现有技术信息的存在方式决定了大量的现有技术处于专利局之外,导致专利审查中现有技术信息的不足。进而导致大量的劣质专利或无效专利被授权。这种信息不足难以通过专利局方面来弥补,现有技术检索外包也不能解决此问题。而拥有现有技术的专利申请人或第三方才是解决问题的可行途径,关键是如何创造合适的激励或机制,使他们将此信息提供给专利局。本文通过对国外现有的申请人或第三方提供现有技术的制度和做法进行研究,认为申请人因为利益关系难以激励其披露信息,而美国的公众专利评审模式是比较可行的选择。
The existence of prior art determines a lot of prior art in addition to the Patent Office, which causes information deficit of prior art in patent examination and then a large number of low-quality patents or patent to be invalid license. The information deficit can not be resolved by the Patent Office, and neither by outsourcing search. However, a patent applicant or a third party who possess prior art, is a possible solution to the problem. It is crucial how to create the right incentives or mechanisms prompting causing them to provide their information to the Patent Office. This paper studies foreign existing systems and practices of applicants or third party providing prior art. This paper argues that it is difficult to encourage patent applicants to disclose their information because of their interests. However, the mode of Community Patent Review is a more viable option.