【實施】不公正行為

【實施】不公正行為

只要是不公正行為，則整份專利中的所有請求項不能執行，不論是否僅有單一請求項符合不公正行為。不公正行為，在審查期間若事後提出正確的數據資料是可以被治癒的，但是Reissue時就不能被治癒。

See：Hewlet-Packard Co. v. Crystal Chem Co.、In re Clark CCPA 1975

Inequitable conduct的兩個重要元素：materiality and intent

“Inequitable conduct includes affirmative misrepresentation of a material fact, failure to disclose material information, or submission of false material information, coupled with an intent to deceive.” Molins PLC v. Textron, Inc., 48 F.3d 1172, 1178 (Fed. Cir. 1995).

The district court correctly concluded that the terminal disclaimer alone did not bind the ’368 patent and the ’504 patent together for purposes of unenforceability due to inequitable conduct. Because the record shows no inequitable conduct during prosecution of the ’504 patent itself, the district court did not abuse its discretion in finding the ’504 patent to be valid and enforceable. In fact, the ’504 patent had already issued before the inequitable conduct occurred. The ’504 patent issued on March 22, 1994; Stjernschantz executed his declaration on April 20, 1994.

後案且提出Terminal Disclaimer的專利案涉及不公正行為時，前案不會被判決不能執行。