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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 55 Non-prejudicial disclosures
Article 55
Non-prejudicial disclosures 
Art. 100, 138
R. 25, 159
(1)
For the application of Article 54, a disclosure of the invention shall not be taken into consideration if it occurred no earlier than six months preceding the filing of the European patent application and if it was due to, or in consequence of:
(a)[44]
an evident abuse in relation to the applicant or his legal predecessor, or 
(b)
the fact that the applicant or his legal predecessor has displayed the invention at an official, or officially recognised, international exhibition falling within the terms of the Convention on international exhibitions signed at Paris on 22 November 1928 and last revised on 30 November 1972. 
(2)
In the case of paragraph 1(b), paragraph 1 shall apply only if the applicant states, when filing the European patent application, that the invention has been so displayed and files a supporting certificate within the time limit and under the conditions laid down in the Implementing Regulations.
 
[44] See decisions of the Enlarged Board of Appeal G 3/98, G 2/99 (Annex I).
References
Art. 100, 138
R. 25, 159