軟體專利的專利適格性爭議探討─以美國法軟體專利之發展為核心

Abstract

電腦軟體專利之專利適格性爭議為美國專利法近十年以來高度關注之法律議題，美國聯邦最高法院於2014年針對電腦軟體專利之專利適格性爭議作出Alice v. CLS Bank案判決後，相關爭議卻似乎並未就此平息。本文以美國法之發展為核心，分析美國聯邦法院不同時期之見解變遷，並探究美國法學界強力主張之「軟體專利否定論」以及專利適格性概念背後之學理基礎與歷史背景。本文亦介紹歐洲及我國之法律規範與實務見解之流變，並將之與美國法中之發展相互對照，以「技術直覺論」之觀點，對於我國應如何因應當前困境及外國法之變動，提出建言。

Dispute over patent eligibility of “Computer Software Related Invention” is highly controversial in the U.S. Patent Law for nearly a decade. It seems that this dispute has not been mediated by the United States Supreme Court’s Alice v. CLS Bank case in 2014. This article centers on developments in the U.S. Patent law, analyzing the change of opinion in Federal Court, the arguments for “Negation of Software Patent Account”, and theoretical basis and historical background behind the concept of patent eligibility. This article also introduces related regulations and opinions in European and Taiwan Patent law and contrasts with developments in the U.S. Patent law. In the end of this article, the author will make suggestion on the way to solve the current predicament in Taiwan’s judicial practice according to 'Technical Intuition Account.'