CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

1.

General remark

2.

Work of an examiner

3.

Overview

CHAPTER II

CONTENT OF A EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION (OTHER THAN CLAIMS)

1.

General

2.

Abstract

3.

Request for grant - the title

4.

Description

4.1

General remarks

4.2

Technical field

4.3

Background art

4.4

Irrelevant matter

4.5

Technical problem and its solution

4.6

Rule 42(1)(c) vs. Art. 52(1)

4.7

Drawings

4.8

Reference signs

4.9

Sufficiency of disclosure

4.10

Art. 83 vs. Art. 123(2)

4.11

Insufficient disclosure

4.12

Industrial application

4.13

Manner and order of presentation

4.14

Terminology

4.15

Computer programs

4.16

Physical values, units

4.17

Proper names, trademarks and trade names

4.18

Registered trademarks

4.19

Reference documents

5.

Drawings

5.1

Form and content

5.2

Printing quality

5.3

Photographs

6.

Inventions relating to biological material

6.1

Biological material

6.2

Public availability of biological material

6.3

Deposit of biological material

7.

Prohibited matter

7.1

Categories

7.2

Matter contrary to "ordre public" or morality

7.3

Disparaging statements

7.4

Irrelevant matter

7.5

Omission of matter from publication

CHAPTER II - Annex UNITS RECOGNISED IN INTERNATIONAL PRACTICE AND COMPLYING WITH RULE 49(11) (see II, 4.16)

1.

SI units and their decimal multiples and submultiples

1.1

SI base units

1.1.1

Special name and symbol of the SI unit of temperature for expressing Celsius temperature

1.2

Other SI units

1.2.1

Supplementary SI units

1.2.2

Derived SI units

1.2.3

Derived SI units having names and symbols

1.3

Prefixes and their symbols used to designate certain decimal multiples and submultiples

1.4

Special authorised names and symbols of decimal multiples and submultiples of SI units

2.

Units which are defined on the basis of SI units but are not decimal multiples or submultiples thereof

3.

Units used with the SI, and whose values in SI are obtained experimentally

4.

Units and names of units permitted in specialised fields only

5.

Compound units

CHAPTER III

CLAIMS

1.

General

2.

Form and content of claims

2.1

Technical features

2.2

Two-part form

2.3

Two-part form unsuitable

2.3.1

No two-part form

2.3.2

Two-part form "wherever appropriate"

2.4

Formulae and tables

3.

Kinds of claim

3.1

Categories

3.2

Number of independent claims

3.3

Objection under Rule 43(2)

3.4

Independent and dependent claims

3.5

Arrangement of claims

3.6

Subject-matter of a dependent claim

3.7

Alternatives in a claim

3.8

Independent claims containing a reference to another claim

4.

Clarity and interpretation of claims

4.1

Clarity

4.2

Interpretation

4.3

Inconsistencies

4.4

General statements, "spirit" of invention

4.5

Essential features

4.6

Relative terms

4.7

Terms like "about" and "approximately"

4.8

Trademarks

4.9

Optional features

4.10

Result to be achieved

4.11

Parameters

4.12

Product-by-process claim

4.13

"Apparatus for ...", "Method for ...", etc.

4.14

Definition by reference to use or another entity

4.15

The expression "in"

4.16

Use claims

4.17

References to the description or drawings

4.18

Method of and means for measuring parameters referred to in claims

4.19

Reference signs

4.20

Negative limitations (e.g. disclaimers)

4.21

"Comprising" vs. "consisting"

4.22

Functional definition of a pathological condition

5.

Conciseness, number of claims

6.

Support in description

6.1

General remarks

6.2

Extent of generalisation

6.3

Objection of lack of support

6.4

Lack of support vs. insufficient disclosure

6.5

Definition in terms of function

6.6

Support for dependent claims

7.

Unity of invention

7.1

General remarks

7.2

Special technical features

7.3

Intermediate and final products

7.4

Alternatives

7.4.1

Markush grouping

7.5

Individual features in a claim

7.6

Lack of unity "a priori" or "a posteriori"

7.7

Examiner's approach

7.8

Dependent claims

7.9

Lack of unity during search

7.10

Lack of unity during substantive examination

7.10.1

Amended claims

7.11

Euro-PCT applications

7.11.1

International applications without supplementary search

7.11.2

International applications with supplementary search

7.11.3

International preliminary examination report (IPER)

7.11.4

Restricted IPER

8.

Different texts of the patent application in respect of different Contracting States (see also D-VII, 4)

8.1

Different text in respect of the state of the art according to Art. 54(3)

8.2

Different text where a partial transfer of right has taken place pursuant to Art. 61

8.3

Different text where a reservation has been entered in accordance with Art. 167(2)(a) EPC 1973

8.4

Different text where national rights of earlier date exist

8.5

Calculation of claims fees

CHAPTER IV

PATENTABILITY

1.

General

1.1

Basic requirements

1.2

Further requirements

1.3

Technical progress, advantageous effects

2.

Inventions

2.1

Exclusions

2.2

Examination practice

2.3

List of exclusions

2.3.1

Discoveries

2.3.2

Scientific theories

2.3.3

Mathematical methods

2.3.4

Aesthetic creations

2.3.5

Schemes, rules and methods for performing mental acts, playing games or doing business

2.3.6

Programs for computers

2.3.7

Presentations of information

3.

Biotechnological inventions

3.1

General remarks and definitions

3.2

Patentable biotechnological inventions

4.

Exceptions to patentability

4.1

Matter contrary to "ordre public" or morality

4.2

Prohibited matter

4.3

Offensive and non-offensive use

4.4

Economic effects

4.5

Biotechnological inventions

4.6

Plant and animal varieties, processes for the production of plants or animals

4.6.1

Plant varieties

4.6.2

Processes for the production of plants or animals

4.7

Microbiological processes

4.7.1

General remarks

4.7.2

Repeatability of results of microbiological processes

4.8

Surgery, therapy and diagnostic methods

4.8.1

Limitations of exception under Art. 53(c)

5.

Industrial application

5.1

General remarks

5.2

Method of testing

5.3

Industrial application vs. exclusion under Art. 52(2)

5.4

Sequences and partial sequences of genes

6.

State of the art

6.1

General remarks and definition

6.2

Enabling disclosures

6.3

Date of filing or priority date as effective date