台灣企業於美國國際貿易委員會專利訴訟之實證研究

Abstract

美國國際貿易委員會（ITC）為近年來專利訴訟的焦點，ITC非僅為第二個專利訴訟管道，其管轄權、訴訟程序及救濟皆與地院不同，故二者有相異之訴訟考量。對許多企業而言，於有限的產品週期內盡速掌握市場佔有率，始能創造最大利潤，然而地院之事後救濟往往緩不濟急，相較之下ITC擁有廣泛之對物管轄權且僅須12至18個月內即能結案，而勝訴之原告幾乎可取得排除命令，前開優勢皆促使專利權人於ITC起訴。 台灣高居337條款調查案涉案國家之第二，涉案者多為電腦、電子與通訊等高科技產業，我國雖處於如此高的訴訟風險，然以台灣企業為主體之ITC研究卻付之闕如，故本文首先建立ITC之實體與程序架構，並量化分析自1975年至2012年3月台灣企業於ITC涉訟之案件結果、歷時、訴訟行為及產業趨勢等，探尋台灣企業於ITC訴訟之特色與影響因素，最後就實證觀察提出訴訟建議，期能助當事人更有效率地分配訴訟資源並管理風險，於面臨國際專利戰爭時，提高勝訴機率並將訴訟成本降至最低，維持台灣企業之競爭力以求持續地創新發展，始為大眾福祉之依歸。

The United State International Trade Commission (ITC) has become a popular patent-dispute forum in recent years, but it’s much more than a second forum. ITC has different jurisdiction, procedure and relief from federal courts, and the parties have different considerations when litigating in the two venue. Due to the short product life cycle, it is important for many companies to obtain the market share at the product launch. However, the relief awarded by federal courts is usually for the past infringement. Contrary to federal courts, the ITC has broad in rem jurisdiction, expedited procedures that take only 12 to 18 months, and exclusion orders for prevailing patentees. The above advantages all encourage patentees to file ITC complaints. Taiwan is the country with the second most cases in the ITC, and the products involved are often computers, electronic devices and telecommunications. Although exposed to such a high litigation risk, there are no specific studies on ITC patent litigation of Taiwan enterprises. This thesis first builds the concepts of both substantive and procedural requirements of Section 337 investigations, and then it presents the empirical examinations of cases involving Taiwan enterprises from 1975 to March 2012. By dissecting the features and influencing factors of case results, duration, litigant behaviors and industry trends, this thesis proposes some strategic analysis and recommendations to the parties and help them with distribution of resources and risk management during the ITC litigation. Only by maximizing the chance of success and lowering the litigation cost can Taiwan enterprises retain the core competence and keep innovating and thriving through the patent wars.