The invention claimed must normally be considered as a whole. When a claim consists of a "combination of features", it is not correct to argue that the separate features of the combination taken by themselves are known or obvious and that "therefore" the whole subject-matter claimed is obvious. However, where the claim is merely an "aggregation or juxtaposition of features" and not a true combination, it is enough to show that the individual features are obvious to prove that the aggregation of features does not involve an inventive step.[GL/ISPE 13.05; GL/ISPE 13.14(c); GL/ISPE 13.14(d); ]
Source: http://www.epo.org/law-practice/legal-texts/html/guidelinespct/e/g_vii_7.htm
Date retrieved: 17 May 2021