Maintenance, Replacement and Recycling – Patentees’ Rights in the Aftermarkets - Germany, the U.S. and Japan

Preface

Table of Contents

Chapter 1. Introduction

1.1 Interested Parties in the Aftermarket and Patent Exhaustion Doctrine

1.2 Status Quo in Germany, the U.S., and Japan

1.3 Overview of this Research

Chapter 2. Patentees’ Rights and Purchasers’ Rights: the Exhaustion Doctrine

Chapter 3. Cases of Maintenance, Replacement and Recycling: Scope of Allowed Activities in the Aftermarket

3.1 Introduction

3.2 Germany

3.2.1 Maintenance

3.2.2 Replacement of Parts

3.2.3 Recycling

3.2.4 Characteristics of Rulings

3.3 The U.S.

3.3.1 Maintenance

3.3.2 Replacement of Parts

3.3.3 Recycling

3.3.4 Characteristics of Rulings

3.4 Japan

3.4.1 Maintenance

3.4.2 Replacement of Parts in Japan

3.4.3 Recycling

3.5 Summary and Thoughts

3.5.1 Comparative Summary

3.5.2 Doubts About Known “repair / reconstruction” and “identity” Criteria

3.5.3 A Possible Guideline: “transfer of full value” Based on the Patent Law’s Aim

Chapter 4. Patent Enforcement and Contract / Competition Law

4.1 Introduction

4.2 What is a Patent Right?

4.3 Could the Domestic Exhaustion Doctrine Be Contracted Out?

4.3.1 The U.S. Cases on “single use only” Agreements

4.3.2 Germany

4.3.3 Japan

4.3.4 Summary – Who Should Decide the Scope of “Reward”?

4.4 IPR Enforcement in the Aftermarket

4.4.1 “Repair Clause” in EU Design Law

4.4.2 The U.S.

4.4.3 Japan

4.4.4 Summary

Chapter 5. Conclusion: The Scope of the “ Full Value” that the Patent Regime Plans to Grant

5.1 Summary of Findings

5.2 Thoughts About the Road Ahead

Zusammenfassung

Appendix

A. Tables of Laws

B. Table of Cases

C. Bibliography