T 0237/84 (Reference signs) of 31.7.1986

European Case Law Identifier: ECLI:EP:BA:1986:T023784.19860731
Date of decision: 31 July 1986
Case number: T 0237/84
Application number: 81200098.2
IPC class: G11B 5/52
Language of proceedings: EN
Distribution: A
Download and more information:
Decision text in EN (PDF, 463 KB)
Documentation of the appeal procedure can be found in the Register
Bibliographic information is available in: EN
Versions: OJ | Published
Title of application: -
Applicant name: Philips
Opponent name: -
Board: 3.5.01
Headnote: 1. The purpose of reference signs in a claim (Rule 29(7) EPC) is to make the claims easier for all to understand. They do not limit the scope of the claim but they do affect its clarity and may enable it to be expressed more concisely than would otherwise be possible (Article 84 EPC).
2. Inclusion in the description of a European patent application of a statement as to the purpose of inclusion of such reference signs is not "obviously irrelevant or unnecessary", such as to be prohibited matter within the meaning of Rule 34(1)(c) EPC, when there is a possibility - albeit remote - that a national Court in a designated State might regard the claims as limited by the inclusion of such reference signs, in the absence of such a statement.
Relevant legal provisions:
European Patent Convention 1973 Art 69(1)
European Patent Convention 1973 Art 84
European Patent Convention 1973 R 29(1)
European Patent Convention 1973 R 29(6)
European Patent Convention 1973 R 29(7)
European Patent Convention 1973 R 86(3)
Keywords: Reference signs in claims
Catchwords:

-

Cited decisions:
-
Citing decisions:
T 0572/90
T 1807/07

Source: http://www.epo.org/law-practice/case-law-appeals/recent/t840237ex1.html

Date retrieved: 17 May 2021

6 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

Offical Journal of the EPO

Case Law Book: II Conditions to be met by an Application

General Case Law