European Patent Office

T 0661/09 of 22.10.2013

European Case Law Identifier
ECLI:EP:BA:2013:T066109.20131022
Date of decision
22 October 2013
Case number
T 0661/09
Petition for review of
-
Application number
97902876.8
IPC class
G02B 5/30
Language of proceedings
English
Distribution
Distributed to board chairmen (C)
OJ versions
No OJ links found
Other decisions for this case
-
Abstracts for this decision
-
Application title
REFLECTIVE POLARIZERS HAVING EXTENDED RED BAND EDGE FOR CONTROLLED OFF AXIS COLOR
Applicant name
MINNESOTA MINING AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY
Opponent name
Bismanns H.
Board
3.4.02
Headnote
-
Relevant legal provisions
-
Keywords
Inventive step - (no) - obvious desiderata
Catchword
The only features distinguishing the claimed device from the closest prior art express no more than a set of desiderata, without any indication of a causal link between the desired properties and the constitution of the claimed device.
Insofar as the claim does not define any concrete measures on how to ensure that the claimed properties are effectively obtained, the claimed properties remain at an abstract or conceptual level.
Accordingly, the issue of inventive step boils down to the question of whether or not the skilled person, in view of the available prior art and his/her common general knowledge, would in an obvious way have envisaged the claimed set of desiderata.
See decision, point 2.1 (and point 2.7.2).
Cited cases
-
Citing cases
T 0248/18T 0746/22

Order

For these reasons it is decided that:

1. The appeal filed by the patentee is rejected as inadmissible.

2. The decision under appeal is set aside.

3. The patent is revoked.