T 0258/03 (Auction method/HITACHI) of 21.04.2004

European Case Law Identifier

ECLI:EP:BA:2004:T025803.20040421

Date of decision

21 April 2004

Case number

T 0258/03

Petition for review of

Application number

97306722.6

IPC class

G06F 17/60

Language of proceedings

English

Distribution

Published in the EPO's Official Journal (A)

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Decision in English

OJ versions

Other decisions for this case

Abstracts for this decision

Application title

Automatic auction method

Applicant name

Hitachi, Ltd.

Opponent name

Board

3.5.01

Headnote

I. A method involving technical means is an invention within the meaning of Article 52(1) EPC (as distinguished from decision T 931/95-Controlling pension benefits system/PBS PARTNERSHIP)(see points 4.1 to 4.4 of the reasons).

II. Method steps consisting of modifications to a business scheme and aimed at circumventing a technical problem rather than solving it by technical means cannot contribute to the technical character of the subject-matter claimed (see point 5.7 of the reasons).

Relevant legal provisions

European Patent Convention Art 52(1) 1973 European Patent Convention Art 52(2) 1973 European Patent Convention Art 52(3) 1973 European Patent Convention Art 54 1973 European Patent Convention Art 56 1973 European Patent Convention Art 57 1973

Keywords

Presence of an invention - method involving technical means (yes)
Inventive step: treatment of non-technical aspects

Catchword

Cited cases

T 0052/85 T 0026/86 T 0038/86 T 0769/92 T 0931/95 T 1173/97 T 0641/00

Citing cases

G 0002/07 G 0001/08 G 0003/08 G 0001/19 T 0619/02 T 0914/02 T 0411/03 T 0424/03 T 0425/03 T 0467/03 T 0468/03 T 0469/03 T 0531/03 T 0928/03 T 0958/03 T 1043/03 T 0049/04 T 0125/04 T 0154/04 T 0387/04 T 0388/04 T 0476/04 T 0872/04 T 1242/04 T 1284/04 T 1351/04 T 0279/05 T 0471/05 T 0588/05 T 0656/05 T 0688/05 T 0912/05 T 0920/05 T 0930/05 T 1227/05 T 1416/05 T 1568/05 T 0164/06 T 0421/06 T 0658/06 T 0740/06 T 0784/06 T 0956/06 T 1023/06 T 1097/06 T 1171/06 T 1326/06 T 1543/06 T 1658/06 T 1672/06 T 1704/06 T 1749/06 T 1784/06 T 1873/06 T 1930/06 T 0336/07 T 0384/07 T 0494/07 T 0530/07 T 0859/07 T 1044/07 T 1418/07 T 1686/07 T 1793/07 T 1806/07 T 1814/07 T 1875/07 T 0012/08 T 0506/08 T 1954/08 T 0042/09 T 0804/09 T 0844/09 T 1265/09 T 1358/09 T 1539/09 T 1547/09 T 1883/09 T 0120/10 T 0313/10 T 0674/10 T 1036/10 T 1225/10 T 1842/10 T 1940/10 T 2096/10 T 2230/10 T 2258/10 T 2530/10 T 0188/11 T 0483/11 T 0551/11 T 0625/11 T 0631/11 T 1072/11 T 1083/11 T 1321/11 T 1393/11 T 2217/11 T 0022/12 T 0283/12 T 0414/12 T 0436/12 T 0651/12 T 0744/12 T 1331/12 T 1498/12 T 1896/12 T 1936/12 T 2049/12 T 2321/12 T 2491/12 T 0005/13 T 0930/13 T 0934/13 T 1082/13 T 1884/13 T 1895/13 T 1902/13 T 1914/13 T 2457/13 T 0239/14 T 0489/14 T 0886/14 T 1031/14 T 1863/14 T 0095/15 T 1294/15 T 2087/15 T 0688/16 T 0817/16 T 1820/16 T 2147/16 T 2314/16 T 2316/16 T 2379/16 T 2677/16 T 0697/17 T 1488/17 T 1924/17 T 0755/18 T 1066/18 T 1408/18 T 1636/18 T 1835/18 T 3033/18 T 0344/19 T 0698/19 T 1056/19 T 1422/19 T 1685/19 T 2998/19 T 0072/20 T 1314/20 T 0558/21 T 1439/21 T 0573/22 T 0710/22 T 1124/22 T 0660/23 T 0790/24

ORDER

For these reasons it is decided that:

The appeal is dismissed.