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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    
3.13 Technological background 3.12 Lack of unity    

3.13

Technological background
 

In certain circumstances it may be desirable to extend the subject-matter of the search to include the "technological background" of the invention. This would include:

 

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the preamble to the first claim, i.e. the part preceding the expression "characterised by" or "characterised in that";

  

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the state of the art which in the introduction of the description of the application is said to be known, but not identified by specific citations;

  

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the general technological background of the invention (often called "general state of the art").

  

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