全球專利訴訟管理

Abstract

專利訴訟行為乃交錯跨越三大領域：各國法律制度架構、企業所處產業之專利技術生態及企業本身對應之策略行動。專利策略並不在真空內運作，它的價值與實用來自賦予其權利的法律與制度。專利訴訟全球化趨勢及各國法律制度現實存在差異，利用差異化套利已是專利訴訟策略普遍使用的工具，從而必須對各國關鍵差異化因素加以分析掌握。本研究在各國法律制度架構差異化的探討中，以臺灣、美國、中國大陸及德國為例，嘗試找出十個關鍵動因，即專利保護執行的體制結構、起訴的容易性、證據可得性與方便性、訴訟流程與時間、專利效力挑戰的成效性、訴訟花費、原告訴訟勝率、損害賠償額、訴前禁令的可得性、訴訟以外的選擇性等，比較四地域在這些關鍵動因的差異性，作為企業管理全球專利訴訟及擬定策略時之基礎素材。 其次，本研究嘗試特定六個管理構面，即評估企業所處產業之專利技術生態、投入訴訟前的專利實體評估、擬定訴訟策略的考量因素、法庭地的選取、建立首動者優勢、及標準專利訴訟等，探討進行全球專利訴訟策略行動時應考量之關鍵因素。企業必須建立「全球思維」，務實面對所在產業專利技術的生態環境，從資源與能力觀點建構本身的專利策略，再適當探討全球專利訴訟因地制宜的調適策略。本研究結果期望能建立供企業參考使用之整合性專利訴訟管理架構。

Global Patent Litigation is a cross cutting theme involving three domains：the institutional differences in each forum; the stage of technological development in a specific industry and a firm’s strategic behavior. Patent strategies will not operate in a vacuum. The value and utility of patents is driven by the laws and institutions that define and govern this property right. Differences among countries’ legal systems can create arbitrage opportunities for firms involved in patent litigation. Efforts must be made to identify key factors that affect arbitrage opportunities. This thesis highlights ten key factors to be considered in global patent litigation, including specific legal system, ease of filing a complaint, ease and convenience of obtaining evidence, procedural process and timing, validity challenging, costs, win rates, damages, preliminary injunction, and alternatives other than lawsuits. The focus is then on four countries, including Taiwan, the United States, China and Germany, to see what differences exist among these countries in term of said ten key factors, which will be the underlying components of managing global patent litigation and of developing strategies thereof. Further, certain key factors for developing strategic actions towards global patent litigation are addressed from six managerial domains, including the ecosystem of patented technologies a firm resides, early due diligence on substantive issues when deploying patent litigation, factors to consider for patent litigation strategies, factors to consider for forum shopping, establishment of first mover advantage, and standards-essential patents. Firms must think in a global sense and pragmatically watch the patented technologies of the industry ecosystem they reside and then develop the patent strategies based on their resources and capabilities. Afterwards, Firms need look into the risks and arbitrage opportunities in global patent litigation and the follow-up adaptation strategies. The result of this thesis hopes to create an integrative managerial framework on global patent litigation for firms’ reference and use.