European Patent Office

T 1931/14 vom 21.02.2018

Europäischer Rechtsprechungsidentifikator
ECLI:EP:BA:2018:T193114.20180221
Datum der Entscheidung
21. Februar 2018
Aktenzeichen
T 1931/14
Antrag auf Überprüfung von
-
Anmeldenummer
99905691.4
Verfahrenssprache
Englisch
Verteilung
An die Kammervorsitzenden verteilt (C)
Amtsblattfassungen
Keine AB-Links gefunden
Weitere Entscheidungen für diese Akte
-
Zusammenfassungen für diese Entscheidung
-
Bezeichnung der Anmeldung
COMBINED CRYOGENIC AIR SEPARATION WITH INTEGRATED GASIFIER
Name des Antragstellers
GE Energy (USA), LLC
Name des Einsprechenden
L'AIR LIQUIDE, Société Anonyme pour L'étude et L'exploitation des procédés Georges Claude
Kammer
3.2.04
Leitsatz
-
Schlagwörter
Novelty - main request (yes)
Novelty - functional technical features of a process
Orientierungssatz
In the context of a method it is important to differentiate between different types of stated purpose, namely those that define the application or use of a method, and those that define an effect arising from the steps of the method. Where the stated purpose defines the specific application of the method, in fact it requires certain additional steps which are not implicit in the remaining features, and without which the claimed process would not achieve the stated purpose. On the other hand, where the purpose merely states a technical effect which inevitably arises when carrying out the other remaining steps of the claimed method and is thus inherent in those steps, such a technical effect has no limiting effect because it is not suitable for distinguishing the claimed method from a known one. (point 2.2.4)

Order

For these reasons it is decided that:

1. The decision under appeal is set aside.

2. The case is remitted to the department of first instance for further prosecution.