G 0001/19 (Pedestrian simulation) of 10.03.2021

European Case Law Identifier

ECLI:EP:BA:2021:G000119.20210310

Date of decision

10 March 2021

Case number

G 0001/19

Petition for review of

T 0489/14 2019-02-22

Application number

03793825.5

IPC class

G06F 17/50

Language of proceedings

English

Distribution

Published in the EPO's Official Journal (A)

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Decision in English

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Abstracts for this decision

Application title

SIMULATION OF THE MOVEMENT OF AN AUTONOMOUS ENTITY THROUGH AN ENVIRONMENT

Applicant name

Bentley Systems (UK) Limited

Opponent name

Board

Headnote

A computer-implemented simulation of a technical system or process that is claimed as such can, for the purpose of assessing inventive step, solve a technical problem by producing a technical effect going beyond the simulation's implementation on a computer.

For that assessment it is not a sufficient condition that the simulation is based, in whole or in part, on technical principles underlying the simulated system or process.

The answers to the first and second questions are no different if the computer-implemented simulation is claimed as part of a design process, in particular for verifying a design.

Relevant legal provisions

Decisions of national courts cited: Germany: Bundesgerichtshof X ZB 15/67 (Rote Taube); X ZB 11/98 (Logikverifikation)European Patent Convention Art 112(1)(a)European Patent Convention Art 52(1)European Patent Convention Art 52(2)European Patent Convention Art 52(3)European Patent Convention Art 56

Keywords

Admissibility of referral - (yes)
Transitional provisions of the EPC 2000
Patentability of computer-implemented simulations

Catchword

Cited cases

G 0002/07 G 0003/08 G 0001/12 G 0002/12 G 0001/13 G 0002/19 G 0003/19 T 0208/84 T 0022/85 T 0163/85 T 0110/90 T 0453/91 T 0769/92 T 0939/92 T 0072/95 T 1173/97 T 0641/00 T 1148/00 T 0619/02 T 0258/03 T 0154/04 T 0388/04 T 1351/04 T 0471/05 T 1227/05 T 1784/06 T 1670/07 T 0531/09 T 0533/09 T 1000/09 T 1265/09 T 1358/09 T 1635/09 T 0091/10 T 1842/10 T 2331/10 T 0625/11 T 1503/12 T 0215/13 T 1082/13 T 1798/13 T 0438/14 T 0817/16 T 0697/17 T 1924/17

Citing cases

G 0001/21 G 0002/21 G 0001/22 G 0002/22 T 0489/14 T 0909/14 T 1499/14 T 0199/16 T 1371/16 T 1746/16 T 1762/16 T 1766/16 T 2147/16 T 2448/16 T 2522/16 T 2681/16 T 2729/16 T 0561/17 T 1313/17 T 1453/17 T 1615/17 T 1790/17 T 1892/17 T 1898/17 T 2156/17 T 2350/17 T 2386/17 T 2594/17 T 2607/17 T 0116/18 T 0504/18 T 0797/18 T 1035/18 T 1370/18 T 1607/18 T 1639/18 T 1822/18 T 1867/18 T 2186/18 T 2316/18 T 2431/18 T 2546/18 T 2660/18 T 2792/18 T 2803/18 T 2849/18 T 0288/19 T 0438/19 T 0524/19 T 0698/19 T 0872/19 T 0874/19 T 1008/19 T 1049/19 T 1422/19 T 1559/19 T 1560/19 T 1618/19 T 2024/19 T 2578/19 T 2804/19 T 2825/19 T 2841/19 T 2852/19 T 2853/19 T 3006/19 T 3208/19 T 3226/19 T 3274/19 T 3292/19 T 0051/20 T 0182/20 T 0297/20 T 0366/20 T 0417/20 T 0447/20 T 0535/20 T 0702/20 T 0761/20 T 0814/20 T 0927/20 T 1027/20 T 1245/20 T 1272/20 T 1557/20 T 1594/20 T 1634/20 T 1768/20 T 1891/20 T 0030/21 T 0111/21 T 0183/21 T 0279/21 T 0558/21 T 0655/21 T 0848/21 T 1022/21 T 1439/21 T 1459/21 T 1463/21 T 1683/21 T 1737/21 T 1952/21 T 2014/21 T 2137/21 T 2202/21 T 0300/22 T 0660/22 T 0687/22 T 0754/22 T 0780/22 T 0980/22 T 1124/22 T 1423/22 T 1717/22 T 1741/22 T 1996/22 T 1998/22 T 2010/22 T 2076/22 T 2220/22 T 2319/22 T 2343/22 T 2353/22 T 2401/22 T 0287/23 T 0454/23 T 0613/23 T 0891/23 T 1063/23 T 1132/23 T 1226/23 T 1297/23 T 1309/23 T 1465/23 T 1580/23 T 1676/23 T 1820/23 T 0409/24 T 0446/24 T 0799/24 T 1147/24

G. ORDER

For these reasons, it is decided that the questions of law referred to the Enlarged Board of Appeal are answered as follows:

1. A computer-implemented simulation of a technical system or process that is claimed as such can, for the purpose of assessing inventive step, solve a technical problem by producing a technical effect going beyond the simulation's implementation on a computer.

2. For that assessment it is not a sufficient condition that the simulation is based, in whole or in part, on technical principles underlying the simulated system or process.

3. The answers to the first and second questions are no different if the computer-implemented simulation is claimed as part of a design process, in particular for verifying a design.