局部外观设计制度的保护
Partial Exterior Design System Protection

随着我国经济的快速发展和国际交往的深化，知识产权的重要性逐渐被突显。在这背景下，2020年10月17日，我国全国人大常委会做出了一项关于修改专利法的重大决定，其中特别强调了对局部外观设计的法律保护。这一决策的背后反映了我国对知识产权治理的深度思考和对于创新设计的重视。对于如何在新的专利法中明确并保护局部外观设计，本文的研究的主要思路主要着眼于以下三个方面：通过回溯全国人大常委会的决议，我们可以深入理解为何现在开始对外观设计给予更多关注，以及这种关注背后的经济和社会驱动因素；对2021年实施的新专利法进行细致解读，尤其是关于“发明创造”的定义，明确外观设计在其中的法律地位和具体保护内容；通过与国际知识产权法规的对照，我们能够发现我国在保护局部外观设计上的独到之处以及与国际接轨的努力。综合以上研究，可以得出结论：新修订的专利法明确加强了对局部外观设计的法律保护，这不仅反映了我国对知识产权的高度重视，也是对国内设计师和企业在创新上的鼓励和支持。
With the rapid development of China’s economy and the deepening of international exchanges, the importance of intellectual property rights is gradually highlighted. In this context, on October 17, 2020, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress made a major decision on revising the Patent Law, which placed special emphasis on the legal protection of partial exterior design. Behind this decision reflects China’s deep thinking on intellectual property governance and its importance to innovative design. On how to define and protect the partial exterior design in the new patent law, the main idea of this paper focuses on the following three aspects: by reviewing the resolutions of the NPC Standing Committee. We can understand why we are starting to pay more attention to design, and the economic and social drivers behind this focus; detailed interpretation of the new patent law implemented in 2021, especially regarding the definition of “invention and creation”, clarifies the legal status and specific protection content of the appearance design in it; by comparison with international intellectual property regulations, we can find the uniqueness of our country in the design of local protection and the efforts in line with international standards. Based on the above studies, it can be concluded that the newly revised Patent Law clearly strengthens the legal protection of partial exterior design, which not only reflects the great importance China attaches to intellectual property rights, but also encourages and supports domestic designers and enterprises in innovation.