近年來我們廠商在與外國廠商的專利訴訟中往往屈居於下風,特別是對國際貿易委員會基於美國關稅法第337條的調查程序無法招架,然而正因為先前許多的失利,使我國廠商開始重視智慧財產權的保護及運用,也開始針對現有或未來可能開發的產品進行專利分析及佈局,以提升本身的專利戰力,及對競爭對手及潛在侵權風險的掌握。 因此本文針對本國廠商進不熟悉的國際貿易委員會基於美國關稅法第337條的調查程序進行探討,以使我國廠商能夠熟悉關稅法第337條的保護標的及構成要件,甚至整體的調查程序流程及期限,並透過我國廠商過去與外國企業於國際貿易委員會中具有代表性的案例進行分析及探討,試圖找出國際貿易委員會的立場,並歸納出有利於我國廠商的訴訟策略,其次基於上述彙整的關稅法第337條調查程序進行評估,歸納出與我方廠商未來在平時及面對關稅法第337條調查案時的策略及建議,以利我國廠商進行參考。
Recently, our corporations are often in an inferior position during the patent litigation with foreign manufactures, especially in the United States International Trade Commission’s investigations based on section 337 of the Tariff Act. However, just because previously lose, our corporations become to focus on protection and use of intellectual property rights, and begin to execute patent analysis and mapping of existing or possible products development in future to improve their patent force and control potential risks of patent infringement from competitors. Accordingly, this article focuses on the United States International Trade Commission’s investigations based on section 337 of the Tariff Act. Firstly, this article introduces protection and constitutive requirements of section 337 of the Tariff Act and the whole procedure and date limit of the United States International Trade Commission’s Investigations. Second, this article collects leading cases of the International Trade commission’s investigations between foreign competitors and our corporations, figures out standpoint of ITC in each cases and generalizes the strategies which is conducive to our corporations. Finally, this article analyzes forgoing investigations and leading cases in ITC and integrates some practical advices for our corporations when facing the ITC’s investigations based on sections 337 of the Tariff Act for consultation.