Cross-reference list
EPC 1973	EPC 2000
R. 23e	R. 29

URL: Location: Home→Patents→Law→Legal texts

European Patent Convention (EPC 1973)

A revised version of the European Patent Convention entered into force on 13 December 2007. The provisions of the revised Convention apply unless the transitional provisions provide for the applicability of the EPC 1973.

EUROPEAN PATENT CONVENTION 1973 - Table of Contents

IMPLEMENTING REGULATIONS TO THE CONVENTION ON THE GRANT OF EUROPEAN PATENTS

PART II - IMPLEMENTING REGULATIONS TO PART II OF THE CONVENTION

PART I - IMPLEMENTING REGULATIONS TO PART I OF THE CONVENTION

PART III - IMPLEMENTING REGULATIONS TO PART III OF THE CONVENTION

Chapter VI - Biotechnological inventions

Rule 23e - The human body and its elements

Rule 23e

The human body and its elements

Art. 53
R. 27

(1) The human body, at the various stages of its formation and development, and the simple discovery of one of its elements, including the sequence or partial sequence of a gene, cannot constitute patentable inventions.

(2) An element isolated from the human body or otherwise produced by means of a technical process, including the sequence or partial sequence of a gene, may constitute a patentable invention, even if the structure of that element is identical to that of a natural element.

(3) The industrial application of a sequence or a partial sequence of a gene must be disclosed in the patent application.

Main Navigation

Sub Navigation

Main Content

European Patent Convention (EPC 1973)