European Patent Office

T 0083/05 (Broccoli II/PLANT BIOSCIENCE) du 08.07.2013

Identifiant européen de la jurisprudence
ECLI:EP:BA:2013:T008305.20130708
Date de la décision
8 juilliet 2013
Numéro de l'affaire
T 0083/05
Requête en révision de
-
Numéro de la demande
99915886.8
Classe de la CIB
A01H 5/10
Langue de la procédure
Anglais
Distribution
Publiées au Journal officiel de l'OEB (A)
Téléchargement
Décision en anglais
Résumés pour cette décision
-
Titre de la demande
Method for selective increase of the anticarcinogenic glucosinolates in Brassica species
Nom du demandeur
Plant Bioscience Limited
Nom de l'opposant
Syngenta Participations AG
Groupe Limagrain Holding
Chambre
3.3.04
Sommaire
-
Dispositions juridiques pertinentes
European Patent Convention Art 100European Patent Convention Art 112(1)European Patent Convention Art 112(3)European Patent Convention Art 53(b)Rules of procedure of the Boards of Appeal Art 13(1)Rules of procedure of the Boards of Appeal Art 8(2)
Mots-clés
Exclusion of essentially biological processes for the production of plants - possible effect on allowability of product claim for plants or plant material - important point of law - referral of questions to the Enlarged Board of Appeal
Exergue
Questions 1 to 4 as formulated in the Order are referred to the Enlarged Board of Appeal for decision.

ORDER

For these reasons it is decided that:

The following questions are referred to the Enlarged Board of Appeal for decision:

1. Can the exclusion of essentially biological processes for the production of plants in Article 53(b) EPC have a negative effect on the allowability of a product claim directed to plants or plant material such as plant parts?

2. In particular:

(a) Is a product-by-process claim directed to plants or plant material other than a plant variety allowable if its process features define an essentially biological process for the production of plants?

(b) Is a claim directed to plants or plant material other than a plant variety allowable even if the only method available at the filing date for generating the claimed subject-matter is an essentially biological process for the production of plants disclosed in the patent application?

3. Is it of relevance in the context of questions 1 and 2 that the protection conferred by the product claim encompasses the generation of the claimed product by means of an essentially biological process for the production of plants excluded as such under Article 53(b) EPC?

4. If a claim directed to plants or plant material other than a plant variety is considered not allowable because the plant product claim encompasses the generation of the claimed product by means of a process excluded from patentability under Article 53(b) EPC, is it possible to waive the protection for such generation by "disclaiming" the excluded process?