Inequitable Conduct (追伸)

Inequitable Conductについては、対応EPで行った相反する主張をIDSしなかった案件(Therasense, Inc. v. Beckton, Dickinson and Co.)についてen banc審理が行われます。注目です。

en bancで審理されるポイントは以下のとおり。

1. Should the materiality-intent-balancing framework for inequitable conduct be modified or replaced?
2. If so, how? In particular, should the standard be tied directly to fraud or unclean hands? If so, what is the appropriate standard for fraud or unclean hands?
3. What is the proper standard for materiality? What role should the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s rules play in defining materiality? Should a finding of materiality require that but for the alleged misconduct, one or more claims would not have issued?
4. Under what circumstances is it proper to infer intent from materiality?
5. Should the balancing inquiry (balancing materiality and intent) be abandoned?
6. Whether the standards for materiality and intent in other federal agency contexts or at common law shed light on the appropriate standards to be applied in the patent context.

タウンゼント知財総合事務所/ 穐場 仁

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