不請律師-自己申請專利(28): 這種錢是沒法省的

你多才多藝，不但在高科技領域發明了一項新的能源技術或治癌藥物，而且在低科技領域還發明了一雙多功能襪子。你要申請美國專利時，你愛人幫你出了個二合一的注意，說親愛的，為了省錢，你幹嗎不把高科技發明和多功能襪子放到一個申請裏，權力要求1-10寫上高科技，權力要求11-20寫上低科技。這樣的話，咱們家花一份申請費，就能拿到高低科技兩套專利權。如果你沒有主見，真的言聽計從了。非常遺憾，美國專利局將來一看，會說你這是two or more independent and distinct inventions are claimed in one application，要求你分案申請(divisional application)，就是把高低分開，高科技發明一份申請一份費用拿一個專利，低科技發明另一份申請另一份費用拿另一個專利。這就好像你年輕的時候談戀愛，和女朋友上電影院，你隻想買一張票，女朋友坐到你腿上，然後你坐到一個座位上。你們那樣做，雖然很溫馨很方便很省錢，但電影院賣票的肯定不會答應。
這隻是一個極端的或搞笑的例子，現實中認定 two or more independent and distinct inventions還是比較複雜的，與中國的單一性也有區別。有機會我們將舉例說明。另外，美國國會認為“二合一”隻是一個形式缺陷問題，幾百美元的小事，因此嚴禁對此小題大做。If two or more independent and distinct inventions are claimed in one application, the Director may require the application to be restricted to one of the inventions. If the other invention is made the subject of a divisional application which complies with the requirements of section 120 of this title it shall be entitled to the benefit of the filing date of the original application (高低科技共享原始申請日). A patent issuing on an application with respect to which a requirement for restriction under this section has been made, or on an application filed as a result of such a requirement, shall not be used as a reference either in the Patent and Trademark Office or in the courts against a divisional application or against the original application or any patent issued on either of them, if the divisional application is filed before the issuance of the patent on the other application(如果分案及時，高低科技互不作為 reference). If a divisional application is directed solely to subject matter described and claimed in the original application as filed, the Director may dispense with signing and execution by the inventor(手續上的照顧). The validity of a patent shall not be questioned for failure of the Director to require the application to be restricted to one invention (即使專利局走眼讓你愛人的主意得逞，不可僅僅因此質疑專利有效性).