European Patent Office

T 0426/88 (Combustion engine) of 09.11.1990

European Case Law Identifier
ECLI:EP:BA:1990:T042688.19901109
Date of decision
9 November 1990
Case number
T 0426/88
Petition for review of
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Application number
81300304.3
Language of proceedings
English
Distribution
No distribution (D)
Other decisions for this case
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Abstracts for this decision
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Application title
-
Applicant name
LUCAS
Opponent name
Robert Bosch GmbH
Board
3.2.02
Headnote

1. When books, representing common general knowledge, describe a basic general technical theory or methodology and exemplify the same with specific applications in certain technical fields only, these do not limit the general scope and relevance of such disclosures so as to exclude possible applications in other fields.

2. Furthermore, it is also the view of the Board that the language of publication alone cannot be decisive for the admissibility of a technical book representing the common general knowledge of the skilled person. Otherwise, there would be a differentiation between skilled persons according to their nationality as regards their knowledge, which would be against the objective assessment of the inventive step and be prejudicial to equal treatment.

Keywords
Inventive step (no)
Technical books representing common general knowledge
Catchword
-
Cited cases
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ORDER

For these reasons it is decided at oral proceedings that:

The appeal is dismissed.