標準制定組織之專利集管型態與授權爭議分析

Abstract

隨著全球化的趨勢與專利權的發展，集團式的競爭在專利領域中變成了一種趨勢；同時專利也與標準化發生交互作用，產生了標準必要專利（Standard Essential Patent），因而標準制定組織也進入了現代專利戰爭的一環。產業標準化雖然能促進產業的進步與技術的發展，但其中衍生的標準必要專利卻成為商業競爭的工具。因此，出現了專利集管（Patent Pool），用來集中標準必要專利並減少交易成本，希望能解決標準必要專利所產生的相關問題。惟，是否所有專利集管都能有效集中標準必要專利，甚至進一步的降低訴訟發生的可能？ 過去，標準制定組織或專利集管的研究都集中於個別的研究，未有討論兩者間之關係，且大部分著重於反托拉斯法的問題。本文認為標準制定組織與專利集管間有著密不可分的關係，因此先釐清兩者間相輔相成的關係，並且從組成的原因與過程對於標準制定組織與專利集管作出不同於過去文獻的分類方法。透過這分類方法進一步利用社會科學研究方法探討標準制定組織與專利集管在標準必要專利訴訟中扮演的角色。 本文最終發現，專利集管會因其組成的方式不同，有不同的收集標準必要專利的效率，而且當專利集管收集標準必要專利的效率提升時，標準必要專利之訴訟案件隨著降低。從個案研究中也可以發現，標準制定組織、專利集管與其成員間的尚存有許多法律問題值得我們關注，例如：標準必要專利之所有權移轉後，受讓人是否還負有標準制定組織的相關義務。而我國業者在這方面的訴訟經驗也在本文中介紹與分析，其中亦有我國業者成功藉由標準制定組織之會員義務，在訴訟案件中取得勝訴之案例，值得其他業者參考與借鏡。

With the trend of globalization and the development of patent right, the competition of the patent holder alliance becomes mainstream. In the meanwhile, with the emergence of standard essential patents, the standard setting organizations （SSOs） also participate in this modern patent war. Although patent standardization could improve the development of industry and technology, the derived standard essential patents become the cores of business competition. Patent pool is here not only to manage the standard essential patents and solve this problem, but also deduct the transaction costs. But here comes another problem now. Whether all patent pools can manage the standard essential patents effectively, and reduce the chance of litigation caused by the standard essential patents? In the past, the studies of SSOs and patent pools focused on the contents of themselves but their relationship, and most of them focused on the anti-trust law but other issues. This thesis believes that SSOs and patent pools are interrelated so that this thesis will clarify the relationship between them first. By studying the causes and processes of the creation of SSOs and patent pools, this thesis develops a method of classification between them, which is difference to other studies. Then with the new classification, this thesis discusses the role of SSOs and patent pools in the patent litigations. At last, this thesis concludes that the managing efficiency of patents of patent pools will be different from other patent pools which are from different creations. And when the managing efficiency of patents of patent pools increases, the number of litigation will decrease. With the case studies, this thesis also discovers that there are still lots of legal issues between SSOs, patent pools and their members. For example, did the assignee still bear the obligations related to SSOs after the conversion of patent ownership? This thesis also introduces and analyzes the litigations of Taiwan companies which is worth referencing to other Taiwan companies.