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The European Patent Convention

 
 
Table of Contents - The European Patent Convention
Convention on the Grant of European Patents (European Patent Convention)
Part II Substantive patent law
Chapter I Patentability
Article 53 Exceptions to patentability
Article 53[40], [41]
Exceptions to patentability 
Art. 54, 100, 138
R. 28, 29
European patents shall not be granted in respect of:  
(a)
inventions the commercial exploitation of which would be contrary to "ordre public" or morality; such exploitation shall not be deemed to be so contrary merely because it is prohibited by law or regulation in some or all of the Contracting States;  
(b)
plant or animal varieties or essentially biological processes for the production of plants or animals; this provision shall not apply to microbiological processes or the products thereof; 
(c)
methods for treatment of the human or animal body by surgery or therapy and diagnostic methods practised on the human or animal body; this provision shall not apply to products, in particular substances or compositions, for use in any of these methods. 
 
[40] Amended by the Act revising the European Patent Convention of 29.11.2000.
[41] See decisions of the Enlarged Board of Appeal G 3/95, G 1/98, G 1/03, G 2/03, G 1/04, G 2/06, G 01/07, G 2/08 of 19.02.2010 (Annex I).
References
Art. 54, 100, 138
R. 28, 29
 
Cross-reference list
EPC EPC 1973
Art. 53(c)Art. 52(4)