近年、複数の企業に対して特許権侵害訴訟を提起し損害賠償金などを獲得しようとする者(パテントトロール)が問題視されていますが、今回の改正では、このようなパテントトロールによる訴訟を抑制すべく、「同一の特許を侵害している」ことのみをもって複数の被告を1つの訴訟事件で訴えたり、1つの訴訟事件に併合したりすることができないこととされました(§299)。
§299 Joinder of parties
(a) JOINDER OF ACCUSED INFRINGERS. With respect to any civil action arising under any Act of Congress relating to patents, other than an action or trial in which an act of infringement under section 271(e)(2) has been pled, parties that are accused infringers may be joined in one action as defendants or counterclaim defendants, or have their actions consolidated for trial, or counterclaim defendants only if
(1) any right to relief is asserted against the parties jointly, severally, or in the alternative with respect to or arising out of the same transaction, occurrence, or series of transactions or occurrences relating to the making, using, importing into the United States, offering for sale, or selling of the same accused product or process; and
(2) questions of fact common to all defendants or counterclaim defendants will arise in the action.
(b) ALLEGATIONS INSUFFICIENT FOR JOINDER. For purposes of this subsection, accused infringers may not be joined in one action as defendants or counterclaim defendants, or have their actions consolidated for trial, based solely on allegations that they each have infringed the patent or patents in suit.
(c) WAIVER. A party that is an accused infringer may waive the limitations set forth in this section with respect to that party.
(a) JOINDER OF ACCUSED INFRINGERS. With respect to any civil action arising under any Act of Congress relating to patents, other than an action or trial in which an act of infringement under section 271(e)(2) has been pled, parties that are accused infringers may be joined in one action as defendants or counterclaim defendants, or have their actions consolidated for trial, or counterclaim defendants only if
(1) any right to relief is asserted against the parties jointly, severally, or in the alternative with respect to or arising out of the same transaction, occurrence, or series of transactions or occurrences relating to the making, using, importing into the United States, offering for sale, or selling of the same accused product or process; and
(2) questions of fact common to all defendants or counterclaim defendants will arise in the action.
(b) ALLEGATIONS INSUFFICIENT FOR JOINDER. For purposes of this subsection, accused infringers may not be joined in one action as defendants or counterclaim defendants, or have their actions consolidated for trial, based solely on allegations that they each have infringed the patent or patents in suit.
(c) WAIVER. A party that is an accused infringer may waive the limitations set forth in this section with respect to that party.
この改正により、複数の被告に対して訴訟を行う場合には、複数の訴訟を提起しなければならなくなるので、パテントトロールによる訴訟の抑制につながるものと期待されます。
なお、同一の侵害品の製造、使用、販売などに関する同一の取引(transaction)や出来事(occurrence)から生ずる訴えであり、かつ、すべての被告に共通する事実問題がある場合は、これらの被告を1つの訴訟事件で訴えたり、1つの訴訟事件に併合したりすることが可能です。
また、被告はこの規定による制限について権利放棄(waive)することができます。
この改正事項は、2011年9月16日以降に提起された訴訟に適用されます。