European Patent Office

T 1931/14 du 21.02.2018

Identifiant européen de la jurisprudence
ECLI:EP:BA:2018:T193114.20180221
Date de la décision
21 février 2018
Numéro de l'affaire
T 1931/14
Requête en révision de
-
Numéro de la demande
99905691.4
Langue de la procédure
Anglais
Distribution
Distribuées aux présidents des chambres de recours (C)
Téléchargement
Décision en anglais
Versions JO
Aucun lien JO trouvé
Autres décisions pour cet affaire
-
Résumés pour cette décision
-
Titre de la demande
COMBINED CRYOGENIC AIR SEPARATION WITH INTEGRATED GASIFIER
Nom du demandeur
GE Energy (USA), LLC
Nom de l'opposant
L'AIR LIQUIDE, Société Anonyme pour L'étude et L'exploitation des procédés Georges Claude
Chambre
3.2.04
Sommaire
-
Dispositions juridiques pertinentes
European Patent Convention Art 54(2)
Mots-clés
Novelty - main request (yes)
Novelty - functional technical features of a process
Exergue
In the context of a method it is important to differentiate between different types of stated purpose, namely those that define the application or use of a method, and those that define an effect arising from the steps of the method. Where the stated purpose defines the specific application of the method, in fact it requires certain additional steps which are not implicit in the remaining features, and without which the claimed process would not achieve the stated purpose. On the other hand, where the purpose merely states a technical effect which inevitably arises when carrying out the other remaining steps of the claimed method and is thus inherent in those steps, such a technical effect has no limiting effect because it is not suitable for distinguishing the claimed method from a known one. (point 2.2.4)

Order

For these reasons it is decided that:

1. The decision under appeal is set aside.

2. The case is remitted to the department of first instance for further prosecution.