T 0083/05 (Broccoli II/PLANT BIOSCIENCE) of 08.07.2013
- European Case Law Identifier
- ECLI:EP:BA:2013:T008305.20130708
- Date of decision
- 8 July 2013
- Case number
- T 0083/05
- Petition for review of
- -
- Application number
- 99915886.8
- IPC class
- A01H 5/10
- Language of proceedings
- English
- Distribution
- Published in the EPO's Official Journal (A)
- Download
- Decision in English
- Other decisions for this case
- T 0083/05 Broccoli/PLANT BIOSCIENCE 2007-05-22T 0083/05 Brocoli/PLANT BIOSCIENCE 2007-05-22T 0083/05 Broccoli/PLANT BIOSCIENCE 2007-05-22T 0083/05 Broccoli/PLANT BIOSCIENCE 2007-05-22T 0083/05 Broccoli III/PLANT BIOSCIENCE 2015-09-10
- Abstracts for this decision
- -
- Application title
- Method for selective increase of the anticarcinogenic glucosinolates in Brassica species
- Applicant name
- Plant Bioscience Limited
- Opponent name
- Syngenta Participations AG
Groupe Limagrain Holding - Board
- 3.3.04
- Headnote
- -
- Relevant legal provisions
- European Patent Convention Art 100European Patent Convention Art 112(1)European Patent Convention Art 112(3)European Patent Convention Art 53(b)Rules of procedure of the Boards of Appeal Art 13(1)Rules of procedure of the Boards of Appeal Art 8(2)
- Keywords
- Exclusion of essentially biological processes for the production of plants - possible effect on allowability of product claim for plants or plant material - important point of law - referral of questions to the Enlarged Board of Appeal
- Catchword
- Questions 1 to 4 as formulated in the Order are referred to the Enlarged Board of Appeal for decision.
ORDER
For these reasons it is decided that:
The following questions are referred to the Enlarged Board of Appeal for decision:
1. Can the exclusion of essentially biological processes for the production of plants in Article 53(b) EPC have a negative effect on the allowability of a product claim directed to plants or plant material such as plant parts?
2. In particular:
(a) Is a product-by-process claim directed to plants or plant material other than a plant variety allowable if its process features define an essentially biological process for the production of plants?
(b) Is a claim directed to plants or plant material other than a plant variety allowable even if the only method available at the filing date for generating the claimed subject-matter is an essentially biological process for the production of plants disclosed in the patent application?
3. Is it of relevance in the context of questions 1 and 2 that the protection conferred by the product claim encompasses the generation of the claimed product by means of an essentially biological process for the production of plants excluded as such under Article 53(b) EPC?
4. If a claim directed to plants or plant material other than a plant variety is considered not allowable because the plant product claim encompasses the generation of the claimed product by means of a process excluded from patentability under Article 53(b) EPC, is it possible to waive the protection for such generation by "disclaiming" the excluded process?