看到“中國的知識產(chǎn)權(quán)(Chinese IPR)”這個詞，有些憤世嫉俗的人可能會以“未來的歷史學家”或是“軍事情報”等雙關(guān)語來嘲笑它；但英國《金融時報(Financial Times)》最近一篇報導指出：“中國專利申請數(shù)量以每年超越20%的速度飛快成長，反映了該國對財產(chǎn)、特別是知識產(chǎn)權(quán)之文化態(tài)度的深刻改變──盡管中國官方體系在知識產(chǎn)權(quán)保護方面仍有許多不足之處?！?
更重要的是，中國專利申請數(shù)量的成長，可能會影響那些不愿意在中國申請專利的外國公司；相對于認為中國專利體系與中國專利擁有致命缺陷而忽略之，來自海外的廠商其實反而應該投入時間與資源在中國申請專利，才能與中國本土廠商競爭。
最近有一篇由EETimes姊妹公司UBM Techinsights 所發(fā)布的報告(China Semiconductor Company Analysis and IP Landscape)，也呼應了以上觀點；該報告指出，中國本土廠商正在由“低成本離散組件制造商，轉(zhuǎn)型為無論是在中國或是全球市場上的長期競爭對手。”
根據(jù)來自美國專利與商標局(U.S. Patent and Trademark Office)的統(tǒng)計，美國所擁有的半導體專利數(shù)量持續(xù)領(lǐng)先全球，占據(jù)總數(shù)量四成的比例；日本半導體專利數(shù)量則排名第二，占據(jù)全球總數(shù)量10.7%的比例。中國則以623項專利持有數(shù)量，排名全球第十六。而Techinsights的報告指出，自2005年起，中國一年之內(nèi)所公布的專利與申請案數(shù)量已經(jīng)超越美國。
1995至2009年日、美、中、韓、歐等地擁有專利數(shù)量變化
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Techinsights 認為，中國專利活動自2000年以后開始增加的原因與其“909計劃(Project 909)”有關(guān)，該計劃旨在鼓勵中國發(fā)展本土IC設計與制造能力。目前在中國的專利申請案中，有九成是由當?shù)匦酒瑯I(yè)者提出，由此可假設這些公司都很年輕，仍是以中國本土市場為主要目標；而Techinsights報告顯示，那些業(yè)者中沒有任何一家曾在美國法院強制執(zhí)行專利權(quán)。
本文授權(quán)編譯自EE Times，版權(quán)所有，謝絕轉(zhuǎn)載
本文下一頁：中國廠商目標：保本土，沖全球
相關(guān)閱讀：
• 新一代觸控顯示技術(shù)下的專利布局
• 大選過后：美國正輸?shù)舾叨丝萍既瞬鸥偁巻幔?/a>
• 中國能洗刷知識產(chǎn)權(quán)保護不利之恥嗎？r6iesmc
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無論如何，忽視中國對于追求專利越來越濃厚的興趣是不智之舉，當?shù)匦酒痰亩ㄎ皇窃诒Ｐl(wèi)本土市場之余，也有可能擾亂全球市場，因此TechInsights建議客戶投資在中國取得專利，才能保衛(wèi)在這個龐大市場的自家知識產(chǎn)權(quán)，以利進軍中國市場與取得當?shù)厥姓悸省?
TechInsights 報告指出，在總數(shù)約400~500家的中國無晶圓廠芯片業(yè)者中，北京中星微電子(Beijing Vimicro)、展訊通信(Spreadtrum Communications)與深圳中興微電子(Zhongxing Microelectronics，為ZTE集團子公司)是中國擁有專利數(shù)量前三大的公司，分別擁有2,445項、908項與588項專利。
此 外TechInsights 也分析了30家中國半導體業(yè)者的產(chǎn)品、技術(shù)與專利，發(fā)現(xiàn)其中有數(shù)家公司“展現(xiàn)了在產(chǎn)業(yè)價值鏈上提升，并與西方或臺灣、日本領(lǐng)導廠商競爭的實際承諾”；那幾家公司包括華為(Huawei)的子公司海思(HiSilicon)，以及展訊、深圳中興微電子。
本文授權(quán)編譯自EE Times，版權(quán)所有，謝絕轉(zhuǎn)載
編譯：Judith Cheng
參考英文原文：Yoshida in China: Beijing patent push，by Junko Yoshida
相關(guān)閱讀：
• 新一代觸控顯示技術(shù)下的專利布局
• 大選過后：美國正輸?shù)舾叨丝萍既瞬鸥偁巻幔?/a>
• 中國能洗刷知識產(chǎn)權(quán)保護不利之恥嗎？r6iesmc
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Yoshida in China: Beijing patent push
Junko Yoshida
Instead of dismissing the Chinese patent system as fatally flawed, foreign companies might be better advised to invest in filing patents in China.
PARIS—Cynics tend to mock the term “Chinese IPR” (intellectual property rights) as an oxymoron—like “future historians” and “military intelligence.”
But as the Financial Times reported recently, “the rapid rise in Chinese patent filings, which have been growing at a rate of more than 20 percent a year, reflects a profound change in cultural attitudes to property, and intellectual property in particular—even if the Chinese system for protecting IP rights still has many deficiencies.”
More important, the growth in Chinese patent filings is likely to affect foreign companies that may have been reluctant to file for patents in China. Instead of dismissing the Chinese patent system as being fatally flawed and Chinese patents as hopelessly defective, foreign companies might be better advised to invest time and resources in filing patents in China to compete with Chinese companies.
A recent report, "China Semiconductor Company Analysis and IP Landscape” by UBM Techinsights, a sister company to the publisher of EE Times, echoes this view.
The Techinsights’ report claims that Chinese-based companies are “transitioning from low-cost manufacture of discrete parts to long-term market competitors, both in China and around the globe.”
The U.S. continues to lead the list of total semiconductor patents granted with 40 percent of the total count (based on data gathered from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office). Japan is second with 10.7 percent of the total. In contrast, China comes in at No. 16, with 623 patents granted.
However, comparing the U.S. to China in terms of issued patents and published applications for a particular year, “the trend shows China exceeding the U.S. starting in 2005,” according to TechInsights.
Top China patent holders
TechInsights attributes the increased Chinese patent activity after 2000 to its Project 909, a national effort to encourage domestic IC design and production capabilities.
Considering that Chinese chip companies have filed about 90 percent of their patent applications in China (rather than elsewhere in the world), one can reasonably assume that these Chinese companies are still young, their focus remaining on the domestic market. TechInsights also pointed out that none of the companies profiled in its report has enforced patent rights in U.S. courts.
Still, it's a bad idea to take lightly China's growing interest in pursuing patents. Domestic chip vendors are positioning themselves to protect their home market while potentially disrupting global markets. TechInsights advises clients to invest in “patenting in China to secure their IP in this large market place as a means of providing market access and to protect share once it is established.”
Among a reported 400 to 500 fabless chip companies in China, TechInsights identified Beijing Vimicro Co. (2,445 patents), Spreadtrum Communications (908 patents) and Shenzhen Zhongxing Microelectronics, a subsidiary of ZTE Group (588 patents), as the top three Chinese patent holders.
TechInsights analyzed 30 Chinese semiconductor companies, including products, technologies and patents. It found several companies “showing real promise in moving up the value chain and competing with Western, Taiwanese and Japanese leaders.” They include HiSilicon, a subsidiary of Huawei, Spreadtrum and Shenzhen Zhongxing Microelectronics.
責編：Quentin
