EUROPEAN PATENT CONVENTION - Table of Contents Convention on the Grant of European Patents (European Patent Convention) PART II - SUBSTANTIVE PATENT LAW Chapter I - Patentability   Article 52 - Patentable inventions

Article 5237, 38 Patentable inventions

Art. 54, 56, 57, 100, 138 R. 26, 27, 29

(1) European patents shall be granted for any inventions, in all fields of technology, provided that they are new, involve an inventive step and are susceptible of industrial application.

(2) The following in particular shall not be regarded as inventions within the meaning of paragraph 1:

(a) discoveries, scientific theories and mathematical methods;

(b) aesthetic creations;

(c) schemes, rules and methods for performing mental acts, playing games or doing business, and programs for computers;

(d) presentations of information.

(3) Paragraph 2 shall exclude the patentability of the subject-matter or activities referred to therein only to the extent to which a European patent application or European patent relates to such subject-matter or activities as such.

37 Amended by the Act revising the European Patent Convention of 29.11.2000.

38 See decisions of the Enlarged Board of Appeal G 1/98, G 1/03,G 2/03 (Annex I).