Pages 82-90

I.

PATENTABILITY

A.

Exceptions to patentability

1.

Essentially biological processes for the production of plants

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2.

Therapeutic methods

2.1

Methods with both therapeutic and non-therapeutic indications

T 158/13 3.3.10 17.11.16

T 44/12 3.2.02 11.01.17

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4

B.

Novelty

1.

State of the art

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2.

Availability to the public

2.1

Advertising brochure

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2.2

Public prior use

2.2.1

Internal structure or composition of a product

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2.3

Obligation to maintain secrecy

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2.4

Making samples/products available for test purposes

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3.

Determining the content of the relevant prior art

3.1

General rules of interpretation

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4.

First and second medical use

4.1

Interpretation of "substance or composition"

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C.

Inventive step

1.

Closest prior art

1.1

Speculative character

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2.

Assessment of inventive step

2.1

Technical character of the invention

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2.2

Assessment of features relating to mathematical algorithms

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2.3

Example of lack of inventive step

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3.

Secondary indicia in the assessment of inventive step

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II.

PATENT APPLICATION AND AMENDMENTS

A.

Claims

1.

Clarity of claims

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2.

Interpretation of claims

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B.

Unity of invention

1.

Unsearched subject-matter and applicability of Rule 137(5) EPC or former Rule 164(2) EPC

T 145/13 3.4.03 10.02.17

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C.

Sufficiency of disclosure

1.

The relationship between Article 83 and Article 84 EPC

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D.

Priority

1.

Priority right of the applicant or his successor in title

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2.

Disclosure in the previous application as a whole – solution of the same problem

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3.

First application – identity of invention

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4.

Multiple priorities for one claim – partial priority – application of G 1/15

T 282/12 3.3.07 09.11.17

T 260/14 3.3.07 13.04.17

T 1519/15 3.2.01 03.08.17

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E.

Amendments

1.

Article 123(2) EPC – added subject-matter

1.1

Gold standard and essentiality test

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1.2

Ranges – setting a new end-point with a value that has not been expressly disclosed

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1.3

Disclaimers

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2.

Article 123(3) EPC

2.1

Extent of protection

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F.

Divisional applications

1.

1. Inadmissible extension – amending the description

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2.

Language for filing divisional application

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3.

Pendency of earlier application

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III.

RULES COMMON TO ALL PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE EPO

A.

The principle of the protection of legitimate expectations

1.

Contradictory acts

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B.

Right to be heard

1.

Surprising grounds or evidence

R 7/15 15.05.17

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1.1

The meaning of "grounds or evidence"

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2.

Text submitted or agreed by applicant (patent proprietor) – Article 113(2) EPC

2.1

General

T 1440/12 3.4.03 27.06.17

T 1477/15 3.2.02 23.02.17

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38

2.2

Cases where the EPO is uncertain or mistaken about the approval of the text

T 1104/14 3.3.06 23.05.17

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C.

Oral proceedings

1.

Late submission of new facts and evidence in the preparation for oral proceedings – Rule 116 EPC (Rule 71a EPC 1973)

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2.

Doubt as to the nature of the request for oral proceedings

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D.

Re-establishment of rights

1.

Right to file request for re-establishment of rights

T 181/14 3.5.02 13.07.17

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2.

Loss of rights as a direct consequence by virtue of the EPC

J 23/14 3.1.01 15.12.16

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3.

Admissibility of requests for re-establishment of rights

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E.

Languages

1.

Translations

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F.

Law of evidence

1.

Taking of evidence

1.1

Time frame for submitting evidence

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2.

Evaluation of evidence

2.1

Witness testimony and written statements

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T 1107/12 3.3.05 19.09.17

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2.2

Archives and internet publications

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T 545/08 3.5.07 24.03.17

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2.3

Standard of proof

2.3.1

Receipt of formal documents

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G.

Main and auxiliary requests

1.

Request not sufficiently defined

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2.

Withdrawal of request

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H.

Suspected partiality

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I.

Formal aspects of decisions of EPO departments

1.

Opposition division

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2.

Completion of the internal decision-making process

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3.

Department of first instance issues more than one decision

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4.

Examples of non-compliance with the requirements of Rule 111(2) EPC

J 18/16 3.1.01 08.02.17

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5.

Decisions according to the state of the file

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J.

Notification

1.

Forms of notification

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2.

Spheres of risk and apportioning the burden of proof

T 1934/16 3.2.06 21.08.17

T 2054/15 3.2.02 23.11.16

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K.

Representation

1.

Legal practitioners entitled to act as professional representatives

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IV.

PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE EPO

A.

Examination procedure

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B.

Special features of opposition and appeal proceedings

1.

Apportionment of costs

1.1

Acts or omissions prejudicing the timely and efficient conduct of oral proceedings

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T 1699/15 3.2.04 20.12.16

T 258/13 3.2.07 11.01.17

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C.

Opposition procedure

1.

Amendments in opposition proceedings

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2.

Correction of the name of the opponent

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3.

No consideration of late-filed evidence of public prior use

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D.

Appeal procedure

1.

Filing and admissibility of appeal

1.1

Entitlement to appeal – party adversely affected

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1.2

Entitlement to appeal – procedural status of the parties

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1.3

Form and content of notice of appeal (Rule 99(1) EPC)

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1.4

Statement of grounds of appeal

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2.

Interlocutory revision

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3.

Subject-matter under examination and non-opposed dependent claims

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4.

Review of first-instance decisions

4.1

The boards' discretion

4.1.1

Scope for reviewing discretion

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T 1816/11 3.4.03 22.11.16

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4.1.2

Own discretion to admit submissions not admitted at first instance

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T 556/13 3.4.02 14.10.16

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4.2

Review of an opposition division's discretionary decision (not) to admit a new ground for opposition

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4.3

Review of discretion – stay of proceedings

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5.

Late submission

5.1

Late-filed documents

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5.2

Unsubstantiated requests

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5.3

Late-filed requests

5.3.1

Response to new objections

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5.3.2

Diverging versions of claims

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5.3.3

Reverting to the patent as granted

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6.

Reimbursement of appeal fees

6.1

Distinction between an appeal deemed not to have been filed and an inadmissible appeal

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6.2

Substantial procedural violation

6.2.1

Oral proceedings

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6.2.2

No reasons for refusal of request for postponement

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E.

Proceedings before the Enlarged Board of Appeal

1.

Petition for review under Article 112a EPC

R 2/14 22.04.16 

R 3/15 28.11.17

R 2/15 21.10.15

R 8/15 18.07.16

R 6/16 29.09.17

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V.

DISCIPLINARY BOARD OF APPEAL

1.

Objective review of the marks awarded

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VI.

THE EPO ACTING AS A PCT AUTHORITY – EURO-PCT APPLICATIONS

1.

Competence of the EPO acting as designated or elected Office

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