植物相關發明保護之研究

Study on the Protection of Plant Related Inventions

系所名稱：法律學系科技法律碩士班 學位別：碩士 畢業學年：106年 指導教授：陳龍昇 本論文旨在探討植物相關發明國際保護規範，以及美國與歐盟植物發明規範與實務，併檢討我國相關規範與100 年專利法草案相關規定。本文認為我國目前的植物品種及種苗法雖符合TRIPs 的要求，然此保護對於須投入高度專業研發的鼓勵卻是不足。在美國與歐盟原則上都採取以專利保護高度研發的植物相關發明，且專利取得要件與品種權相較更為嚴格。另由於美國與歐盟就專利適格性的規範方式不同而有不同的司法實務討論，我國專利法類似歐盟生物科技發明指令就植物特定發明排除其專利適格性，其實務發展可做為我國專利適格性排除規定修法或實務討論的參考。此外，歐盟生物科技發明指令針對生物材料自我增殖的特性所訂定特別權利耗盡規定，可借鏡參考。另國際公約關於原生種的保護以及遺傳資源知識等的利用應融入專利法、植物品種及種苗法。至於植物專利的開放亦應增訂育種家免責或試驗免責事由。最後，針對植物專利的開放，主管機關及司法機關的編制均應一併調整，以因應可能接踵而來的申請案及爭訟案件。

This thesis reviews and compares relevant legislations concerning the protection of plant-related inventions in international laws, the United States laws, the European Union (EU) laws and the 2011 Taiwan Patent Act amedment bill. The author observed that although the current Plant Variety and Plant Seed Act of Taiwan meets the requirements set forth in TRIPs, it doesn’t provide enough incentives for advanced research and development. The United States and the European Union provided patent protection for plant-related invention, the requirements of patentability are more strict than that of plant variety rights. Because the statutory exclusion of patent eligibility in Taiwan Patent Act is similar to that of the EU Directive 98/44/EC, EU’s judicial practice of the law can be of great significance to Taiwan when considering amending Taiwan Patent Act. For instance, the exhaustion doctrine concerning self-replication biological materials provided in article 8 of the EU Directive is worth to refer and adopt. The exemption of farmers’ liability from patent infringement should be explicitly provided in the statue. With regard to the protection of native species and the use of genetic resources, the relevant provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity should be incorporated into Taiwan Patent Act and Plant Variety and Plant Seed Act. With regard to the opening of plant patents, the breeder's exemption or experimental use should also be added in the statue. Finally, the establishment of the competent administrative and judicial authorities should also be adjusted in response to future patent applications and lawsuits.