A Study on IP Protection of Computer Program and Business Method - Focusing on Patent Law

[[abstract]]本論文所欲探討主題之發想乃根源於所從事之資訊工作，尤其在智慧財產重要性倍受肯定之現代，各類型智慧財產權之法律保護意識亦日益受到重視，而當電腦軟體開發者竭盡心力、嘔心瀝血所創作而得的智慧結晶，如何獲得真正有效且足夠法律保護的想法，就成為本研究的起點。 有關於電腦軟體與商業方法發明而言，其智慧財產保護多以著作權法、營業秘密法、專利法…等智慧財產法為主要探討之領域；然而，倘若以軟體產業工作者之立場切入，自無不冀望投注的努力得以受到範圍最廣泛、效力最強大的法律保護，至於此類型之智慧財產究竟該賦予何種法律上的保護方為適切，則先就著作權法、營業秘密法、專利法各項規範與其在電腦軟體、商業方法上運用的特性進行分析；並以專利法之本質及相關規定為本研究主要深入研究的主軸，探討如何適當合宜地賦予電腦軟體與商業方法相關發明以一定的法律保護效力，兼以避免違逆專利法之立法宗旨與意義，並能切實達成提昇技術水平與促進產業進步之目的，而非讓專利權僅成為某些投機者利用的工具，進而在法律效力與產業需要間尋求一個最佳的平衡點。 以目前電腦軟體與商業方法發明專利相關案件中最受矚目之In re Bilski為主要案例，針對美國聯邦巡迴上訴法院之審理結果與日前最新發布之美國最高法院終審判決來詳細分析其論理內容，及綜合各方學者專家之意見，試著提出本研究對於電腦軟體與商業方法發明之專利保護修正之建議，同時殷盼未來能對此論題形塑出具整體性之制度規範。[[abstract]]The subject to be explored in this thesis is inspired by the experiences of information technology This study began by seeking ways to provide truly effective and adequate legal protection for works of computer software developers after going through an exhausting painstaking process particularly in modern days when the importance of intellectual property has been widely recognized and the awareness of legal protection of various intellectual property rights is rising In regard to computer program and business method inventions the Copyright Law Trade Secrets Law Patent Law and other intellectual property-related laws are the fields that have stimulated most discussions when it comes to intellectual property protection However from the angle of software workers it is natural to pursue the most extensive and effective protection in laws for the results of their efforts Aiming to determine which legal protection is adequate for such intellectual property this study first analyzed the provisions of the Copyright Law Trade Secrets Law and Patent Law as well as the characteristics of the aforementioned laws when being applied to computer programs and business methods With a primary focus on the nature of the Patent Law and relevant regulations for an in-depth investigation this study discussed how to adequately and appropriately provide a certain level of legal protection for inventions related to computer programs and business methods while maintaining the objective and meaning of the Patent Law and fulfilling the purposes of technological enhancement and industrial advancement without downgrading patent rights into a mere tool for certain opportunists in order to achieve the optimal balance between legal effects and industrial demand Using the In re Bilski case which has drawn most attention among the current patent cases pertaining to computer program and business method inventions as the major example this study elaborated on the reasoning behind the conclusion made by the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and the final judgment of the Supreme Court of the United States announced recently This study also combined the opinions of several scholars and experts in an attempt to provide suggestions regarding modification of the protection that Patent Law offer to computer program and business method inventions and in the hope of establishing an integral system and standard for this subject in the futur