with the provision of Article 31,
paragraph one, of the Patent Law shall be technically inter-related and
contain one or more same or corresponding special technical features. The
expression "special technical features" shall mean those technical
features that define a contribution which each of those inventions,
considered as a whole, makes over the prior art.
The claims in one
application for a patent for two or more inventions which are in
conformity with the provisions of the preceding paragraph may be any of
the following:
(1) independent claims of the same category for two
or more products or processes which cannot be included in one
claim;
(2) an independent claim for a product and an independent
claim for a process specially adapted for the manufacture of the
product;
(3) an independent claim for a product and an independent
claim for a use of the product;
(4) an independent claim for a
product, an independent claim for a process specially adapted for the
manufacture of the product, and an independent claim for a use of the
product;
(5) an independent claim for a product, an independent
claim for a process specially adapted for the manufacture of the product,
an independent claim for an apparatus specially designed for carrying out
the process;
(6) an independent claim for a process and an
independent claim for an apparatus specially designed for carrying out the
process.
The claims in one application for a patent for two or
more utility models which are in conformity with the provisions of the
first paragraph may be independent claims for two or more products which
cannot be included in one claim.
Rule 36. The
expression "the same class" mentioned in Article 31, paragraph two of the
Patent Law means that the products incorporating the designs belong to the
same subclass in the classification of products for designs. The
expression "be sold or used in sets" means that the products incorporating
the designs have the same designing concept and are customarily sold or
used at the same time.
Where two or more designs are filed as one
application in accordance with the provisions of Article 31, paragraph
two, of the Patent Law, they shall be numbered consecutively and the
numbers shall be placed in front of the titles of the view of the product
incorporating the design.
Rule 37. When withdrawing an
application for a patent, the applicant shall submit to the Patent Office
a declaration stating the title of the invention-creation, the filing
number and the date of filing.
Where a declaration to withdraw an
application for a patent is submitted after the printing preparation has
been done by the Patent Office for publication of the application
documents, the application shall be published as scheduled.
CHAPTER III
EXAMINATION
AND APPROVAL OF APPLICATlON FOR PATENT
Rule 38. In any of the following situations, any
person who makes examination or hears a case in the procedures of
preliminary examination, examination as to substance, reexamination,
revocation and invalidation shall, on his own initiative or upon the
request of the parties concerned or any other interested person, be
excluded from exercising his function:
(1) where he is a close
relative of the party concerned or his agent;
(2) where he has an
interest in the application for patent or the patent right;
(3)
where he has such other kinds of relations with the party concerned or his
agent that might influence impartial examination and hearing.
Where a
member of the Patent Reexamination Board has taken part in the examination
of the application, the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall
apply.
The exclusion of persons making examination and hearing
cases shall be decided by the Patent Office.
Rule 39. Upon the receipt of an application for a patent for invention or
utility model consisting of a request, a description (a drawing being
indispensable for utility model) and one or more claims, or an application
for a patent for design consisting of a request and one or more drawings
or photographs showing the design, the Patent Office shall accord the date
of filing and a filing number and notify the applicant.
Rule 40. In any of the following situations, the Patent Office
shall declare the application unacceptable and notify the applicant
accordingly:
(1) where the application for a patent for invention
or utility model does not contain a request, a description (the
description of utility model does not contain drawings) or claims, or the
application for a patent for design does not contain a request, drawings
or photographs;
(2) where the application is not written in
Chinese;
(3) where the application is not in conformity with the
provisions of Rule 94, paragraph one, of these Implementing
Regulations;
(4) where the request does not contain the name and
address of the applicant;
(5) where the application is obviously
not in conformity with the provisions of Article18, or Article 19,
paragraph one, of the Patent Law;
(6) where the kind of protection
(patent for invention. utility model or design )of the application for a
patent is not clear and definite or cannot be discerned.
Rule 41. Where the description mentions that it contains
"explanatory notes to the drawings" but the drawings or part of them are
missing, the applicant shall, within the time limit specified by the
Patent Office, either furnish the drawings or make a declaration for the
deletion of the " explanatory notes to the drawings". If the drawings are
submitted later.the date of their delivering at, or mailing to, the Patent
Office shall be the date of filing of the application; if the mention of "
explanatory notes to the drawings" is to be deleted, the initial date of
filing shall be the date of filing of the application.
Rule 42. Where an application for a patent contains two or more inventions.
utility models or designs, the applicant may, at any time before the
Patent Office sends out the notification to grant the patent right, submit
to the Patent Office a divisional application.
If the Patent
Office finds that an application for a patent is not in conformity with
the provisions of Article 31 of the Patent Law and Rule 35 of these
Implementing Regulations, it shall invite the applicant to amend the
application within the specified time limit; if the applicant does not
make any response within the time limit, the application shall be deemed
to have been withdrawn.
The divisional application may not change
the kind of protection of the initial application.
Rule 43. A divisional application filed in accordance with Rule 42 of these
Implementing Regulations may enjoy the date of filing and, if priority is
validly claimed, the priority date of the initial application, provided
that the divisional application does not go beyond the scope of disclosure
contained in the initial applications.
The divisional application
shall be subject to the procedures in accordance with the provisions of
the Patent Law and these Implementing Regulations.
The filing
number and the date of filing of the initial application shall be
indicated in the request of a divisional application. When submitting the
divisional application, the applicant shall submit a copy of the initial
application document; if priority is claimed for the initial application,
the applicant shall submit a copy of the priority document of the initial
application as well.
Rule 44. "Preliminary
examination" mentioned in Articles 34 and 40 of the Patent Law means
examining an application for a patent to see whether or not it contains
the documents as provided for in Articles 26 or 27 of the Patent Law and
other necessary documents, and whether or not those documents are in the
prescribed form; such examination shall also include the
following:
(1) whether or not an application for a patent for
invention obviously falls under Articles 5 or 25 of the Patent Law, or is
obviously not in conformity with the provisions of Article 18 or Article
19, paragraph one, or is obviously not in conformity with the provisions
of Article 31, paragraph one, or Article 33 of the Patent Law, or Rule 2,
paragraph one. of these Implementing Regulations;
(2) whether or
not an application for a patent for utility model obviously falls under
Articles 5 or 25 of the Patent Law, or is obviously not in conformity with
the provisions of Article 18 or Article 19, paragraph one, or is obviously
not in conformity with the provisions of Article 31, paragraph one, or
Article 33 of the Patent Law, or Rule 2, paragraph two, or Rule 12,
paragraph one, or Rules 18 to 23 of these Implementig Regulations, or
cannot obtain a patent right according to the provisions of Article 9 of
the Patent Law;
(3) whether or not an application for a patent for
design obviously falls under Article 5 of the Patent Law, or is obviously
not in conformity with the provisions of Article 18 or Article 19,
paragraph one, or is obviously not in conformity with the provisions of
Article 31, paragraph tow, or Article 33 of the Patent Law, or Rule 2,
paragraph three, or Rule 12, paragraph one, of these Implementing
Regulations, or cannot obtain a patent right according to the provisions
of Article 9 of the Patent Law.
The Patent Office shall
communicate its observations after examination of the application to the
applicant and invite him or it to submit his or its observations or to
correct his or its application within the time limit. If the applicant
makes no response within the time limit, the application shall be deemed
to have been withdrawn. Where, after the applicant has made the
observations or the corrections, the Patent Office still finds that the
application is not in conformity with the provisions of the Articles and
the Rules cited in the relevant preceding sub-paragraph, the application
shall be rejected.
Rule 45. In any of the following
situations, any document relating to a patent application, not including
the patent application, which is submitted to the Patent Office, shall be
deemed not to have been submitted:
(1) where the document is not
presented in the prescribed form or the indications therein are not in
conformity with the prescriptions;
(2) where no supporting
document is submitted as prescribed.
The applicant shall be
notified that the document is deemed not to have been
submitted.
Rule 46. Where the applicant requests
an earlier publication of its or his application for a patent for
invention, a declaration shall be made to the Patent Office. The Patent
Office shall, after preliminary examination of the application and, unless
it is to be rejected, publish it immediately.
Rule
47. The applicant shall, when indicating in accordance with
Article 27 of the Patent Law the product incorporating the design and the
class to which that product belongs, refer to the classification of
products for designs published by the Patent Office. Where no indication,
or an incorrect indication, of the class to which the product
incorporating the design belongs is made, the Patent Office shall supply
the indication or correct it.
Rule 48. Any person may,
from the date of publication of an application for a patent for invention
till the date of announcing the grant of the patent right, submit to the
Patent Office observations, with the reasons therefor, on the application
which is not in conformity with the provisions of the Patent
Law.
Rule 49. Where the applicant for a patent for
invention cannot furnish, for justified reasons, the documents concerning
any search or the results of any examination under Article 36 of the
Patent Law, it or he shall make a statement to that effect and submit them
when the said documents are available.
Rule 50. The
Patent Office shall, when proceeding on its own initiative to examine an
application for a patent for invention in accordance with the provisions
of Article 35, paragraph two, of the Patent Law, notify the applicant
accordingly.
Rule 51. When a request for examination as
to substance is made, or when a response is made in regard to the first
communication of the observations of the Patent Office after examination
as to substance, the applicant may amend the application for a patent for
invention on its or his own initiative.
Within three months from
the date of filing, the applicant for a patent for utility model or design
may amend the application for a patent for utility model or design on its
or his own initiative.
Rule 52. When an amendment to
the description or the claims in an application for a patent for invention
or utility model is made, a replacement sheet in prescribed form shall be
submitted, unless the amendment concerns only the alteration, insertion or
deletion of a few words. Where an amendment to the drawings or photographs
of an application for a patent for design is made, a replacement sheet in
prescribed form shall be submitted.
Rule 53. According
to the provisions of the Patent Law and these Implementing Regulations,
the situations where after examination as to substance an application for
patent for invention shall be rejected by the Patent Office shall comprise
the following:
(1) where the application does not comply with the
provisions of Rule 2, paragraph one, of these Implementing
Regulations;
(2) where the application falls under the provisions
of Articles 5 or 25 of the Patent Law; or it does not comply with the
provisions of Article 22 of the Patent Law and Rule 12, paragraph one, of
these Implementing Regulations, or the applicant cannot obtain a patent
right according to the provisions of Article 9 of the Patent Law;
(3) where the application does not comply with the provisions of Article
26, paragraphs three or four, or Article 31, paragraph one, of the Patent
Law;
(4) where the amendment to the application or the divisional
application goes beyond the scope of disclosure contained in the initial
description and the claims.
Rule 54. After the
Patent Office issues the notification to grant the patent right, the
applicant shall go through the formalities of registration within two
months from the date of receipt of the notification. If the applicant goes
through the formalities of registration within the said time limit, the
Patent Office shall grant the patent right, issue the patent certificate,
and announce it. The patent right shall come into force upon the date of
issue of the patent certificate.
If the time limit for going
through the formalities of registration is not met, the applicant shall be
deemed to have abandoned its or his right to obtain the patent
right.
Rule 55. The grounds on which a revocation may
be requested under Article 41 of the Patent Law of a patent right, which
is announced and granted by the Patent Office, shall comprise the
following:
(l)where the invention or utility model for which the
patent right is granted does not comply with the provisions of Article 22
of the Patent Law ;
(2)where the design for which the patent right
is granted does not comply with the provisions of Article 23 of the Patent
Law .
Rule 56. Anyone requesting revocation of a
patent right in accordance with the provisions of Article 41 of the Patent
Law shall submit to the Patent Office a request and the relevant documents
in two copies, stating the facts and reasons on which the request is
based.
The person requesting revocation may withdraw his request
before the Patent Office makes a decision on it .
Rule 57. After the receipt of the request for revocation of the patent right,
the Patent Office shall make an examination of it. Where the request does
not conform to the prescribed requirements, the Patent Office shall notify
the person making the request to rectify it within the specified time
limit. If the time limit for making rectification is not met, the request
for revocation shall be deemed not to have been filed.
Where, in
the request for revocation of the patent right, no facts and reasons have
been given to support the request or the reasons given do not conform to
the provisions of Rule 55 of these Implementing Regulations, the request
shall be declared to be unacceptable.
The Patent Office shall send
a copy of the request for revocation of the patent right and copies of the
relevant documents to the patentee and invite it or him to present its or
his observations within a specified time limit. The patentee may amend its
or his patent specification, but may not broaden the scope of patent
protection. If no response is made within the time limit, the examination
procedure of the Patent Office will not be affected.
Rule
58. The Patent Reexamination Board shall consist of experienced
technical and legal experts designated by the Patent Office. The Director
General of the Patent Office shall be the Director of the
Board.
Rule 59. Where the applicant requests the
Patent Reexamination Board to make a reexamination in accordance with the
provisions of Article 43, paragraph one, of the Patent Law, it or he shall
file a request for reexamination and state the reasons therefor, together
with the relevant supporting documents. The request and the supporting
documents shall be in two copies.
The applicant or the patentee
may amend its or his application, which has been rejected, or its or his
patent specification, which has been revoked, at the time when it or he
requests reexamination, but the amendments shall be limited only to the
part to which the decision of rejection of the application or the decision
of revocation of the patent right relates.
Rule
60. Where the request for reexamination does not comply with the
prescribed form, the person making the request shall rectify it within the
time limit fixed by the Patent Reexamination Board. If the time limit for
making rectification is not met, the request for reexamination shall be
deemed not to have been filed.
Rule 61. The Patent
Reexamination Board shall send the request for reexamination which the
Board has received to the examination department which has made the
examination to make an examination. Where the examination department
agrees to revoke its former decision upon the request of the person
requesting reexamination, the Patent Reexamination Board shall make a
decision accordingly and notify that person.
Rule
62. Where the Patent Reexamination Board finds after
reexamination that the request does not comply with the provisions of the
Patent Law, it shall invite the person requesting reexamination to submit
his observations within the specified time limit. If the time limit for
making response is not met, the request for reexamination shall be deemed
to have been withdrawn.
Rule 63. At any time
before the Patent Reexamination Board makes its decision on the request
for reexamination, the person making the request may withdraw his request
for reexamination.
Rule 64. The Patent Office may amend
the obvious mistakes which it finds in the title of the
invention-creation, the abstract or the request of the application, and
notify the applicant.
The Patent Office shall correct promptly the
mistakes in the Patent Gazettes and documents issued by it once they are
discovered.
CHAPTER IV
INVALIDATOR OF
PATENT RIGHT
Rule 65. Anyone requesting invalidation or
part invalidation of a patent right according to the provisions of Article
48 of the Patent Law shall submit the request and the relevant documents
in two copies, stating the facts and reasons on which the request is
based, to the Patent Reexamination Board.
The person requesting
invalidation may withdraw his request before the Patent Reexamination
Board makes a decision on it.
Rule 66. Where the
request for invalidation of the patent right does not comply with the
prescribed form, the person making the request shall rectify it within the
time limit fixed by the Patent Reexamination Board. If the rectification
fails to be made within the time limit, the request for invalidation shall
be deemed not to have been filed.
The grounds on which the request
for invalidation may be based shall comprise that the invention- creation
for which the patent right is granted does not comply with the provisions
of Articles 22 or 23, Article 26, paragraphs three or four, or Article 33
of the Patent Law, or Rule 2, or Rule 12, paragraph one of these
Implementing Regulations; or it falls under the provisions of Articles 5
or 25 of the Patent Law; or the person to whom the patent was granted
cannot obtain a patent right according to the provisions of Article 9 of
the Patent Law.
Where, in the request for invalidation, no facts
and reasons have been given to support the request or the reasons given do
not conform to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, or where
invalidation is requested after the request for revocation is made but no
decision on that request has yet been rendered, or where, after decision
on any request for revocation or invalidation of the patent right was
made,invalidation based on the same facts and reasons is requested again,
the request shall be declared to be unacceptable by the Patent
Reexamination Board.
Rule 67. The Patent Reexamination
Board shall send a copy of the request for invalidation of the patent
right and copies of the relevant documents to the patentee and invite it
or him to present its or his observations within a specified time limit.
The patentee may amend its or his patent specification, but may not
broaden the scope of patent protection. Where no response is made within
the time limit, the hearing procedure of the Patent Reexamination Board
will not be affected.
CHAPTER V
COMPULSORY LICENSE
FOR EXPLOITATION
OF PATENT
Rule 68. After the expiration of three years
from the grant of the patent right, any entity may, in accordance with the
provisions of Article 51 of the Patent Law, request the Patent Office to
grant a compulsory license.
Any entity or individual requesting a
compulsory license shall submit to the Patent Office a request for
compulsory license and state the reasons therefor, together with relevant
supporting documents. The request and supporting documents shall be in two
copies respectively.
The Patent Office shall send a copy of the
request for compulsory license to the patentee. He or it shall make his or
its observations within the time limit specified by the Patent Office.
Where no response is made within the time limit, the Patent Office will
not be affected in making a decision to grant a compulsory
license.
Where a national emergency or any extraordinary state of
affairs occurs, or in cases of public non- commercial use, the Patent
Office may grant a compulsory license.
The decision of the Patent
Office granting a compulsory license for exploitation shall limit the
scope and duration of the exploitation on the basis of the reasons
justifying the grant, and provide that the exploitation shall be
predominately for the supply of the domestic market.
The decision
of the Patent Office granting a compulsory license shall be notified to
the patentee as soon as reasonably practicable, and shall be registered
and announced by the Patent Office.If and when the circumstances which led
to such compulsory license cease to exist and are unlikely to recur, the
Patent Office may, upon the request of the patentee, review the continued
existence of these circumstances, and terminate the compulsory
license.
Rule 69. Any part requesting, in accordance
with the provisions of Article 57 of the Patent Law, the Patent Office to
adjudicate the fees for exploitation, shall submit a request for
adjudication and furnish documents showing that the parties have not been
able to conclude an agreement in respect of the amount of the fees. The
Patent Office shall make an adjudication within three months form the date
of receipt of the request and notify the parties accordingly.
CHAPTER VI
REWARDS TO INVENTOR
OR CREATOR OF
SERVICE INVENTION-CREATION
Rule 70. "Rewards" mentioned in Article 16
of the Patent Law includes money prizes and remunerations which are to be
awarded to inventors and creators .
Rule 71. Any
entity holding a patent right shall, after the grant of the patent right,
award to inventors or creators of a service invention-creation a sum of
money as prize. The sum of money prize for a patent for invention shall
not be less than 200 yuan; the sum of money prize for a patent for utility
model or design shall not be less than 50 yuan.
Where an
invention-creation was made on the basis of an inventor's or creator's
proposal adopted by the entity to which he belongs, after the grant of the
patent right, the entity holding it shall award to him a money prize
liberally.
Any enterprise holding the patent right may include the
said money prize paid to such inventors or creators into its production
cost; any institution holding the patent right may disburse the said money
prize out of its operating expenses.
Rule 72. Any
entity holding a patent right shall, after exploiting the patent for
invention-creation within the duration of the patent right, draw each year
from any increase in profits after taxation a percentage of 0.5%-2% due to
the exploitation of the invention or the utility model, or a percentage of
0.05%-0.2% due to the exploitation of the design, and award it to the
inventor or creator as remuneration. The entity shall, otherwise, by
making reference to the said percentage, award a lump sum of money to the
inventor or creator as remuneration.
Rule 73. Where any entity holding a patent right for invention-creation authorizes
other entities or individuals to exploit its or his patent, it shall,
after taxation, draw a percentage of 5%-10% from the fees for exploitation
it received and award it to the inventor or creator as
remuneration.
Rule 74. The remuneration provided
for in these Implementing Regulations shall be disbursed out of the
profits derived from the making of patented products or the use of
patented process and out of the fees obtained for the exploitation of the
patents. The remuneration shall not be included in the amount of the
normal bonuses of the entity, nor subject to the bonus tax. But the
inventor or creator shall pay tax for his income.
Rule
75. The Chinese entities under collective ownership and other
enterprises may award to the inventor or creator money prize and
remuneration by making reference to the provisions in this chapter.
CHAPTER VII
ADMINISTRATIVE
AUTHORITY FOR
PATENT AFFAIRS
Rule 76. "The administrative authority for
patent affairs" mentioned in the Patent Law and these Implementing
Regulations refers to the administrative authorities for patent affairs
set up by the competent departments concerned of the State Council and the
people's governments in the localities.
Rule 77. Where, after the publication of an application for a patent for invention
and before the grant of the patent right, any entity or individual has
exploited the invention without paying appropriate fees, the patentee may,
after the grant of the patent right, request the administrative authority
for patent affairs to handle the matter, or may directly institute legal
proceedings in the people's court. The administrative authority handling
the matter shall have the power to decide that the entity or individual
shall pay appropriate fees within the specified time limit. Where any of
the parties concerned is not satisfied with the decision of the said
authority, it or he may institute legal proceedings in the people's
court.
Where any dispute arises between any inventor or creator,
and the entity to which he belongs, as to whether an invention-creation is
a service invention -creation, or whether an application for a patent is
to be filed in respect of a service invention-creation, or where the
entity owning or holding the patent right has not according to law awarded
a reward or paid remuneration to the inventor or creator of service
invention-creation, the inventor or creator may request the competent
department at the higher level or the administrative authority for patent
affairs of the region in which the entity is located to handle the
matter.
The prescription for requesting the administrative
authority for patent affairs to handle patent disputes is two years
counted from the date on which the patentee or any interested party
obtains or should have obtained knowledge of the relevant
fact.
Rule 78. Pursuant to the provisions of
Article 63, paragraph two, of the Patent Law, where any person passes any
unpainted product off as patented product or passes any unpatented process
off as patented process, the administrative authority for patent affairs
may, according to the circumstances, order such person to stop the passing
off, to eliminate its ill effects and, in addition, to pay a fine of 1000
yuan to 50000 yuan or a fine from 100%, to 300% of the amount of his
illegal income.
Rule 79. Where parties to any
transdepartmental or transregional infringement dispute request the
administrative authority for patent affairs to handle the matter, the said
dispute shall be handled by the administrative authority for patent
affairs of the region in which the infringement has taken place, or by the
administrative authority for patent affairs of the higher competent
department of the infringing entity.
CHAPTER VIII
PATENT REGISTER
AND PATENT GAZETTE
Rule 80. The Patent Office shall maintain a
Patent Register in which shall be recorded the following matters relating
to any patent right:
(1) any grant of the patent right;
(2) any assignment and succession of the patent right;
(3) any
revocation and invalidation of the patent right;
(4) any cessation
of the patent right ;
(5) any restoration of the patent
right;
(6) any compulsory license for exploitation of the
patent;
(7) any changes in the name, the nationality and the
address of the patentee.
Rule 81. The Patent Office
shall publish the Patent Gazette at regular intervals, publishing or
announcing the following:
(1) the bibliographic data contained in
patent applications;
(2) the abstract of the description of an
invention or utility model, the drawings or photographs of a design and
its brief explanation;
(3) any request for examination as to
substance of an application for a patent for invention and any decision
made by the Patent Office to proceed on its own initiative to examine as
to substance an application for a patent for invention;
(4) any
declassification of secret patents;
(5) any rejection, withdrawal
and being deemed withdrawal of an application for a patent for invention
after its publication;
(6) any assignment and succession of an
application for a patent for invention after its publication;
(7)
any grant of the patent right;
(8) any revocation and invalidation
of the patent right;
(9) any cessation of the patent
right;
(10) any assignment and succession of the patent
right;
(11) any grant of compulsory license for exploitation of
the patent;
(12) any restoration of a patent application or patent
right;
(13) any change in the name or address of the
patentee;
(14) any notification to the applicant whose address is
not known;
(15) any other related matters.
The description, its
drawings and the claims of an application for a patent for invention or
utility model shall be published in pamphlet form.
CHAPTER IX
FEES
Rule 82. When any person files an
application for a patent with, or has other formalities to perform in, the
Patent Office, he or it shall at the same time pay the following
fees;
(1) filing fee and maintenance fee of an
application;
(2) examination fee and reexamination fee;
(3) annual fee;
(4) fee for a change in the bibliographic data,
fee for claiming priority, fee for a request for restoration of rights,
fee for a request for revocation, fee for a request for invlidation, fee
for a request for compulsory license, fee for a request for adjudication
on exploitation fee of a compulsory license, fee for patent registration,
and additional fees as prescribed.
The amount of the fees
mentioned in the preceding paragraph shall be prescribed separately by the
Patent Office in conjunction with the competent departments concerned of
the State Council.
Rule 83. The fees provided for in
the Patent Law and in these Implementing Regulations may be paid directly
to the Patent Office or paid by way of bank or postal remittance, but not
by telegraphic remittance.
Where fees are paid by way of bank or
postal remittance, the applicant or the patentee shall indicate on the
money order the filing number or the patent number, the name of the
applicant or the patentee, the purpose of the payment and the title of the
invention-creation.
Where fees are paid by way of bank or postal
remittance, the date on which the transfer of such fee is ordered shall be
the date of payment. Where the time between such a date and the date of
receipt of the order at the Patent Office lasts more than fifteen days,
unless the date of remittance is proved by the bank or the post office,
the date of receipt at the Patent Office shall be the date of
payment.
The payment which is not made in accordance with the
provisions of the second paragraph of this Rule shall be deemed not to
have been made.
Where any patent fee is paid more than as
prescribed, paid once again or wrongly paid, the person making the payment
may claim a refund, but the request for such refund shall be made within
one year from the date of payment.
Rule 84. The
applicant shall, after receipt of the notification of acceptance of the
application from the Patent Office, pay the filing fee at the latest
within two months from the filing date. If the fee is not paid or not paid
in full within the time limit, the application shall be deemed to have
been withdraw.
Where the applicant claims the right of priority,
he or it shall pay the fee for claiming priority at the same time with the
payment of the filing fee. If the fee is not paid or not paid in full
within the time limit, the claim to the right of priority shall be deemed
not to have been made.
Rule 85. Where a request
for an examination as to substance, a restoration of right, a
reexamination or revocation of patent right is made, by the party
concerned, the relevant fee shall be paid within the time limit as
prescribed respectively for such requests by the Patent Law. If the fee is
not paid or not paid in full within the time limit, the request is deemed
not to have been made.
Rule 86. Where the applicant for
a patent for invention has not been granted a patent right within two
years from the date of filing, it or he shall pay a fee for the
maintenance of the application from the third year. The first maintenance
fee shall be paid within the first month of the third year. The subsequent
maintenance fees shall be paid in advance within the month before the
expiration of the preceding year.
Rule 87. When
the applicant goes through the formalities of patent registration, it or
he shall pay a fee for patent registration, and the annual fee of the year
in which the patent right was granted. Where the maintenance fee of the
application of the year in which the patent right was granted has been
paid, the annual fee of that year shall not be paid. If such fees are not
paid in the prescribed time limit, the patent registration shall be deemed
not to have been made. The subsequent annual fees shall be paid in advance
within the month before the expiration of the preceding year.
Rule 88. Where the maintenance fee of the application or the
annual fee of the years after the year in which the patent was granted is
not paid in due time by the applicant or the patentee, or the fees are not
paid in full, the Patent Office shall notify the applicant or the patentee
to pay the fee or to make up the insufficiency within six months from the
expiration of the time limit within which the maintenance fee or the
annual fee was to be paid, and at the same time pay a surcharge which
amounts to 25% that of the maintenance fee or the annual fee. Where the
fees are not paid within the time limit, the application shall be deemed
to have been withdrawn or the patent right shall be deemed lapsed from the
expiration of the time limit within which the maintenance fee or the
annual fee should be paid.
Rule 89. The fee for a
change in the bibliographic data, fee for a request for compulsory
license, fee for a request for adjudication on exploitation fee of a
compulsory license and fee for a request for .invalidation shall be paid
as prescribed within one month from the date on which such request is
filed. If the fee is not paid or not paid in full within the time limit,
the request shall be deemed not to have been made.
Rule
90. Where any person filing an application for a patent or
having other formalities to go through, has difficulties in paying the
various fees prescribed by Rule 82 or these Implementing Regulations, that
person may, according to prescriptions, submit a request to the Patent
Office, asking for a reduction or postponement of the payment. The
conditions for the reduction and postponement of the payment shall be
prescribed by the Patent Office.
CHAPTER X
SUPPLEMENTARY
PROVISIONS
Rule 91. Any person may, after approval by
the Patent Office, inspect or copy the files of the published or announced
patent applications and the Patent Register. Any person may request the
Patent Office to issue a copy of extracts from the Patent
Register.
The files of patent applications which have been
withdrawn or deemed to have been withdrawn or which have been rejected,
shall not be preserved after expiration of two years from the date on
which they cease to be valid.
Where the patent right ceases or has
been revoked, abandoned or invalidated, the files shall not be preserved
after expiration of three years from the date on which the patent light
ceases to be valid.
Rule 92. Any patent application
which is filed with, and any formalities which are performed in the Patent
Office, shall be made in the prescribed form of the Patent Office and
signed or sealed by the applicant, the patentee, any other interested
person or his or its representative. Where any patent agency is appointed,
it shall be sealed by such agency.
Where a change of the name of
the inventor, the name, nationality and address of the applicant or the
patentee, or the name of the patent agency and patent agent is requested,
a request for a change in the bibliographic data shall be made to the
Patent Office, together with the relevant supporting
documents.
Rule 93. The documents relating to a
patent application or patent right which are mailed to the Patent Office
shall be mailed by registered letter, not by parcel.
When any
document (not including any patent application filed for the first time)
is submitted to and any formalities are performed in the Patent Office,
the filing number or the patent number, the title of the
invention-creation and the name of the applicant or the patentee shall be
indicated.
Only documents relating to the same application shall
be included in one letter.
Rule 94. Any sheets
constituting an application for patent shall be typed or printed. All the
characters shall be in black ink, neat and clear. They shall be free: from
any alterations. Drawings shall be made in black ink with the aid of
drafting instruments. The lines shall be uniformly thick and well-defined,
and free from alterations.
The request, description, claim,
drawings and abstract shall be numbered separately in Arabic numerals and
arranged in numerical order.
The written language shall run from
left to right. Only one side of each sheet shall be used.
Rule 95. The Patent office shall be responsible for interpreting
these Implementing Regulations.
Rule 96. These
Implementing Regulations shall enter into force an January 1, 1993.
The applications for patent filed before the entry
into force on these Implementing Regulations and the patent rights granted
on the basis of the said applications shall continue to be governed by the
provisions of the Patent Law before they were amended by the Decision
Regarding the Revision of the Patent Law of the People's Republic of
China, adopted at the 27th Session of the Standing Committee of the
Seventh National People's Congress on September 4, 1992 and the relevant
provisions of the Implementing Regulations of the Patent Law of the
People's Republic of China, approved by the State Council on January 19.
1985 and promulgated by the Patent Office on the same day. However. the
procedures provided by the amended Articles 39 to 44 and the amended
Article 48 of the Patent Law concerning the approval of applications for
patent, and the revocation and invalidation of the patent right and the
relevant provisions of these Implementing Regulations shall apply to the
said applications which, before the entry into force of these Implementing
Regulations, are not announced according to the provisions of articles 39
and 40 of the Patent Law before they were amended.
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