All dependent claims referring back to a single previous claim and those referring back to several previous claims must be grouped together to the extent and in the most appropriate way possible. The arrangement must therefore be one which enables the association of related claims to be readily determined and their meaning in association to be readily construed. The division objects if the arrangement of claims is such as to create obscurity in the definition of the subject-matter to be protected. In general, however, when the corresponding independent claim is allowable, the division does not concern itself unduly with the subject-matter of dependent claims, provided it is satisfied that they are truly dependent and thus in no way extend the scope of protection of the invention defined in the corresponding independent claim (see also F‑IV, 3.8).[Rule 43(4); ]
Source: http://www.epo.org/law-practice/legal-texts/html/guidelines/e/f_iv_3_5.htm
Date retrieved: 17 May 2021
5 references found.
Click X to load a reference inside the current page, click on the title to open in a new page.EPC Implementing Rules
EPO Guidelines - F The European Patent Application
XGL F IV 3.8 Independent claims containing a reference to another claim or to features from a claim of another category