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Patent Barの勉強を始める前は、発明者から権利譲渡を受けた会社は、当然、ＩＤＳの義務があると思っていました。そうすると、多数の出願をしている会社は、各国から非常に多くのＯＡを受け取る訳で、それを相互にＩＤＳ提出するなんて非現実的だなぁなんて考えていました。
その疑問を解消したのが、MPEPの次の規定です。以下の引用から明らかなようにＩＤＳの義務があるのは、
発明者、弁護士、出願に実質的に関与した個人
です。
その発明者等が属する会社には、ＩＤＳの義務はありません。
2001.01 Who Has Duty To Disclose
37 CFR 1.56 Duty to disclose information material to patentability.
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(c) Individuals associated with the filing or prosecution of a patent application within the meaning of this section are:
(1) Each inventor named in the application;
(2) Each attorney or agent who prepares or prosecutes the application; and
(3) Every other person who is substantively involved in the preparation or prosecution of the application and who is associated with the inventor, with the assignee or with anyone to whom there is an obligation to assign the application.
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Individuals having a duty of disclosure are limited to those who are “substantively involved in the preparation or prosecution of the application.” This is intended to make clear that the duty does not extend to typists, clerks, and similar personnel who assist with an application.
The word “with” appears before “the assignee” and “anyone to whom there is an obligation to assign” to make clear that the duty applies only to individuals, not to organizations. For instance, the duty of disclosure would not apply to a corporation or institution as such. However, it would apply to individuals within the corporation or institution who were substantively involved in the preparation or prosecution of the application, and actions by such individuals may affect the rights of the corporation or institution.