T 0643/00 (Searching image data/CANON) of 16.10.2003

European Case Law Identifier: ECLI:EP:BA:2003:T064300.20031016
Date of decision: 16 October 2003
Case number: T 0643/00
Petition for review of: -
Application number: 93300749.4
IPC class: G06F 15/64
Language of proceedings: English
Distribution: Distributed to board chairmen (C)
Download: Decision in English
OJ versions: No OJ links found
Other decisions for this case: -
Abstracts for this decision: -
Application title: Image processing apparatus and method therefor
Applicant name: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Opponent name: -
Board: 3.5.01
Headnote: -
Relevant legal provisions: European Patent Convention Art 123(2) 1973 European Patent Convention Art 52 1973 European Patent Convention Art 54 1973 European Patent Convention Art 56 1973 European Patent Convention Art 84 1973 European Patent Convention R 86(4) 1973
Keywords: Patentable invention (yes)
Novelty (yes)
Inventive step (yes)
Catchword: An arrangement of menu items (or images) on a screen may be determined by technical considerations. Such considerations may aim at enabling the user to manage a technical task, such as searching and retrieving images stored in an image processing apparatus, in a more efficient or faster manner, even if an evaluation by the user on a mental level is involved. Although such evaluation per se does not fall within the meaning of "invention" pursuant to Article 52 EPC, the mere fact that mental activities are involved does not necessarily qualify subject matter as non-technical since any technical solutions in the end aim at providing tools which serve, assist or replace human activities of different kinds, including mental ones.
Cited cases: T 1177/97 T 1194/97 T 0049/99 T 0244/00 T 0641/00
Citing cases: T 0928/03 T 0049/04 T 0125/04 T 0658/06 T 0701/06 T 0756/06 T 1143/06 T 0509/07 T 0528/07 T 0823/07 T 1741/08 T 1214/09 T 0862/10 T 0901/10 T 1145/10 T 2045/10 T 2434/10 T 0551/11 T 1562/11 T 0477/12 T 1793/12 T 1750/13 T 1930/13 T 1958/13 T 0336/14 T 0581/14 T 0973/15 T 1868/15 T 2276/15 T 1442/16 T 2379/16 T 1091/17 T 1849/17 T 0422/20 T 1272/20 T 1395/20 T 1988/20 T 1207/22 T 2319/22 T 0646/23

ORDER

For these reasons it is decided that:

1. The decision under appeal is set aside.

2. The case is remitted to the examining division with the order to grant a patent with claims 1 to 9 filed at the oral proceedings and a description to be adapted.