The term "process" means process, art, or method, and includes a new use of a known process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, or material.
「製法」該詞係指製程、技藝或方法,且包括一習知製法、機器、製品、物之組合或原料的新使用。
提案版本
The term "process" means process, art, or method, and includes a use, application, or method of manufacture of a known or naturally-occurring process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, or material.
The term ‘useful’ means, with respect to an invention or discovery, that the invention or discovery has a specific and practical utility from the perspective of a person of ordinary skill in the art to which the invention or discovery pertains.”; and
Whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof, may obtain a patent therefor, subject to the conditions and requirements of this title.
(a) In General.—Whoever invents or discovers any useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any useful improvement thereof, may obtain a patent therefor, subject only to the exclusions in subsection (b) and to the further conditions and requirements of this title.
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), a person may not obtain a patent for any of the following, if claimed as such:
(1) 總說 ─ 除非符合本項(2)規範,一人所請發明若僅如以下所列,不得獲其專利:
(A) A mathematical formula, apart from a useful invention or discovery.
(A) 一數學程式,不含一實用的發明或發現。
(B) A process that—
(B) 一製法 ─
(i) is a non-technological economic, financial, business, social, cultural, or artistic process;
(i) 係非技術性的經濟、金融、商業、社會、文化或藝術面加工;
(ii) is a mental process performed solely in the human mind; or
(ii) 係一純於人類內心實施的心智歷程;或
(iii) occurs in nature wholly independent of, and prior to, any human activity.
(iii) 完全獨立於且先於人類活動,自然產生。
(C) An unmodified human gene, as that gene exists in the human body.
(C) 一未經改造的人類基因,同於人體內所存基因。
(D) An unmodified natural material, as that material exists in nature.
(D) 一未經改造的天然原料,同於自然界所存原料。
(2) CONDITIONS.—
(2) 規範 ─
(A) CERTAIN PROCESSES.—Notwithstanding paragraph (1)(B)(i), a person may obtain a patent for a claimed invention that is a process described in such provision if that process is embodied in a machine or manufacture, unless that machine or manufacture is recited in a patent claim without integrating, beyond merely storing and executing, the steps of the process that the machine or manufacture perform.
(B) HUMAN GENES AND NATURAL MATERIALS.—For the purposes of subparagraphs (C) and (D) of paragraph (1), a human gene or natural material that is isolated, purified, enriched, or otherwise altered by human activity, or that is otherwise employed in a useful invention or discovery, shall not be considered to be unmodified.
(1) IN GENERAL.—In determining whether, under this section, a claimed invention is eligible for a patent, eligibility shall be determined—
(1) 總說 ─ 判斷一所請發明依本條是否為專利適格客體時,適格性判斷應 ─
(A) by considering the claimed invention as a whole and without discounting or disregarding any claim element; and
(A) 考慮該所請發明整體,勿忽視或無視任何申請專利範圍元件;且
(B) without regard to—
(B) 不考慮 ─
(i) the manner in which the claimed invention was made;
(i) 該所請發明產生方式;
(ii) whether a claim element is known, conventional, routine, or naturally occurring;
(ii) 一申請專利範圍元件是否習知、傳統、例行,或自然發生;
(iii) the state of the applicable art, as of the date on which the claimed invention is invented; or
(iii) 截至該所請發明的發明日,相關技術先前技術;或
(iv) any other consideration in section 102, 103, or 112.
(iv) 載於102、103,或112條的其他考量。
(2) INFRINGEMENT ACTION.—
(2) 侵權之訴 ─
(A) IN GENERAL.—In an action brought for infringement under this title, the court, at any time, may determine whether an invention or discovery that is a subject of the action is eligible for a patent under this section, including on motion of a party when there are no genuine issues of material fact.
(B) LIMITED DISCOVERY.—With respect to a determination described in subparagraph (A), the court may consider limited discovery relevant only to the eligibility described in that subparagraph before ruling on a motion described in that subparagraph.
American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc. v. Neapco Holdings LLC, et al., S. Ct. No. No. 20-891,請見https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/20-891.html。本案歷經Fed. Cir.審理及全院重審,相關意見書反映Fed. Cir.法官在專利適格性判斷上的高度分歧,上訴到美國最高法院後,美國最高法院曾徵詢美國司法部意見,並邀請公眾提交Amicus Brief,包括多位關注專利適格性修法議題的美國參議員、前USPTO局長都曾提交意見書,但最後美國最高法院仍拒絕重審。