Chapter II – Content of a European patent application (other than claims)
  1. Home
  2. Legal texts
  3. Guidelines for Examination
  4. Table of Contents
  5. Part F
  6. Chapter II
  7. 4. Description (formal requirements)
  8. 4.13 Physical values, units
Print
Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email

4. Description (formal requirements)

Overview

4.13 Physical values, units 

A revised version of this publication entered into force.

When the properties of a material are referred to, the relevant units need to be specified if quantitative considerations are involved. If this is done by reference to a published standard (e.g. a standard of sieve sizes) and such standard is referred to by a set of initials or similar abbreviation, it needs to be adequately identified in the description.

Physical values must be expressed in the units recognised in international practice, which is generally in the metric system, using SI units and the other units referred to in Chapter I of the Annex to EEC Directive 80/181/EEC of 20 December 1979, as amended by EEC Directives 85/1/EEC of 18 December 1984, 89/617/EEC of 27 November 1989, 1999/103/EC of 24 January 2000, 2009/3/EC of 11 March 2009 and Commission Directive (EU) 2019/1258 of 23 July 2019 (see F‑II, Annex 2). Any values not meeting this requirement must also be expressed in the units recognised in international practice. Values expressed in the system of imperial units (e.g. inches/pounds) or in units having local character (e.g. pint), in general, do not meet the criterion "recognised in international practice".

As Rule 49(10) indicates, As determined by the President under Rule 49(2), for mathematical formulae the symbols in general use must be employed. For chemical formulae, the symbols, atomic weights and molecular formulae in general use must be employed.

In general, use should be made of the technical terms, signs and symbols generally accepted in the field in question.

Rule 49(10)

Previous
Next
Footer - Service & support
  • Service & support
    • Website updates
    • Availability of online services
    • FAQ
    • Publications
    • Procedural communications
    • Contact us
    • Subscription centre
    • Official holidays
    • Glossary
Footer - More links
  • Jobs & careers
  • Press centre
  • Single Access Portal
  • Procurement
  • Boards of Appeal
Facebook
European Patent Office
EPO Jobs
Instagram
EuropeanPatentOffice
Linkedin
European Patent Office
EPO Jobs
EPO Procurement
X (formerly Twitter)
EPOorg
EPOjobs
Youtube
TheEPO
Footer
  • Legal notice
  • Terms of use
  • Data protection and privacy
  • Accessibility