This diploma thesis is dedicated to the European patent with unitary effect and reviews effects of the approval of the unitary patent package for clarity, time demands and financial aspects of patent protection. The thesis also deals in detail with assessment of changes in the language question in connection with the regulation of translation or in the event of a dispute concerning a European patent with unitary effect. It further assess changes resulting from the ratification of the Agreement on a Unified Patent Court and its impact on financial costs and time demands of patent litigation for the patent applicant. In the practical part the author conducts a party interested in unitary patent protection through the process, procedure for filing and communication with Industrial Property Office and the European Patent Office, from the filing of a application for a Unitary patent until the grant of a Unitary patent.

本論文旨在提供台灣廠商在統合專利制度下之歐洲專利策略建議。本論文首先介紹以歐洲專利公約為主之現行歐洲專利制度，其次再介紹統合專利制度與統一專利法院制度。接著再以現階段我國廠商於歐洲專利申請狀況切入，分析現階段我國廠商於歐洲專利之布局狀況，再針對未來即將施行之統合專利制度，對台灣廠商之申請人及專利權人提出策略建議。 歐洲專利公約自1977年生效後，申請人向歐洲專利局遞交歐洲專利申請後，經過指定國程序，即可在歐洲專利公約之會員國間取得專利保護。某些會員國亦會要求遞交翻譯文件及繳納相關規費。然而，相比於美國、日本及中國，現行的歐洲專利制度是分離破碎的，進而導致申請人須負擔高額的申請費用與訴訟成本，同時亦有許多法律不確定性。在2013年2月，歐盟終於完成協商，正式簽訂確立歐洲統合專利與統一專利法院之條約。統一專利法院將在所有參與之會員國間擁有專屬管轄權。統合專利制度之下，申請人獲得歐洲專利之費用下降、申請程序更為簡化，且提供更有利於申請人之申請方式。如此，統合專利制度預期將提升申請專利之效益與吸引更多的申請者。統一專利法院制度之專屬管轄權，將提升專利有效性與訴訟之法律安定性，且訴訟相關費用之減免，亦有利於專利權人。 統合專利制度的所有準備工作雖已於2015年陸續完成，但仍需要德國、英國及另外任一個歐盟成員國批准歐洲統一專利條約方可生效，預計最快可在2017年達成。統一專利法院亦於2016年3月完成裁判費用之規定，並陸續完成各級法院之選址與訴訟案件性質之分類。專利權人與專利申請人應要謹慎思考在新制度下可能帶來之各種挑戰，特別是台灣廠商需要評估在新制度下之專利策略。因此，本文將針對新制度介紹，希冀能提供欲前往申請的台灣廠商專利佈局之策略建議。 / First of all, this Article overviews current European patent system in particular with the system under European Patent Convention. This Article also summarizes the features of new system and considers the practical steps which should be taking now in preparation for the start of new regime. European Patent Convention has entered into force since 1977. Under European Patent Convention, applicant can deliver their application to EPO and once the mention of the grant is published, the patent has to be validated in each of the designated states to keep its protective effect. In a number of member states, the patent proprietors may have to file a translation of the specification and pay fees. However, the current European patent system has been the fragmentation compared to the United States, Japan and China. This has caused to a high cost of application and lawsuit and also a high level of uncertainty. In February 2013, the European Union formally signed an agreement established a single European patent and the Unified Patent Court. The court will have exclusive jurisdiction for all participating Member States. Through European unitary patent system and Unified Patent Court, this new system reduces the costs of obtaining a patent, simplifies procedures, and regulates the language issue in a user-friendlier manner than before. Therefore, unitary patent system are expected to enhance the efficiency and attractiveness. All preparation of unitary patent system is accomplished before 2015, but still need the Germany, the Untied Kingdom and two other European member states to ratify the agreement. The beginning of 2017 is now said to be the earliest that can be achieved. Owing to the new patent system, patent proprietors and applicants, especially Taiwanese enterprises should be contemplating their patent strategy for meeting the challenge created by this new patent right. Thus, the Article presents patent strategy for Taiwanese enterprises under new patent system in Europe.