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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 IV SEARCH PROCEDURE AND STRATEGY CHAPTER III CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SEARCH CHAPTER V PRECLASSIFICATION (ROUTING) AND OFFICIAL CLASSIFICATION OF EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATIONS  
1. Procedure prior to searching   2. Search strategy  
1.4 Abstract; official classification; title of the invention; publication 1.3 Documents cited in the application    

1.4

Abstract; official classification; title of the invention; publication

 

The examiner should then consider the abstract (together with the title of the invention and the figure, if any, of the drawings to be published with the abstract) in relation to the requirements laid down in the Implementing Regulations (see Chapter XI). Since the abstract should relate to the application as filed, the examiner should consider it and determine its definitive content before carrying out the search, in order to avoid being inadvertently influenced by the results of the search. If publication of the application is due before the search report is drawn up (A2 publication), the examiner has to establish the official classification of the application much earlier than he carries out the search (see V, 4); he examines then at the same time the abstract for the purpose of publication. This examination of the abstract does not go beyond ensuring that it relates to the application concerned and that no conflict exists with the title of the invention or with the classification of the application. Information in relation to the abstract, the title of the invention and the figure, if any, of the drawings to be published with the abstract is transmitted to the applicant in the communication accompanying the search report, in the case of an A1 publication. If the search report is published separately (A3 publication), this information is not given in the communication. The examiner also translates the title of the invention into the two other official languages.

Rule 66

Rule 47

Rule 68(1)




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