4. Clarity and interpretation of claims
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  6. Chapter IV
  7. 4. Clarity and interpretation of claims
  8. 4.5 Essential features
  9. 4.5.1 Objections arising from missing essential features
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4.5 Essential features

Overview

4.5.1 Objections arising from missing essential features 

The claims, which define the matter for which protection is sought, must be clear, i.e. a claim must not only be comprehensible from a technical point of view, it must also define clearly all the essential features of the invention (see T 32/82). Furthermore, the requirement of Art. 84 that the claims be supported by the description applies to features which are explicitly presented in the description as being essential for carrying out the invention (see T 1055/92). A lack of essential features in the independent claim(s) is therefore to be dealt with under the clarity and support requirements.

Art. 84
Rule 43(1) and
Rule 43(3)

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