「圖形用戶界面」的專利主題適格性

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發(fā)布：IPRdaily中文網(wǎng)（IPRdaily.cn）

作者：Andrew Umlauf律師 及 Yuezhong Feng律師

供稿：Brinks Gilson & Lione律師事務(wù)所

原標(biāo)題：圖形用戶界面的專利主題適格性

本文案件中，聯(lián)邦巡回法院認(rèn)為如果“圖形用戶界面（ graphical user interface）”專利的權(quán)利要求針對一種特定方式匯總信息，并能夠提高計算機(jī)功能，則該主題不屬于抽象概念并且符合35 U.S.C. §101專利適格性的要求。

在Core Wireless Licensing S.A.R.L.v. LG Electronics, Inc.一案中，聯(lián)邦巡回法院支持了地區(qū)法院駁回簡易判決（summary judgement）的裁定，該簡易判決請求裁定8,713,476 和8,434,020兩項專利中的一些權(quán)利要求在35 U.S.C. §101下指向無效的專利主題。476專利和020專利相關(guān)的權(quán)利要求指向“顯示圖形用戶界面。（displaying a graphical user interface）”

聯(lián)邦巡回法院認(rèn)為權(quán)利要求不指向一個抽象概念。聯(lián)邦巡回法院的理由是“即便匯總信息（summarizing information）的一般性概念在本發(fā)明前的確存在，但本案中的權(quán)利要求針對一種特定方式（a particular manner）的匯總信息及在電子設(shè)備中顯示該信息?！?br/>

為了支持這一結(jié)論，聯(lián)邦巡回法院對本案權(quán)利要求主題與一般性概念下的匯總信息進(jìn)行區(qū)分。

法院特別強(qiáng)調(diào)了權(quán)利要求中的限制，該限制要求一種特定的方式存取數(shù)據(jù)與限制顯示數(shù)據(jù)的類型。法院還列舉了許多專利出版物的摘錄，摘錄論證了“權(quán)利要求如何針對計算機(jī)功能進(jìn)行改進(jìn)，特別是那些小屏幕計算機(jī)?！狈ㄔ哼M(jìn)一步解釋說，本案權(quán)利要求主題可使用戶能夠查看最相關(guān)的數(shù)據(jù)，并通過多種視圖和窗口提高用戶導(dǎo)航的速度。

本案的判決相比之前聯(lián)邦法院關(guān)于“圖形用戶界面”的判決更具分量。在Trading Technologies International, Inc. v. CQG, Inc.中，聯(lián)邦法院在非判決先例公開（non-precedential publication. 注：不具有對今后判決的約束力）中支持當(dāng)圖形用戶界面的功能可提高用戶執(zhí)行任務(wù)的速度和準(zhǔn)確性時，具有該功能的某些權(quán)利要求符合35 U.S.C. §101對專利適格性的要求。

本案，聯(lián)邦巡回法院提供了一個可供作為判決先例的裁決（precedential decision），加入了圖形用戶界面主題具有35 U.S.C. §101專利適格性的額外例證。

附：英文全文

Subject Matter Eligibility for Graphical User Interfaces

In Core Wireless Licensing S.A.R.L.. v. LG Electronics, Inc. (Jan. 25, 2018), the Federal Circuit affirmed a district court decision denying summary judgement that certain claims of two patents, 8,713,476 and 8,434,020, were directed to invalid subject matter under 35U.S.C. §101. The pertinent claims of the '476 and '020 patents are directed to displaying a graphical user interface.

An example claim from the ’476 patent is:

A computing device comprising a display screen, the computing device being configured to display on the screen a menu listing one or more applications, and additionally being configured to display on the screen an application summary that can be reached directly from the menu, wherein the application summary displays a limited list of data offered within the one or more applications, each of the data in the list being selectable to launch the respective application and enable the selected data to be seen within the respective application, and wherein the application summary is displayed while the one or more applications are in an un-launched state.

The Federal Circuit held that the claims were not directed to an abstract idea. In particular, the Federal Circuit reasoned that "[a]lthough the generic idea of summarizing information certainly existed prior to the invention, these claims are directed to a particular manner of summarizing and presenting information in electronic devices."

In support of its decision, the Federal Circuit differentiated the claimed subject matter from the generic idea of summarizing information. The Federal Circuit placed special emphasis on limitations that require a particular manner by which data is accessed and limitations that restrain the type of data displayed. The Federal Circuit also recited numerous excerpts from the patent publications that demonstrate how "the claims are directed to an improvement in the functioning of computers, particularly those with small screens." The Federal Circuit further reasoned that the claimed subject matter enables a user to see the most relevant data and improves the speed of the user’s navigation through various views and windows.

This decision is likely to carry more weight than the previous Federal Circuit decision related to graphical user interfaces. In Trading Technologies International, Inc. v. CQG, Inc. (Jan. 18, 2017) the Federal Circuit agreed, in a non-precedential publication, that certain claims with graphical user interface features are eligible under 35 U.S.C. §101 when the features improve the speed and accuracy by which a user performs a task. With this latest case, the Federal Circuit provides a precedential decision with additional examples of graphical user interface subject matter that are eligible under 35 U.S.C. §101.

發(fā)布：IPRdaily中文網(wǎng)（IPRdaily.cn）

作者：Andrew Umlauf律師 及 Yuezhong Feng律師

供稿：Brinks Gilson & Lione律師事務(wù)所

編輯：IPRdaily趙珍          校對：IPRdaily縱橫君

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