Guidelines for Examination in the European Patent Office

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

Guidelines for Examination in the EPO

Guidelines for Examination - Table of Contents

PART B GUIDELINES FOR SEARCH

PART A

PART C

CHAPTER III CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SEARCH

CHAPTER II GENERAL

CHAPTER IV SEARCH PROCEDURE AND STRATEGY

3. The subject of the search

2. Scope of the search

3.	The subject of the search

3.1 Basis for the search

3.2 Interpretation of claims

3.3 Amended claims

3.4 Abandonment of claims

3.5 Anticipation of amendments to claims

3.6 Broad claims

3.7 Independent and dependent claims

3.8 Search on dependent claims

3.9 Combination of elements in a claim

3.10 Different categories

3.11 Subject-matter excluded from search

3.12 Lack of unity

3.13 Technological background

© European Patent Office Imprint Terms of use Last updated: 13.12.2007