供應商對其潛在客戶發動專利訴訟之影響因素-以動態競合策略的觀點分析

儘管台灣企業在專利佈局上已經挹注了不少資源，但每每在專利訴訟的戰場上卻還是處於相對弱勢的地位。2013年光學鏡頭廠商大立光對其潛在客戶三星發動專利訴訟，而廠商間的專利訴訟往往是發生在同業競者之間，這種供應商興訟其潛在客戶的案例實為罕見，故本研究極欲探究該現象是否普遍？供應商對其潛在客戶發動專利訴訟的考量、目的與策略為何？兩造雙方競爭與合作的動態關係是如何演变的？本研究以台灣智慧型手機產業為研究對象，於美國聯邦法院電子檔案資料庫系統(PACER)和美國國際貿易委員會訴訟資料庫(EDIS)中對台灣智慧型手機產業之175家上市公司進行專利訴訟案件的檢索並以動態競合策略的觀點對指標性個案進行深入分析。本研究發現供應商興訟其潛在客戶並非是普遍現象；「專利有效性」和「專利品質」是制勝的關鍵；而擁有完備實力的供應商可以通過專利換訂單策略，「以戰逼和」來打入潛在客戶的產品供應鏈，或運用專利訴訟的手段消除其他潛在客戶的侵權疑慮；「時機」對專利訴訟有著重要的影響。此外本研究亦闡明在理論及實務上的貢獻，希望在美國專利戰場中的「台灣經驗」可以供華人高科技企業去學習與借鑒。

關鍵字

專利訴訟；競合策略；動態競爭；工業行銷

並列摘要

Although Taiwanese enterprises have injected a lot of resource into Patent Portfolio, they are still in a relatively weak position in the field of patent litigation. An optical lens manufacturer called LARGAN launched a patent infringement lawsuit against its potential customer Samsung in 2013. However, the patent litigation among enterprises always occurs in the competitors of the same industry. Is it common for suppliers to initiate patent litigation against their potential customer and what are the considerations, purposes and strategies? How did the dynamic relationship between the both parties in competition and cooperation evolve? The Taiwanese smartphone industry is taken as the research object to retrieve patent litigation cases about 175 listed companies of the Taiwanese smartphone industry in PACER and EDIS. Analyze index cases from the perspective of the dynamic coopetition strategy. Based on the findings，it is uncommon for suppliers to initiate patent litigation against their potential customer. "Patent Validity" and "Patent Quality" are the key to success. The suppliers with full strength can enter the product supply chain by exchanging patents into orders or eliminate the infringement doubt of other potential clients through patent litigation. "Timing" has an important impact on patent litigation. In addition, the theoretical and practical contribution is clarified and It is hoped that the "Taiwanese experience" accumulated in the U.S. patent battlefield can provide some reference for Chinese high-tech enterprises.