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A.56 EPC Inventive step

An invention shall be considered as involving an inventive step if, having regard to the state of the art, it is not obvious to a person skilled in the art. If the state of the art also includes documents within the meaning of Article 54, paragraph 3, these documents shall not be considered in deciding whether there has been an inventive step.

[ Art. 52 100 138 R. 30 42 61 ]

See decisions/opinions of the Enlarged Board of Appeal G 2/98, G 3/98, G 2/99, G 1/03, G 2/03, G 1/16 (Annex I).

Source: http://www.epo.org/law-practice/legal-texts/html/epc/2016/e/ar56.html

Date retrieved: 17 May 2021

876 references found. Limiting display to 200 references.

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EPC Articles

X Chapter I Patentability

X A.52 EPC Patentable inventions

X A.54 EPC Novelty

X A.100 EPC Grounds for opposition

X A.138 EPC Revocation of European patents

EPC Implementing Rules

X R.30 EPC Requirements of European patent applications relating to nucleotide and amino acid sequences

X R.42 EPC Content of the description

X R.61 EPC Content of the European search report

EPO Guidelines Foreword

X GL FOREWORD 2.1 Overview

EPO Guidelines - B Search

X GL B X 9.2.1 Particularly relevant documents

EPO Guidelines - D Opposition and Limitation/Revocation Procedures

X GL D III 5 Grounds for opposition

X GL D IV 1.2.2 Deficiencies which, if not remedied, lead to the opposition being rejected as inadmissible

X GL D V 4 Insufficient disclosure of the invention

EPO Guidelines - F The European Patent Application

X GL F IV 3.9.3 Cases where the invention is realised in a distributed computing environment

X GL F IV 4.22 Broad claims

EPO Guidelines - G Patentability

X GL G IV 5.1 State of the art pursuant to Art. 54(3)

X GL G VII 1 General

X GL G VII 5.2 Formulation of the objective technical problem

X GL G VII 5.4 Claims comprising technical and non-technical features

X GL G VII 5.4.2.1 Example 1

X GL G VII 5.4.2.2 Example 2

X GL G VII 5.4.2.3 Example 3

EPO PCT GL - F (not assigned)

X GL-PCT FOREWORD 3.1 Annex I: EPC-PCT concordance table

Case Law Book: I Patentability

X CLR I A 2.4.3.C Technical considerations: programming a computer

X CLR I A 2.4.4.B Exclusion of computer programs under Article 52(2) and (3) EPC

X CLR I D 1 Introduction

X CLR I D 2 Problem and solution approach

X CLR I D 4.1 Determination of the technical problem

X CLR I D 4.5 Alternative solution to a known problem

X CLR I D 7.1 Reasonable expectation of success

X CLR I D 9.1.1 Technical character of an invention

X CLR I D 9.1.2 Inventions having both technical and non-technical features

X CLR I D 9.1.3.B The Comvik approach

X CLR I D 9.1.3.C Non-technical features and technical contribution

X CLR I D 9.1.3.E Technical implementation of excluded subject-matter

X CLR I D 9.1.4 The aim to be achieved in the formulation of the technical problem

X CLR I D 9.1.6.A Mental activities based on data visualisation

X CLR I D 9.1.8 Assesment of features relating to mathematical algorithms

X CLR I D 10.1 General issues

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

X CLR II C 3.2 Alleged effect not a feature of the claims

X CLR II C 8.2 ‍‍Article 83 EPC and clarity of claims

Case Law Book: III Amendments

X CLR III K 3.4.5.C Assessment of inventive step without assessing the prior art

Case Law Book: IV Divisional Applications

X CLR IV B 2.5.2 Failing to make a "bona fide" response

X CLR IV C 2.2.8.B Sufficient substantiation of grounds for opposition

Case Law Book: V Priority

X CLR V A 2.6.3.C Refusal of the application

X CLR V A 3.5.1.C Review of first-instance discretionary decisions taken on substantive grounds

X CLR V A 4.12.3 Response to objections

X CLR V A 7.3.4 Requests for remittal

Case Law of the Enlarged Board

X G 0002/98 (Requirement for claiming priority of the "same invention") of 31.5.2001

X G 0003/98 (Six-month period/UNIVERSITY PATENTS) of 12.7.2000

X G 0002/99 (Six-month period) of 12.7.2000

X G 0001/03 (Disclaimer/PPG) of 8.4.2004

X G 0002/03 (Disclaimer/GENETIC SYSTEMS) of 8.4.2004

X G 0001/07 (Treatment by surgery/MEDI-PHYSICS) of 15.2.2010

X G 0003/08 (Programs for computers) of 12.5.2010

X G 0002/10 (Disclaimer/SCRIPPS) of 30.8.2011

X G 0002/12 () of 25.3.2015

X G 0002/13 () of 25.3.2015

X G 0003/14 () of 24.3.2015

X G 0001/16 (Disclaimer III) of 18.12.2017

General Case Law

X R 0009/09 () of 22.3.2010

X R 0019/09 (Fundamental violation of Article 113/UNAXIS) of 24.3.2010

X R 0006/12 () of 18.1.2013

X R 0016/12 () of 15.11.2013

X R 0005/13 (Fundamental violation of Article 113 EPC) of 10.2.2014

X R 0009/13 (Fundamental violation of Article 113 EPC) of 10.2.2014

X R 0010/13 (Fundamental violation of Article 113 EPC) of 10.2.2014

X R 0011/13 (Fundamental violation of Article 113 EPC) of 10.2.2014

X R 0012/13 (Fundamental violation of Article 113 EPC) of 10.2.2014

X R 0013/13 (Fundamental violation of Article 113 EPC) of 10.2.2014

X R 0009/14 (Fundamental violation of Art. 13(1) EPC) of 24.2.2015

X R 0002/16 (Antrag auf ÃberprÃ¼fung) of 28.10.2016

X R 0005/16 (Petition clearly unallowable) of 24.10.2016

X R 0008/17 (Violation of right to be heard/HOLLISTER) of 18.6.2018

X T 0019/05 (Tannin concentration/PRORAS) of 15.2.2012

X T 0259/05 (AcrylsÃ¤ureherstellung/BASF) of 26.3.2009

X T 0601/05 (Anti-TNF alpha human monoclonal antibodies/BAYER III) of 2.12.2009

X T 1131/05 () of 19.2.2008

X T 1421/05 () of 18.1.2011

X T 0578/06 (Pancreatic cells/IPSEN) of 29.6.2011

X T 0784/06 (Genotype determination/BECKMAN) of 23.6.2010

X T 0811/06 () of 11.5.2010

X T 1071/06 () of 8.12.2009

X T 1194/06 (Arylalkylamine carbamates/LABOARATORIOS S.A.L.V.A.T.) of 6.8.2009

X T 1387/06 () of 20.1.2010

X T 1441/06 () of 1.7.2010

X T 1514/06 (Agitateur/MIXEL) of 5.10.2011

X T 1562/06 () of 22.9.2009

X T 1632/06 (Natamycin stabilisation/DSM) of 2.9.2009

X T 1753/06 (tert-butylamine du perindopril/LABORATOIRES SERVIER) of 6.5.2009

X T 1886/06 (PigmentprÃ¤paration/MERCK) of 23.10.2009

X T 0026/07 () of 18.12.2009

X T 0146/07 (Prenatal diagnosis/ISIS) of 13.12.2011

X T 0150/07 (Washing method/KAO CORPORATION) of 27.10.2009

X T 0172/07 () of 22.3.2011

X T 0193/07 (Arsenic-free glasses/CORNING) of 11.5.2011

X T 0212/07 () of 18.11.2009

X T 0230/07 (Colloidal binder/PAROC) of 5.5.2010

X T 0305/07 (Trisulfides/PFIZER) of 20.5.2011

X T 0418/07 (Human anti-TNFalpha antibodies/ABBOTT) of 4.5.2011

X T 0565/07 () of 10.9.2009

X T 0617/07 (Monoclonal NGF-antagonist antibodies/LAY LINE) of 4.8.2009

X T 0730/07 (Hydrogenation/ENGELHARD) of 15.4.2010

X T 0847/07 (Factor VIII formulation/BIOVITRUM) of 13.1.2010

X T 0888/07 (Registering new location information and paging of mobile nodes in … of 19.4.2011

X T 0897/07 (Abbindebeschleuniger/SIKA Technology AG) of 3.5.2011

X T 0990/07 () of 23.2.2010

X T 1014/07 (Saturated dicarboxylic acids/COGNIS) of 2.7.2012

X T 1205/07 (Adenoviral packaging system/CRUCELL) of 20.9.2011

X T 1266/07 () of 26.11.2009

X T 1395/07 () of 7.7.2009

X T 1397/07 (Dimerisation process/NESTLE OIL OYJ) of 6.5.2010

X T 1437/07 (Botulinum toxin for treating smooth muscle spasm/ALLERGAN) of 26.10.2009

X T 1484/07 (Carbonylation of olefins/SHELL) of 13.4.2010

X T 1523/07 (Washing a device for the production of meth(acrylic)acid or esters/ … of 24.11.2009

X T 1544/07 (Stabilised peroxidicarbonate/ARKEMA) of 19.8.2010

X T 1614/07 () of 20.11.2009

X T 1659/07 (TFO-Betrieb/IPCOM) of 21.1.2010

X T 1685/07 () of 4.8.2010

X T 1695/07 () of 28.9.2011

X T 1705/07 (Verfahren zur Hydrierung von BenzolpolycarbonsÃ¤uren/BASF SE) of 10.6.2010

X T 1728/07 (Florfenicol synthesis/SCHERING) of 11.10.2010

X T 1731/07 () of 18.12.2012

X T 1755/07 () of 4.12.2009

X T 1758/07 () of 7.6.2010

X T 1761/07 (Hydrogen peroxide epoxidation/SOLVAY) of 14.1.2011

X T 1800/07 (Stichplan/SIEMENS VAI METALS TECHNOLOGIES GMBH) of 18.6.2010

X T 1835/07 () of 3.2.2011

X T 1898/07 (Interferon Formulations/BIOGEN) of 17.6.2010

X T 1918/07 () of 11.5.2010

X T 1988/07 (Recycling poultry wash waters/ECOLAB) of 8.10.2010

X T 1993/07 (Continuous polymerisation/CHEVRON) of 13.10.2011

X T 2043/07 () of 13.1.2010

X T 2049/07 () of 8.9.2009

X T 0021/08 () of 2.9.2010

X T 0053/08 (Sulfonylharnstoffderivat und Safener/BAYER CROPSCIENCE) of 3.11.2010

X T 0070/08 () of 9.9.2010

X T 0087/08 () of 11.2.2010

X T 0138/08 () of 13.7.2010

X T 0232/08 (Microparticles of hyaluronic acid/LG LIFE SCIENCES) of 7.5.2010

X T 0295/08 (Skin cleansing composition/COLGATE-PALMOLIVE) of 3.2.2011

X T 0339/08 () of 3.3.2010

X T 0358/08 () of 9.7.2009

X T 0378/08 () of 24.11.2009

X T 0386/08 (Humanized antibodies to the amyloid beta peptide/WASHINGTON … of 22.11.2010

X T 0413/08 () of 8.12.2009

X T 0423/08 (Herstellung von Propylenoxid/BASF) of 13.9.2011

X T 0433/08 (Fluorinated ketones/3M) of 4.8.2011

X T 0467/08 () of 7.6.2011

X T 0518/08 (Pot and marble/JOHNS MANVILLE) of 19.8.2011

X T 0547/08 () of 10.3.2011

X T 0570/08 (Soluble lubrifying diesel additive/INFINEUM) of 17.2.2012

X T 0615/08 (Verfahren zur Umsetzung einer organischen Verbindung mit einem … of 14.12.2010

X T 0619/08 () of 27.1.2010

X T 0620/08 (Oxo-pyridine/ENCYSIVE) of 4.5.2011

X T 0677/08 (Payment processing/SAP) of 28.6.2011

X T 0707/08 (Directly supported/LELY) of 8.2.2011

X T 0716/08 (Infectious salmon anaemia virus vaccine/INTERVET) of 19.8.2010

X T 0739/08 (Destillative Trennung von AMCPA aus HMD/BASF) of 9.6.2011

X T 0754/08 () of 21.9.2010

X T 0777/08 (Atorvastatin polymorphs/WARNER-LAMBERT) of 24.5.2011

X T 0778/08 () of 7.12.2010

X T 0781/08 (Noise reduction in hearing aids/Emma Mixed Signal) of 17.8.2011

X T 0824/08 (Non-segmented negative strand RNA viruses/CRUCELL) of 20.11.2012

X T 0830/08 (Rimcazole/DUNDEE) of 11.10.2010

X T 0836/08 () of 12.5.2011

X T 0841/08 () of 26.8.2011

X T 0849/08 () of 15.12.2010

X T 0863/08 () of 24.10.2011

X T 0888/08 (Verwendung von Herbizid-Kombinationen/BAYER CROPSCIENCE) of 3.8.2010

X T 0916/08 () of 6.3.2012

X T 0971/08 () of 10.1.2012

X T 0986/08 () of 13.11.2012

X T 1033/08 () of 20.7.2011

X T 1045/08 () of 10.3.2011

X T 1069/08 (Desaturase/CALGENE) of 8.9.2011

X T 1194/08 () of 22.6.2011

X T 1199/08 (Selected sperm/XY) of 3.5.2012

X T 1228/08 () of 26.11.2012

X T 1239/08 (Cross-linked polymer dispersant/DU PONT) of 30.6.2011

X T 1250/08 () of 16.3.2011

X T 1257/08 () of 7.7.2010

X T 1312/08 (Proteases containing detergent composition/KAO) of 30.4.2010

X T 1364/08 (Cellular proliferative disorders/ONCOLYTICS) of 10.11.2010

X T 1378/08 (Beschichtung von SanitÃ¤rkeramik/NANOGATE) of 29.4.2011

X T 1389/08 () of 30.7.2010

X T 1397/08 (Composition pour la teinture d'oxydation/L'OREAL) of 8.7.2010

X T 1440/08 () of 5.8.2010

X T 1469/08 (ProthÃ¨se composite/SOFRADIM) of 27.10.2011

X T 1519/08 () of 16.12.2011

X T 1544/08 () of 16.11.2012

X T 1548/08 () of 8.4.2010

X T 1617/08 (Enzyme containing microgranule/GENENCOR INTERNATIONAL) of 20.12.2012

X T 1652/08 (Reduktive Aminierung von Carbonylverbindungen/EVONIK DEGUSSA) of 12.4.2011

X T 1688/08 () of 17.7.2012

X T 1690/08 () of 7.9.2011

X T 1715/08 (Fucosyltransferase/ALTMANN) of 24.10.2012

X T 1748/08 () of 11.6.2012

X T 1750/08 () of 16.2.2012

X T 1791/08 (Natriuretic peptides/SHIONOGI) of 11.3.2010