GL B Purpose of Part B

 
Contents
Chapter I – Introduction
2.Search division
2.1Consultation with other examiners
2.2Search division consisting of more than one member
2.2.1Where claimed unitary subject-matter covers more than one technical field
2.2.2Further searches on a non-unitary application in a different technical field
Chapter II – General
1.Search and substantive examination
1.1Contact between the applicant and the search division
2.Objective of the search
3.Search documentation
4.Search report
4.1European searches
4.2Additional European searches
4.3Supplementary European searches
4.3.1Dispensing with the supplementary European search report
4.3.2A supplementary European search report is required
4.3.3Application documents for the supplementary European search report
4.4International (PCT) searches
4.5International-type searches
4.6Searches on national applications
Chapter III – Characteristics of the search
1.Opinions of the search division
1.1Opinions in relation to the search report
1.2Opinions on matters relating to limitation of the search
2.Scope of the search
2.1Completeness of the search
2.2Effectiveness and efficiency of the search
2.3Search in analogous fields
2.4Search on the internet
3.The subject of the search
3.1Basis for the search
3.2Interpretation of claims
3.2.1Claims with explicit references to the description or drawings
3.2.2Use of the description and/or drawings to identify the technical problem
3.2.3Use of the description and/or drawings to establish definitions of unclear terms not defined in the claims
3.2.4Use of the description and/or drawings to establish definitions of clear terms given a definition different from their usual meaning
3.2.5Ascertaining the existence of a fallback position
3.3Amended claims or missing parts (Rule 56)
3.3.1General considerations
3.3.2Specific rules applicable to Euro-PCT applications
3.4Abandonment of claims
3.5Anticipation of amendments to claims
3.6Broad claims
3.7Independent and dependent claims
3.8Search on dependent claims
3.9Combination of elements in a claim
3.10Different categories
3.11Subject-matter excluded from search
3.12Lack of unity
3.13Technological background
Chapter IV – Search procedure and strategy
1.Procedure prior to searching
1.1Analysis of the application
1.2Formal deficiencies
1.3Documents cited or supplied by the applicant
2.Search strategy
2.1Subject of the search; restrictions
2.2Formulating a search strategy
2.3Carrying out the search; types of documents
2.4Reformulation of the subject of the search
2.5Closest prior art and its effects on the search
2.6End of search
3.Procedure after searching
3.1Preparation of the search report
3.2Documents discovered after completion of the search
3.3Errors in the search report
Chapter V – Preclassification, IPC and CPC classification of European patent applications
1.Definitions
2.Preclassification (for file routing and distribution)
2.1Incorrect preclassification
3.IPC classification of the application
3.1IPC classification of late-published search reports
3.2IPC classification when the scope of the invention is not clear (e.g. a partial search)
3.3IPC classification in cases of a lack of unity of invention
3.4Verification of the IPC classification
4.CPC classification of the application
Chapter VI – The state of the art at the search stage
1.General
2.Oral disclosure, use, exhibition, etc. as state of the art
3.Priority
4.Conflicting applications
4.1Potentially conflicting European and international applications
4.1.1Published European applications as "E" documents
4.1.2Published international applications (WO) as "E" documents
4.2National earlier rights
5.Date of reference for documents cited in the search report; filing and priority date
5.1Verification of claimed priority date(s)
5.2Intermediate documents
5.3Doubts as to the validity of the priority claim; extension of the search
5.4Documents published after the filing date
5.5Non-prejudicial disclosures
5.6Matters of doubt in the state of the art
6.Contents of prior-art disclosures
6.1General remark
6.2Citation of documents corresponding to documents not available or not published in one of the official EPO languages
6.3Conflict between abstract and source document
6.4Insufficient prior-art disclosures
6.5Incorrect compound records in online databases
7.Internet disclosures - technical journals
Chapter VII – Unity of invention
1.General remarks
1.1Partial European search report
1.2Invitation to pay further search fees
1.2.1General
1.2.2Cascading non-unity
1.2.3The applicant has not paid all additional search fees
1.3Documents relevant only to other inventions
1.4Assessment and possible review of the unity requirement
2.Procedures in cases of lack of unity
2.1Request for refund of further search fee(s)
2.2Complete search despite of lack of unity
2.3Supplementary European search
3.Lack of unity and Rule 62a or Rule 63
Chapter VIII – Subject-matter to be excluded from the search
1.General remarks
2.Considerations relating to specific exclusions from and exceptions to patentability
2.1Methods for treatment of the human or animal body by surgery or therapy and diagnostic methods practised on the human or animal body
2.2Subject-matter excluded from patentability under Art. 52(2) and (3)
2.2.1Computer-implemented business methods
3.No meaningful search possible
3.1Invitation to indicate subject-matter for search
3.2Reply to the invitation under Rule 63(1)
3.2.1Failure to reply in time or no reply
3.2.2Reply in time
3.3The content of the extended European search report (EESR)
3.4Applications to which Rule 63 applies which also lack unity
4.More than one independent claim per category (Rule 62a)
4.1Invitation to indicate which independent claim to search
4.2Reply to the invitation under Rule 62a(1)
4.2.1Failure to reply in time
4.2.2Reply filed in time
4.3The content of the extended European search report (EESR)
4.4Cases under Rule 62a where claims fees are not paid
4.5Applications to which Rule 62a applies which also lack unity
4.6Treatment of dependent claims under Rule 62a
5.Invitation under both Rule 62a(1) and Rule 63(1)
6.Claims contravening Art. 123(2) or Art. 76(1)
Chapter IX – Search documentation
1.General
1.1Organisation and composition of the documentation available to the search divisions
1.2Systematic access systems
2.Patent documents arranged for systematic access
2.1PCT minimum documentation
2.2Unpublished patent applications
2.3Search reports
2.4Patent family system
3.Non-patent literature arranged for systematic access
3.1Periodicals, records, reports, books, etc.
4.Non-patent literature arranged for library-type access
4.1Composition
5.Access to EPO documentation for the national patent offices
Chapter X – Search report
1.General
2.Different types of search reports drawn up by the EPO
3.Form and language of the search report
3.1Form
3.2Language
3.3Account of the search
3.4Record of search strategy
4.Identification of the patent application and type of search report
5.Classification of the patent application
6.Areas of technology searched
7.Title, abstract and figure(s) to be published with the abstract (as indicated on supplemental sheet A)
8.Restriction of the subject of the search
9.Documents noted in the search
9.1Identification of documents in the search report
9.1.1Bibliographic elements
9.1.2"Corresponding documents"
9.1.3Languages of the documents cited
9.1.4Supplementary European search report
9.2Categories of documents (X, Y, P, A, D, etc.)
9.2.1Particularly relevant documents
9.2.2Documents defining the state of the art and not prejudicing novelty or inventive step
9.2.3Documents which refer to a non-written disclosure
9.2.4Intermediate documents
9.2.5Documents relating to the theory or principle underlying the invention
9.2.6Potentially conflicting patent documents
9.2.7Documents cited in the application
9.2.8Documents cited for other reasons
9.3Relationship between documents and claims
9.4Identification of relevant passages in prior-art documents
10.Authentication and dates
11.Copies to be attached to the search report
11.1General remarks
11.2Electronic version of document cited
11.3Patent family members; the "&" sign
11.4Reviews or books
11.5Summaries, extracts or abstracts
11.6Citation of video and/or audio media fragments available on the internet
12.Transmittal of the search report and search opinion
Chapter XI – The search opinion
1.Search opinion is part of the EESR
1.1The search opinion
1.2Position of the examining division
2.Basis of the search opinion
2.1Applications containing missing parts of description and/or drawings filed under Rule 56 EPC or Rule 20 PCT
2.2Applications containing claims filed after the accorded date of filing
3.Analysis of the application and content of the search opinion
3.1The search division's dossier
3.2Reasoning
3.2.1Reasoned objections
3.2.2Positive statements
3.3Comments and amendments in response to the search opinion
3.4Extent of first analysis for generally deficient applications
3.5Contribution to the known art
3.6EPC requirements
3.7Search division's approach
3.8Making suggestions
3.9Positive opinion
4.Priority claim and the search opinion
4.1Use of "P" and "E" documents in the search opinion
5.Unity in relation to the search opinion
6.The search opinion in cases of a limitation of the search
7.No search opinion is issued
8.Reaction to the extended European search report (EESR)
9.Art. 124 and the utilisation scheme
 
 
 

Source: http://www.epo.org/law-practice/legal-texts/html/guidelines/e/b.htm

Date retrieved: 17 May 2021

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EPO Guidelines - B Search