Section F‑IV, 3.5, in the Guidelines for Examination in the EPO applies mutatis mutandis.[GL/ISPE 5.17; ]
The EPO allows multiple dependent claims, provided that they do not detract from the clarity of the claims as a whole and that their arrangement does not create obscurity in the definition of the subject-matter to be protected. The EPO applies option GL/ISPE A5.16[2] of the Appendix to Chapter 5 of the ISPE Guidelines.[Rules 6.4(a); (b); (c); ]
In case of unclarity, it may be appropriate for the examiner to first invite the applicant to provide informal clarification before the search is carried out (see GL/PCT‑EPO B‑VIII, 3.3-GL/PCT-EPO B-VIII, 3.6).
See GL/PCT‑EPO F‑IV, 3.7 for claims referring to a claim in a different category.
Source: http://www.epo.org/law-practice/legal-texts/html/guidelinespct/e/f_iv_3_4.htm
Date retrieved: 17 May 2021
8 references found.
Click X to load a reference inside the current page, click on the title to open in a new page.EPO Guidelines - F The European Patent Application
EPO PCT GL - B Search
XGL-PCT B VIII 3.1 Examples of impossibility to perform a meaningful search over the whole of the claimed scope
EPO PCT GL - F (not assigned)
XGL-PCT F IV 3.7 Independent claims containing a reference to another claim or to features from a claim of another category