Article 2 Inventions and creations mentioned in this Law refer to inventions, utility models and designs. Invention refers to a new technical scheme proposed for a product, method or its improvement; Methods The invention includes technical schemes such as operation method, manufacturing method and process flow. Utility model refers to a new practical technical scheme for the shape, structure or combination of products. Appearance design refers to a new design with aesthetic feeling and suitable for industrial application based on the shape, pattern or combination of products and the combination of colors, shapes and patterns.
Article 3 The patent administrative department of the State Council is responsible for the management of patent work throughout the country; Accept and examine patent applications in a unified manner and grant patent rights according to law. The departments for patent administration under the people's governments of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government shall be responsible for patent administration within their respective administrative areas.
Article 4 Where an invention-creation applying for a patent involves national security or vital interests and needs to be kept confidential, it shall be handled in accordance with the relevant provisions of the state.
Article 5 No patent right shall be granted for inventions and creations that violate laws, social ethics or harm public interests.
No patent right shall be granted to inventions and creations obtained or utilized in violation of laws and administrative regulations and completed by relying on genetic resources.
Article 6 Inventions and creations made by performing the tasks of the unit or mainly using the material and technical conditions of the unit are service inventions and creations. The right to apply for a patent for a service invention-creation belongs to the unit; After the application is approved, the entity shall be the patentee.
The right to apply for a patent for a non-service invention-creation belongs to the inventor or designer; After the application is approved, the inventor or designer shall be the patentee.
Where an invention-creation completed by making use of the material and technical conditions of the entity has a contract with the inventor or designer to stipulate the right to apply for a patent and the ownership of the patent, such agreement shall prevail.
Article 7 No unit or individual may suppress an inventor or designer's application for a patent for non-service invention-creation.
Article 8. Unless otherwise agreed, the right to apply for a patent belongs to an invention-creation completed in cooperation with two or more units or individuals, or an invention-creation entrusted by other units or individuals. After the application is approved, the applicant unit or individual shall be the patentee.
Article 9 Only one patent right can be granted for the same invention-creation. However, if the same applicant applies for a patent for utility model and a patent for invention at the same time on the same day, and the patent for utility model obtained earlier has not been terminated, and the applicant abandons the patent for utility model, the patent for invention may be granted.
Where two or more applicants apply for a patent for the same invention-creation, the patent right shall be granted to the first applicant.
Article 10 The right to apply for a patent and the patent right may be transferred.
Where a unit or individual in China transfers the right to apply for a patent or the patent right to a foreigner, foreign enterprise or other foreign organization, it shall go through the formalities in accordance with the provisions of relevant laws and administrative regulations.
Where the right to apply for a patent or the patent right is transferred, the parties concerned shall conclude a written contract and register it with the patent administration department of the State Council, which shall make an announcement. The transfer of the right to apply for a patent or the patent right shall take effect from the date of registration.
Article 11 After the patent right for invention and utility model is granted, except as otherwise provided in this Law, no unit or individual may exploit the patent without the permission of the patentee, that is, it may not manufacture, use, promise to sell, sell or import the patented product for production and business purposes, nor may it use the patented method and use, promise to sell, sell or import the product directly obtained according to the patented method.
After the design patent is granted, no unit or individual may exploit its patent without the permission of the patentee, that is, it may not manufacture, promise to sell, sell or import its patented product for production and business purposes.
Article 12 Any unit or individual that exploits another person's patent shall conclude an exploitation license contract with the patentee and pay the patentee the royalties. The licensee has no right to allow any unit or individual other than those stipulated in the contract to exploit the patent.
Article 13 After the publication of an application for a patent for invention, the applicant may require the entity or individual who exploited the invention to pay an appropriate fee.
Article 14 Where an invention patent of a state-owned enterprise or institution is of great significance to national interests or public interests, with the approval of the State Council, the relevant competent department of the State Council and the people's governments of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government may decide to popularize and apply it within the approved scope, allowing designated units to implement it, and the implementing units shall pay royalties to the patentee in accordance with state regulations.
Article 15 Where there is an agreement on the right to apply for a patent or the exercise of the patent right, such agreement shall prevail. If there is no agreement, * * * someone can exploit the patent alone or license others to exploit it by ordinary license; Where another person is licensed to exploit the patent, the royalties collected shall be distributed among the owners.
Except in the circumstances specified in the preceding paragraph, the exercise of all the patent application rights or patent rights of * * * shall be subject to the consent of the owner of * * *.
Article 16 A unit that has been granted a patent right shall reward the inventor or designer of a service invention-creation; After the patent for invention-creation is implemented, the inventor or designer shall be given reasonable remuneration according to the scope of its popularization and application and the economic benefits obtained.
Article 17 An inventor or designer has the right to state clearly in the patent document that he is an inventor or designer.
The patentee has the right to indicate the patent mark on his patented product or the packaging of the product.
Article 18 Where a foreigner, foreign enterprise or other foreign organization without a habitual residence or business office in China applies for a patent in China, it shall be handled in accordance with this Law.
Article 19 If a foreigner, foreign enterprise or other foreign organization without a habitual residence or business office in China applies for a patent and handles other patent affairs in China, it shall entrust a patent agency established according to law to handle it.
Units or individuals applying for patents and handling other patent affairs in China may entrust a legally established patent agency to handle them.
Patent agencies shall abide by laws and administrative regulations, accept the entrustment of clients, and handle patent applications or other patent affairs; The contents of the client's invention and creation shall be kept confidential, except that the patent application has been published or announced. Specific measures for the administration of patent agencies shall be formulated by the State Council.
Article 20 Where any unit or individual applies to a foreign country for a patent for invention or utility model completed in China, it shall file a confidentiality review with the patent administration department of the State Council in advance. The procedures and time limit for confidentiality review shall be implemented in accordance with the provisions of the State Council.
Units or individuals in China may file an international patent application in accordance with the relevant international treaties to which People's Republic of China (PRC) is a party. The applicant who files an international application for a patent shall abide by the provisions of the preceding paragraph.
The patent administration department of the State Council shall handle international patent applications in accordance with the relevant international treaties to which People's Republic of China (PRC) is a party, this Law and the relevant provisions of the State Council.
Where an invention or utility model that violates the provisions of the first paragraph of this Article is applied for a patent in a foreign country, the patent right shall not be granted in China.
Article 21 The patent administrative department of the State Council and its Patent Reexamination Board shall handle patent-related applications and requests in accordance with the requirements of objectivity, fairness, accuracy and timeliness.
The patent administrative department of the State Council shall publish patent information completely, accurately and timely, and publish patent bulletins regularly.
Before the patent application is published or announced, the staff of the patent administration department in the State Council and relevant personnel shall be responsible for keeping the contents confidential.