专利申请“八项注意”

王晋刚

专利“生产”的最后一道工序是专利申请，因为专利与著作权不同，一旦创作完成，法律就会自动保护。专利是鼓励社会创新的一种工具，所以法律保护的力度非常大，也就是因为这个原因，国家对发明人获得专利的数量和质量都加以严格的控制，一面专利泛滥，反而对社会创新构成阻碍。专利申请的过程比较复杂，其间也牵涉到企业的各种利益考虑，所以需要细细探讨。

申请前应思考的问题
1.是否属于专利保护的对象及范围？
中国的专利有三种：发明，对产品、方法或者其改进所提出的新的技术方案；实用新型，对产品的形状、构造或其结合所提出的适于应用的新的技术方案；外观设计：对产品的形状、图案、色彩或者其结合所作出的富有美感并适用于工业上的新设计。

每一种专利都有其特定的保护对象，例如，实用新型的保护范围比专利要小的多，首先是创新的方法不能申请，其次是没有一定形状和构造的产品不能申请。知识产权局曾经发过一个公告，列举了8种不能申请实用新型专利的情况：各种方法、产品的用途；无确定形状的产品，如气态、液态、粉末状、颗粒状的物质或材料；单纯材料替换的产品，以及用于不同工艺生产同样形状、构造的产品；不可移动的建筑物；仅以平面图案设计为特征的产品，如棋、牌等；由两台或者两台以上的仪器或设备组成的系统，如电话网络系统、上下水系统；单纯的线路，如纯电路、气动流线图、工作流程图、平面配置图等；直接作用于人体的电、磁、光、声、放射或其组合的医疗器具。

另外，也须注意是否为法定不予专利的标的，如科学发现、智力活动的规则和方法、疾病的诊断和治疗方法、动物和植物品种、用原子核变换方法获得的物质等。

2. 是否具备专利的三性，即实用性、新颖性、创造性。
这三性是所有专利技术必须具备的，但也是最难把握的，就是专利局也经常出错，更不用说一般的专业人员了。虽然难以把握，但是在申请专利前还是自己先行判断为好，免得浪费财力和时间。

3. 是否具有市场前景或产业化价值？
企业专利管理机构必须预测、分析该技术方案可能创造的市场前景、经济效益，再做出是否申请的决策。如果出于企业战略上的考虑而不想很快实施，或者市场前景与投资效益不明，那就要考虑有没有进行专利储备的必要。

每个企业在产品创新中都会同时生产很多“副产品”，这些专利有时候与企业的核心产品无关，但是前途非常，这时候就要看企业的专利管理人员的视野了。施乐公司曾经作出了很多历史性的创造，如窗口软件、电脑图像处理软件等，但是，正在复印机市场获取高额垄断利润的施乐不屑一顾，没有为这些软件申请专利，更没有想到去生产这些产品。结果是产生了微软、苹果这样的电脑巨人。

4.可能获准的专利的防卫力度有多大？
如果你申请并获得了该技术的专利，那该专利能获准的申请专利保护范围有多大？举例说，是整个茶杯还是仅仅是茶杯的把柄？相对于在先技术与他人已有或已申请公开的专利，你的专利的“势力范围”有多宽？他人回避该专利范围的难易度有多高？你的专利阻却他人进行“绕过”的力道有多强？

同样，企业也没必要为技术围墙特别高的技术申请专利，因为这些技术“自己能够保护自己”，不必要冒公开技术秘密的危险，也没必要支付额外的申请维护专利的费用。

最需要保护的是简单的技术方案，特别是那些创造投入高，技术门槛低的技术。日立自动气流传感器从技术的角度看很容易被竞争对手所复制，所以他们为自己的传感器申请了专利。但其它公司明白日立申请了许多核心专利权，因此不敢直接盗用日立的技术进行仿制，他们只能寻求更为复杂的方法绕过日立的专利权，这样他们的气流传感器价格高、质量差，市场竞争力就较弱，最后只能是日立产品的伴舞者，帮着日立开疆拓土，蚕食边缘市场。



5. 专利披露的范围应该是多宽？
也就是说专利申请公开后可能透露多少技术秘密？技术披露不足不能获得专利保护，即使获得也面临被撤销的风险。爱迪生的灯泡专利就碰到过这样的尴尬。当时他指控他人侵权，法官便让他按照自己专利披露的信息现场生产一个灯泡，结果爱迪生失败了。但专利说明书公开技术秘密太多又易于被他人抄袭仿冒，所以，一般的专利权人在申请专利之外都保留了一定的技术秘密。当然，在符合法律要求的前提下，技术秘密披露越少越好，最主要是要避免泄漏关键的技术秘密。

另外，还要考虑专利公开之后，对目前和潜在的竞争对手相关的技术开发有多大的帮助？如果竞争对手在这方面的技术开发尚处于蒙昧状态，那就没必要申请专利，有些专利技术是一点就透的，特别是对生产研究相关产品的竞争对手来说；但是，如果竞争对手的技术已经日渐成熟，那就要赶快提起专利申请。这样，专利申请问题其实转化成了一个企业信息情报体系的问题。

6.专利申请是否与有关的技术合同互相抵触？
任何技术导向型企业都签订有各种技术合同，如技术合作开发合同、技术许可合同、技术转让合同等等。微软就曾经禁止合作厂商为安装了WINDOWS操作系统的硬件设备申请专利，直到最近才解了禁。

所以，在申请专利前，专利管理部门必须检查已有的技术合同，看是否有抵触或不利于与他人签订的技术交流、授权或销售合同的执行。

7. 成本效益分析
申请专利的目的是获得垄断的客户和市场，不是“为专利而专利”或者“为技术而专利”。所以在专利申请前，专利管理部门要会同财务部门检查成本问题，看企业有无足够的资金申请并维护、经营该项专利。企业要避免盲目申请专利，对大企业尤其如此，因为他们有成百上千的专利，实施率很低，而专利的申请、每年的年费，以至专利授权、专利诉讼、专利管理都需要支付大量的资金，申请国际专利更是费资不菲。如果申请不当，原来看好的专利有可能变成纯粹的成本支出，这也就是美国大公司最注重专利管理的原因。

8. 能不能用更经济的方式来保护？
例如能否以著作权、商业或技术秘密来保护，因为这些保护的方式成本要低得多。 进一步讲，有些技术用技术秘密的方法保护跟恰当，如祖传秘方，可口可乐的饮料配方等。

在日本西部的新厂开始生产液晶电视的Sharp，则已经采取若干极端的措施，以防范技术外流。该公司的龟山厂禁止访客，严防重要的工程师身分外泄，也不准员工在厂内使用照相手机。对于某些特定产品，它甚至选择不申请专利，因为担心在申请专利的过程和文书中，会让竞争对手打探到这些独门技术的线索。


国家外管局


违反外汇管理处罚施行细则(附英文)

（一九八五年三月二十五日国务院批准）

第一条 为贯彻执行《中华人民共和国外汇管理暂行条例》第三十一条、第三十三条的规定，特制定本细则。
第二条 下列行为，都属于套汇：
一、除经国家外汇管理局及其分局（以下简称管汇机关）批准或者国家另有规定者外，以人民币偿付应当以外汇支付的进口货款或者其他款项的；
二、境内机构以人民币为驻外机构、外国驻华机构、侨资企业、外资企业、中外合资经营企业、短期入境个人支付其在国内的各种费用，由对方付给外汇，没有卖给国家的；
三、驻外机构使用其在中国境内的人民币为他人支付各种费用，由对方付给外汇的；
四、外国驻华机构、侨资企业、外资企业、中外合资经营企业及其人员，以人民币为他人支付各种费用，而由他人以外汇或者其他相类似的形式偿还的；
五、未经管汇机关批准，派往外国或者港澳等地区的代表团、工作组及其人员，将出国经费或者从事各项业务活动所得购买物品或者移作他用，以人民币偿还的；
六、境内机构以出口收入或者其他收入的外汇抵偿进口物品费用或其他支出的。
第三条 对套汇者区别情况作如下处罚：
一、套入方所得外汇尚未使用的，责令其限期调回，强制收兑；套入方所得外汇已被使用，责令其补交等值的外汇，强制收兑，或者扣减相应的外汇额度；套入方所得外汇已被使用而无外汇归还的，补交所购物品的国内外差价；以上并可另按套汇金额处以10％至30％的罚款。
二、对套出外汇方，根据情节轻重，按套汇金额处以10％至30％的罚款。
第四条 下列行为，都属于逃汇：
一、未经管汇机关批准，境内机构将收入的外汇私自保存、使用、存放境外的；
违反《对侨资企业、外资企业、中外合资企业外汇管理施行细则》的规定，将收入的外汇存放境外的；
二、境内机构、侨资企业、外资企业、中外合资经营企业以低报出口货价、佣金等手段少报外汇收入，或者以高报进口货价、费用、佣金等手段多报外汇支出，将隐匿的外汇私自保存或者存放境外的；
三、驻外机构以及在境外设立的中外合资经营企业的中方投资者，不按国家规定将应当调回的利润留在当地营运或者移作他用的；
四、除经管汇机关批准，派往外国或者港澳等地区的代表团、工作组及其人员不按各该专项计划使用外汇，将出国经费或者从事各项业务活动所得外汇存放境外或者移作他用的。
第五条 对逃汇者区别情况作如下处罚：
一、逃汇所得外汇尚未使用的，责令违法者或者其主管部门限期调回，强制收兑，或者没收全部或者部分外汇，并可另按逃汇金额处以10％至50％的罚款；
二、逃汇所得外汇已被使用的，责令其补交等值的外汇，强制收兑或者予以没收，并可另按逃汇金额处以10％至50％的罚款；
三、逃汇所得动汇已被使用而无外汇归还的，按逃汇金额处以30％以上、等值以下的罚款，或者没收非法所得，或者罚、没并处。
第六条 下列行为，都属于扰乱金融：
一、未经国家外汇管理局批准经营外汇业务，或者超越批准经营范围扩大外汇业务的；
二、未经国务院或者国务院授权机关批准，境内机构在国内外发行具有外汇价值的有价证券，接受外国或者港澳等地区的银行、企业贷款的；
三、除经管汇机关批准，境内机构以外汇计价结算、借贷、转让、质押，或者以外币流通、使用的；
四、私自买卖外汇、变相买卖外汇，或者超过国家外汇管理局规定价格买卖外汇，以及倒买倒卖外汇的。
第七条 对犯有前条违法行为者区别情况作如下处罚：
一、对犯有第一项违法行为者，分别责令其停止经营外汇业务、停止超越批准经营范围的外汇业务，或者没收非法所得，或者处以非法经营额等值以下的罚款，或者罚、没并处；
二、对犯有第二项违法行为者，不准其发行新的债券或者接受新的贷款，并可按其债券或者贷款金额处以20％以下罚款；
三、对犯有第三、四项违法行为者，强制收兑违法外汇，没收非法所得，或者处以违法外汇等值以下的罚款，或者罚、没并处。
第八条 对第二、四、六条未作具体规定的其他违反外汇管理的违法行为，可以区别情况，参照本细则最相类似的条款处理。
第九条 违反外汇管理，情节轻微，或者主动向管汇机关坦白交待违法事实、真诚悔改、检举立功的，可以从宽处理直至免予处罚；抗拒检查、掩盖违法事实、屡教不改的，按照本细则第三、五、七条的规定从重处罚。
第十条 套汇、逃汇、扰乱金融，情节严重的案件，应当移送司法机关依法处理。
第十一条 管汇机关查处违反外汇管理案件，为了防止违法单位转移资金，可以通知银行冻结其违法款项，冻结时间不超过两个月，届期自动解冻。遇有特殊情况需要适当延长冻结时间的，管汇机关应当重新办理通知手续。对于拒不缴付罚没款项的违法单位，管汇机关可以从其开户银
行帐户中强制扣款。
第十二条 管汇机关处理违反外汇管理案件，应当制发处罚决定书，通知被查处的单位或者个人。当事人对管汇机关的处罚决定不服，可以在接到处罚决定书之日起的十五日内，向上一级管汇机关申请复议；当事人不服复议决定的，可以向当地人民法院起诉。
第十三条 违反外汇管理的案件，由管汇机关处理；通过货物、行李物品、邮递物品、运输工具进出国境，从而具有走私性质的套汇、逃汇案件，由海关处理；利用外汇、外币票证进行投机倒把的案件，由工商行政管理机关处理。
第十四条 经济特区违反外汇管理处罚办法，由广东省、福建省人民政府参照本细则另行制定。
第十五条 本细则由国家外汇管理局负责解释。
第十六条 本细则自发布之日起施行。(附英文)

IMPLEMENTING RULES ON PUNISHMENT OF VIOLATION OF FOREIGN EXCHANGECONTROL

Important Notice: (注意事项)
英文本源自中华人民共和国务院法制局编译, 中国法制出版社出版的《中华人民
共和国涉外法规汇编》(1991年7月版).
当发生歧意时, 应以法律法规颁布单位发布的中文原文为准.
This English document is coming from the "LAWS AND REGULATIONS OF THE
PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA GOVERNING FOREIGN-RELATED MATTERS" (1991.7)
which is compiled by the Brueau of Legislative Affairs of the State
Council of the People's Republic of China, and is published by the China
Legal System Publishing House.
In case of discrepancy, the original version in Chinese shall prevail.

Whole Document (法规全文)
IMPLEMENTING RULES ON PUNISHMENT OF VIOLATION OF FOREIGN EXCHANGE
CONTROL
(Approved by the State Council on March 5, 1985, promulgated by
the State Administration of Foreign Exchange Control on April 5, 1985)
Article 1
These Rules are formulated for the implementation of Articles 31 and 33 of
the Interim Regulations for Foreign Exchange Control of the People's
Republic of China.
Article 2
The following acts shall be regarded as unlawful procurement of foreign
exchange:
1) paying in Renminbi for imports or other items that ought to be paid in
foreign exchange, unless otherwise approved by the State Administration of
Foreign Exchange Control or its branch offices
(hereinafter referred to as foreign exchange control agencies), or
stipulated by the State;
2) paying in Renminbi by organizations within territory to defray the
expenses in China for organizations stationed abroad, foreign
organizations stationed in China, enterprises with overseas Chinese
capital, foreign-capital enterprises, Chinese-foreign equity joint
ventures, and individuals coming to China for a short stay, in return for
reimbursement in foreign exchange which is not sold to the State;
3) paying in Renminbi by organizations stationed abroad to defray expenses
with their own Renminbi in China for others in return for reimbursement in
foreign exchange;
4) paying in Renminbi by foreign organizations stationed in China,
enterprises with overseas Chinese capital, foreign-capital enterprises,
Chinese-foreign equity joint ventures and the personnel thereof to defray
expenses for others in return for reimbursement in foreign exchange or in
other forms of a similar nature;
5) making repayments without approval of foreign exchange control agencies
in Renminbi by delegations, working groups or members thereof sent abroad
or to Hong Kong, Macao and other regions, who put to other uses or spend
on purchase of goods the foreign exchange allocated for the mission or
that earned from their various kinds of business operations;
6) offsetting export proceeds or other foreign exchange earnings against
import costs or other expenditures by organizations within territory.
Article 3
Unlawful procurement of foreign exchange shall be penalized according to
different circumstances in the following ways:
1) If the foreign exchange unlawfully procured remains unused, the party
procuring the foreign exchange from others shall be ordered to repatriate
the foreign exchange within a prescribed time limit for a compulsory sale
to the State. If it has been used up, the party concerned must repay it
either by a compulsory sale to the State of an equal amount of foreign
exchange or by a deduction of the amount from the foreign exchange quota
allotted to the said party. In case the said party has no foreign exchange
to repay, the difference between the domestic and international market
prices of the goods purchased with the unlawfully procured exchange shall
be paid. In addition, a fine equivalent to 10-30% of the amount of the
foreign exchange unlawfully procured may be imposed.
2) The party procuring foreign exchange for others shall be fined a sum
equivalent to 10-30% of the amount of the foreign exchange illegally
procured in light of the seriousness of the case.
Article 4
The following acts shall be regarded as evasion of foreign exchange
control:
1) retaining, spending or depositing foreign exchange earnings abroad by
organizations within territory without prior approval of the exchange
control agencies; depositing foreign exchange earnings abroad in violation
of the Regulations for Foreign Exchange Control Relating to Enterprises
with Overseas Chinese Capital, Foreign-capital Enterprises and
Chinese-foreign Equity Joint Ventures;
2) retaining or depositing abroad without authorization the foreign
exchange which is concealed by organizations within territory, enterprises
with overseas Chinese capital, foreign-capital enterprises and Chinese-
foreign equity joint ventures and which is acquired through such means as
reporting less foreign exchange receipts by understating the export prices
or commissions, or reporting more foreign exchange expenditures by
overstating the import prices, expenses and commissions.
3) retaining for business operations abroad or putting to other uses the
profits that ought to be repatriated according to State provisions, by
organizations stationed abroad or by Chinese joint venturers in Chinese-
foreign equity joint ventures established abroad;
4) failing to use the foreign exchange allocated for the mission or earned
from various kinds of business operations according to plans and
depositing it abroad or putting it to other uses, without otherwise
approval of the foreign exchange control agencies, by delegations or
working groups and the members thereof sent abroad or to Hong Kong, Macao
and other regions.
Article 5
Evasion of foreign exchange control shall be penalized according to
different circumstances in the following ways:
1) if the foreign exchange acquired through evasion still remains unused,
the evader or the involved competent department shall be ordered to
repatriate it within a prescribed time limit for compulsory sale to the
State; or the full amount of foreign exchange or part thereof shall be
confiscated. In addition, a fine equivalent to 10-50% of the amount of the
foreign exchange evaded may be imposed;
2) if the foreign exchange acquired through evasion has been used up, the
evader shall be ordered to repay an equal amount of foreign exchange which
shall be sold to the State or confiscated. In addition, a fine equivalent
to 10-50% of the amount of the foreign exchange evaded may be imposed;
3) if the evader has no foreign exchange to repay, a fine equivalent to no
less than 30% of but no more than the full amount of the foreign exchange
acquired through evasion shall be imposed, or the illegal gains therefrom
shall be confiscated, or the fine and confiscation shall be imposed
concurrently.
Article 6
The following acts shall be regarded as disrupting financial stability:
1) engaging in foreign exchange business without prior approval of the
State Administration of Foreign Exchange Control or on a scale beyond the
approved business scope;
2) issuing securities denominated in foreign currencies in China or
abroad, or accepting loans offered by banks or enterprises in foreign
countries or in Hong Kong, Macao and other regions by organizations within
territory without prior approval of the State Council or the departments
authorized by the State Council;
3) using foreign currency by organizations within territory, without
otherwise approval of the foreign exchange control agencies, as the
monetary unit in settling accounts, borrowing or lending, making transfers
or obtaining mortgages, or as a medium of exchange in business
transactions;
4) buying and selling foreign exchange without authorization or in any
disguised form, or at rates above those set by the State Administration of
Foreign Exchange Control, or profiteering in buying and selling foreign
exchange.
Article 7
The following penalties shall be imposed on the offenders involved in the
cases listed in the preceding Article according to different
circumstances:
1) For cases' referred to in paragraph (1), the offenders shall be ordered
to cease their foreign exchange business or operations that exceed the
approved scope, or their unlawful earnings shall be confiscated or a fine
up to but no more than the full amount of the illegal operating fund shall
be imposed, or the fine and confiscation shall be imposed concurrently.
2) For cases referred to in paragraph (2), the offenders shall be ordered
not to issue new securities or not to accept new loans, and may also be
fined a sum up to but no more than 20% of the securities issued or loans
accepted.
3) For cases referred to in paragraphs (3) and (4), the offenders shall be
ordered to sell their unlawfully transacted foreign exchange to the State
and their illegal gains shall be confiscated, or a fine up to but no more
than the full amount of the foreign exchange illegally transacted shall be
imposed, or the fine and confiscation shall be imposed concurrently.
Article 8
For other acts in violation of foreign exchange control not specifically
listed in Articles 2, 4 and 6, penalties may be meted out according to the
seriousness of the case with reference to the most relevant provisions
provided in these Rules.
Article 9
In cases of minor offences, the offenders who voluntarily confess to their
unlawful activities before the foreign exchange control agencies, show
sincere repentance and demonstrate meritorious conduct by informing
against other offenders shall be dealt with leniently or exempt from
punishment. Offenders who refuse to confess, try to cover up their
offences or refuse to mend their ways despite repeated admonition shall be
punished severely in accordance with Articles 3, 5 and 7 of these Rules.
Article 10
Serious cases of unlawful procurement of foreign exchange, evasion of
foreign exchange control or disrupting financial stability shall be
transferred to judicial organs for handling according to law.
Article 11
To prevent violators from transferring their unlawfully acquired funds
when violations of foreign exchange control are under investigation, the
foreign exchange control agencies may ask the banks to freeze the funds in
question for a period of no more than two months. Upon expiry, the funds
shall be unfrozen automatically. If an extension of the period is
necessary under special circumstances, the relevant foreign exchange
control agency shall renew the notification to the bank concerned. In case
a violator refuses to pay the fine or the sum to be confiscated, the
relevant foreign exchange control agency may enforce the penalty by
deducting the sum from the violator's bank account.
Article 12
In cases where the foreign exchange control agencies impose penalties,
notices of penalty decision shall be served to the units or individuals
being penalized. If the party concerned does not agree with the penalty
decision, it(he) may appeal to the foreign exchange control agency at the
next higher level for reconsideration within 15 days as of the date of
receipt of the notice. If the party concerned still does not agree with
the decision of reconsideration, it(he) may bring a suit in the local
people's court.
Article 13
Cases involving violation of foreign exchange control regulations shall be
handled by the foreign exchange control agencies; cases involving unlawful
procurement of foreign exchange and evasion of foreign exchange control
that are of the nature of smuggling by means of illegally getting the
goods into or out of the country as part of luggage and personal effects,
by post or other means of transport, shall be handled by the Customs; and
cases involving the use of foreign exchange or payment instruments in
foreign currency for speculation and profiteering shall be handled by the
administrative departments for industry and commerce.
Article 14
Measures for penalizing violations of foreign exchange control in the
special economic zones shall be separately formulated by the Governments
of Guangdong and Fujian Provinces by taking reference to these Rules.
Article 15
The State Administration of Foreign Exchange Control shall be responsible
for interpreting these Rules.
Article 16
These Rules shall come into force as of the date of promulgation.