By Ram Deshpande由RAM的德什潘德

The People’s Republic of China is already a hub where key players from every industry have – or are likely to have in the near future – a strong presence. 人民共和國的的中國已經是一個樞紐，那裡的關鍵球員，從每個行業有-或可能具有在不久的將來-一個強大的存在。 Unfortunately, China is also known as a place where unprotected technology is likely to be copied. 不幸的是，中國又被稱為地方保護的技術很可能會被複製。 If a company wants to manufacture – or sell – its products or services in China, it must protect its intellectual property in the country. 如果一家公司想製造-或出售-其產品或服務在中國，它必須保護其智慧財產權在該國。 Although filing patent applications is not a strategy in itself, it is an integral part of any well-developed strategy. 雖然提交的專利申請是不是一個戰略的本身，這是不可分割的一部分的任何發展良好的策略。

In 2007, the Chinese Patent Office (the State Intellectual Property Office or the SIPO) received a total of 694,153 patent applications, which represents a growth rate of 21.1 percent over the previous year.在2007年，中國專利局（國家知識產權局或國家知識產權局）共收到694153的專利申請，它代表的增長率為21.1 ％ ，比前一年。 245,161 out of the total number of applications were invention patent applications (20-year patents). This number of invention patent applications filed with the State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO) already ranks China third in the world with respect to patent application filings, which clearly suggests that filing in China has become an intrinsic part of most multinational companies’ IP strategies. 245161出申請總數分別為發明專利申請（ 20年專利） 。這個數目的發明專利申請與國家知識產權局（國家知識產權局）已居中國第三，在世界上與尊重，以專利申請備案，清楚地表明，存檔在中國已成為固有的組成部分，大部分的跨國公司公司的知識產權戰略。 Furthermore, if the growth rates of the filing of 20-year patent applications with the SIPO and of 20-year patent applications with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) continue at their current rates, China will overtake the US by 2012.此外，如果增長率提交20年的專利申請與國家知識產權局和20年的專利申請與美國專利和商標辦公室（美國專利與商標局）繼續在其目前的利率，中國將超過美國，到2012年。 This also means that the patent protection system in China will be tested more rigorously.這也意味著，專利保護制度在中國將測試更加嚴格。 Therefore, for the Chinese government, developing an efficient patent-protection system is no longer ‘good to have’ but ‘must have’.因此，對於中國政府，發展一個有效率的專利保護制度已不再是'好' ，但'必備的' 。

Another form of patents in China is the Utility model patent (10-year patent).另一種形式的專利在中國是實用新型專利（ 10年專利） 。 Ease of grant and the low cost of filing make these 10-year patents very popular with Chinese companies, which have also developed innovations and inventions but usually do not have the money or time to invest in pursuing 20-year patents.易用性津貼及低成本的備案，使這些10年的專利非常受歡迎與中國公司，還開發了創新和發明，但通常沒有錢或時間來投資，在追求20年的專利。 Therefore, domestic Chinese companies generally file 10-year patent applications.因此，中國國內公司一般檔案10年的專利申請。 Foreign companies do not file many 10-year patent applications, partly because this form of patent protection is not allowed in other countries, such as the United States, and partly because while entering the national phase through the Patent Co-operation Treaty (PCT) route in China, most applicants prefer 20-year patent applications over 10-year patent applications.外國公司不檔案許多10年的專利申請，部分是因為這種形式的專利保護是不容許在其他國家，如美國，部分原因是同時進入國家階段通過專利合作條約（ PCT ）的幹線在中國，大多數申請人寧願20年的專利申請超過10年的專利申請。

Chinese Strategy to Make the Most of Utility Models (10-year patents)中國的戰略，使大部分的實用新型（ 10年專利）

Some Chinese companies have adopted a strategy that involves filing 10-year patent applications and 20-year patent applications for the same invention on the same day, thereby ensuring the same priority date with the SIPO.一些中國公司已通過了一項戰略，涉及到存檔10年的專利申請和20年的專利申請就同一發明而就在同一天，從而保證了相同的優先權日期與國家知識產權局。 Since a 10-year patent application is granted within a year (without substantive examination), the company can start producing, marketing and selling its “patented” product in China.自10年專利申請獲得批准的內一年內（無實質性審查） ，該公司就可以開始生產，營銷和銷售其“專利”產品在中國。 If the corresponding 20-year patent is granted by the SIPO, the Chinese company can simply abandon the 10-year patent and enjoy a longer period of protection, whereas if the corresponding 20-year patent application is not granted by the SIPO after a substantive examination, then the Chinese company can still continue producing and marketing its product on the strength of the utility model it owns (unless it is challenged by another party and the 10-year patent is re-examined by the SIPO).如果相應的20年的專利是理所當然的，由國家知識產權局，中國公司可以簡單地放棄10年的專利和享受一段較長時間的保護，而如果相應的20年的專利申請不授予由國家知識產權局後，一個實質性考試，那麼，中國公司仍可以繼續生產及銷售其產品的實力，實用新型，它擁有（除非它是由另一挑戰黨和10年的專利是重新審查，由國家知識產權局） 。

The effects of this strategy have been weakened in the latest version of SIPO’s “Guidelines for Examination” that was implemented on July 1, 2006.的影響，這一戰略已削弱了在最新版的國家知識產權局的指導方針“考試” ，這是落實2006年7月1 。 According to Chapter 3, Section 6.2.2, Part II of ‘Handling of One Application and One Patent’ of the Guidelines for Examination, when an invention patent is going to be granted, the assignee needs to submit a written declaration to abandon the corresponding utility model application from its filing date (as though the utility model application was never in existence).根據第3章，第6.2.2 ，第二部分處理的一個應用程序和一個專利'的指導方針考試，當一個發明專利是去獲得，受讓人需要提交一份書面聲明放棄相應的實用新型的申請，其申請日期（雖然實用新型的申請是從來沒有在存在） 。 With this modification, the period between the grant of the 10-year application and the publication of the 20-year patent (usually 8 to 12 months) is no longer protected under the rights of the 10-year application.與此修改，期間批出10年的應用和出版20年的專利（通常為8至12個月）不再是保護下的權利10年的應用。

A possible loophole in the utility model (10-year patent) system is the lack of substantive examination, which can enable an applicant to copy a patent owned by another company in another country, and then enforce this 10-year patent against any other company in China (including the foreign company that owns the original patent in the other country).一個可能的漏洞，實用新型（ 10年專利）制度，是缺乏實質性審查，這可以使申請人複製專利所擁有的另一家公司在另一個國家，然後執行這10年的專利對任何其他公司在中國（包括外國公司，擁有原專利在其他國家） 。 The amendments proposed in 2006 include a provision for penalizing patentees that are found to be indulging in such “patent counterfeiting”.建議的修訂，在2006年加入一項條文，懲罰專利被發現被沉迷於這種“假冒專利” 。 This amendment will help in reducing, if not eliminating, the copying of prior art.這項修正案將有助於在減少，如果不消除，複製之前的藝術。

Against this backdrop, foreign companies have started to recognize the importance of 10-year patents and are actively formulating their IP strategies around such patents in China.在此背景下，外國公司已開始認識到的重要性， 10年的專利，並正在積極制訂自己的知識產權戰略，圍繞這些專利在中國。 In fact, their change in mindset may partly be a result of the outcome of the litigation between the Chint Group of China and Schneider Electric of France – a case that has been in the headlines recently.事實上，他們在改變心態，可能會部分導致的結果，訴訟之間的正泰集團，中國和施耐德電氣法國-病例已在最近的頭條。

The Chint versus Schneider Case該正泰銀兩施奈德案件

In this case, The Chint Group alleged that Schneider Electric infringed on one of its 10-year patents.在這種情況下，正泰集團指稱，施耐德電氣侵犯了它的一個10年的專利。 The Wenzhou Intermediate People’s court ruled in favor of The Chint Group and awarded damages worth CNY 330 million (approximately USD 48 million), which is believed to be the highest award for damages with respect to intellectual property infringement in China.溫州市中級人民法院的裁定，贊成的正泰集團和判給損害賠償，價值人民幣3.3億（約合4800萬美元） ，這是相信是最高獎的損害賠償與尊重智慧財產權的侵權在中國。 Schneider Electric has since appealed to a higher court, but regardless of the outcome, it would have accrued considerable expense and trouble that could have been probably avoided had it invalidated this 10-year patent before The Chint Group filed its lawsuit.施耐德電氣一直以來，呼籲上級法院，但無論結果如何，便累積了相當的費用和麻煩，本來可能避免它失效，這10年的專利之前，正泰集團提起訴訟。

Lessons from the Schneider Electric versus Chint Group Case 教訓，施耐德電氣銀兩正泰集團案

• Damages relating to a patent litigation do not always have an upper limit: A popular myth about patent enforcement in China is that even if infringement has been established, damages are capped at CNY 500,000.損害賠償有關的專利訴訟並不總是有一個上限：流行的神話，專利執法，在中國的是，即使侵權已經確立，賠償上限為五十萬元。 In reality, damages are calculated based on a) losses incurred by the plaintiff and b) the profits made by the defendant from the sale of the infringing product.在現實中，損害賠償的基礎上計算得出一）所引致的損失由原告和b ）的利潤，由被告從銷售的侵權產品。 In the event that there is no evidence available to ascertain these two amounts, statutory damages within a compensation limit of CNY 500,000 can be awarded.在該事件目前並無證據顯示可用以確定這兩個數額，法定賠償在一個賠償限額人民幣500000可以批出。 However, patent license royalties can also be used as a reference to calculate damages.但是，專利許可使用費也可以用來作為參考來計算損害賠償。 These damages could be between one and three times the amount of such royalties.這些賠償可之間的1倍以上3倍的金額上述特許權使用費。 The damages may also include expenses incurred by the plaintiff to investigate and prevent the said infringement.造成的損害也可能包括的費用由原告進行調查和防止侵權說。 In summary, with increasing awareness of enforcement of patent rights in China, the amount of money paid by companies in out-of-court settlements and in patent license fees is bound to increase in the near future.總括來說，與日益認識到執行專利的權利在中國，這筆錢所付出的公司在不折不扣的庭外和解，並在專利許可費，勢必增加，在不久的將來。

• Chinese prior art cannot be ignored: Given the exponential increase in the number of filings with the SIPO, it is prudent for every company operating in China to review Chinese patent prior art.中國藝術之前，不能忽視：鑑於指數的數目增加申報與國家知識產權局，這是為審慎起見，每家公司在中國經營的檢討中國專利之前的藝術。 One of the best practices may be to regularly review patent application filing activity in the country within a given field of interest.其中一個最好的做法可能會定期檢討專利申請備案的活動在該國在某一特定領域的利益。 As always, forewarned is forearmed.一如往常，預先是forearmed 。 Proactive measures towards invalidation of granted patents (especially 10-year patents) may also be a good way to avoid possible litigation.積極主動的措施，對失效授予的專利（尤其是10年的專利）也可能是一個好方法，以避免可能的訴訟。

• Seek the help of Chinese patent research professionals: Foreign companies should try to identify Chinese patent professionals who can help them analyze Chinese patents and other prior art.尋求幫助的中國專利研究的專業人士：外國公司應該嘗試找出中國專利的專業人士誰可以幫助他們分析中國專利和其他前藝術。 The primary reason for this is that the majority of Chinese patents are only available in Chinese languages (particularly Mandarin).最主要的原因，這是因為多數中國人的專利僅適用於中國語文（尤其是國語） 。 Searching the Chinese patent database is easy, since all patents and published applications are available online, but the search has to be carried out in Chinese.搜索中國專利數據庫是容易，因為所有的專利和發表的申請是在網上提供，但搜索，以進行在中國。 Furthermore, simply translating English keywords to Chinese (or vice versa) may not work because Chinese languages have many variations that cannot be captured in English.此外，簡單英語翻譯的關鍵字，以中文（或反之亦然）可能無法正常工作，因為中國的語言有很多變化，不能在英語抓獲。 Machine translations cannot be relied on for semantic, cultural, and contextual reasons.機器翻譯不能依賴於語義，文化和語境的原因。

• Utility model (10-year) patents should figure in every company’s China IP strategy: In view of the unique position of 10-year patents in China’s intellectual property scenario, any company producing or selling its products in China cannot afford to ignore these patents.實用新型（ 10年）專利的數字，應該在每家公司的中國知識產權戰略：鑑於中的獨特地位， 10年的專利在中國的知識產權情況下，任何公司生產或銷售它的產品在中國不能忽略這些專利。 After the changes to the patent law proposed in 2006 have been implemented, foreign applicants may need to choose between an invention patent and a utility model if they want to enter the national phase in the country through the PCT route.變化後，以專利法的建議，在2006年已付諸實行，外國申請人可能需要之間作出選擇一項發明專利和實用新型的，如果他們希望進入國家階段在該國通過PCT的途徑。

Ram Deshpande, Senior Manager Intellectual Property at RAM的德什潘德，高級經理知識產權 Evalueserve evalueserve . 。