European Patent Office

T 1177/97 (Translating natural languages/SYSTRAN) of 09.07.2002

European Case Law Identifier
ECLI:EP:BA:2002:T117797.20020709
Date of decision
9 July 2002
Case number
T 1177/97
Petition for review of
-
Application number
87400004.5
IPC class
G06F 15/38
Language of proceedings
English
Distribution
Distributed to board chairmen and members (B)
OJ versions
No OJ links found
Other decisions for this case
-
Abstracts for this decision
-
Application title
Method using a programmed digital computer system for translation between natural languages
Applicant name
SYSTRAN S.A.
Opponent name
Siemens Nixdorf Informationssysteme Aktiengeseelschaft
Logos Computer Integrated Translation GmbH
Board
3.5.01
Headnote
-
Keywords
Inventive step (no)
Problem-and-solution approach: treatment of non-technical aspects
Admissibility of late-filed documents (no)
Different apportionment of costs (no)
Catchword
1. The use of a piece of information in a technical system, or its usuability for this purpose, may convey a technical character to the information itself in that it reflects the properties of the technical system, for instance by being specifically formatted and/or processed. Such information when used in or processed by the technical system may be part of a technical solution to a technical problem and form the basis for a technical contribution of the invention to the prior art.
2. Information and methods related to linguistics may thus in principle assume technical character if they are used in a computer system and form part of a technical problem solution.

ORDER

For these reasons it is decided that:

1. The paper on General Analysis Technique submitted at the oral proceedings on 9 July 2002 is not admitted into the proceedings.

2. The appeal is dismissed.

3. The request for an apportionment of costs is refused.