T 0022/85 (Document abstracting and retrieving) of 05.10.1988
- European Case Law Identifier
- ECLI:EP:BA:1988:T002285.19881005
- Date of decision
- 5 October 1988
- Case number
- T 0022/85
- Petition for review of
- -
- Application number
- 80107625.8
- IPC class
- G06F 15/40
- Language of proceedings
- English
- Distribution
- Published in the EPO's Official Journal (A)
- Download
- Decision in English
- Other decisions for this case
- -
- Abstracts for this decision
- -
- Application title
- -
- Applicant name
- IBM
- Opponent name
- -
- Board
- 3.5.01
- Headnote
1. Abstracting a document, storing the abstract, and retrieving it in response to a query falls as such within the category of schemes, rules and methods for performing mental acts and constitutes therefore non-patentable subject-matter under Article 52(2)(c) and 52(3) EPC
2. The mere setting out of the sequence of steps necessary to perform an activity, excluded as such from patentability under Article 52(2) and 52(3) EPC, in terms of functions or functional means to be realised with the aid of conventional computer hardware elements does not import any technical considerations and cannot, therefore, lend a technical character to that activity and thereby overcome the exclusion from patentability.
- Relevant legal provisions
- European Patent Convention Art 52(1) 1973European Patent Convention Art 52(2) 1973European Patent Convention Art 52(3) 1973
- Keywords
- Schemes, rules and methods for performing mental acts
Technical character (no)
Step in terms of functions or functional means - Catchword
- -
- Cited cases
- -
ORDER
For these reasons, it is decided that:
The appeal is dismissed.