從設計專利「維修免責條款」立法提案談專利制度之功能與我國之智慧財產權政策方向

Study on the Economics of Patent Rights and Intellectual Property Policy in Taiwan: A Commentary on the Proposed “Repair Clause” of Design Patent

近年來產業界對於工業設計之智慧財產權保護，需求日益增加。所謂的設計，乃對物品之全部或部分之形狀、花紋、色彩或其結合，透過視覺訴求之創作。強化工業設計保護，不僅能鼓勵個別設計人從事創作，亦能促進新商品之創新與投資，攸關相關產業發展。 汽車維修零組件產業於臺灣製造業占有一定重要性，原廠（OEMs）擁有零配件之設計專利權，因而能透過專利權行使將其他製造者排除於汽車零組件之維修市場。新近因單一設計專利侵權訴訟，有國內業者主張應開放汽車維修零組件市場，力主我國應立法增訂「維修免責條款」。本文分析專利制度之功能與我國之智慧財產權政策方向，認為維修免責條款有違智慧財產權之制度本旨，亦會削弱臺灣長久以來鼓勵創新研發之政策目標及各界努力。

Design, which encompasses everything from shape, pattern, color or any combination thereof of an article as a whole or in part by visual appeal, is increasingly the subject of intellectual property claims. Enhanced protection for industrial design not only promotes the contribution of individual designers, but also encourages innovation and development of new products and investment in their production. A more accessible design-protection legal system is essential for the industries. In Taiwan, the market for manufacturing auto spare parts is one of the important manufacture industries. Sine the original manufacturers (OEMs) hold design protection rights on spare parts, they might enforce the intellectual property (IP) rights to exclude third-party producers of replica parts in the spare parts aftermarket. Due to one patent infringement case in Taiwan, some spare parts producers argue for liberalization of the aftermarket and try to introduce the “repair clause” into Patent Act. This article analyzes the economics of patent rights and IP policy in Taiwan and argues that the reasoning of introduction of “repair clause” in Patent Act might not be in line with the legal framework of IP Laws. The “repair clause” might cause negative impacts on the policy of encouraging innovation in Taiwan.