GL G Patentability requirements

Contents

Chapter I – Patentability

2.Further requirements of an invention

3.Technical progress, advantageous effect

Chapter II – Inventions

1.General remarks

2.Examination practice

3.List of exclusions

3.2Scientific theories

3.3Mathematical methods

3.3.1Artificial intelligence and machine learning

3.3.2Simulation, design or modelling

3.4Aesthetic creations

3.5Schemes, rules and methods for performing mental acts, playing games or doing business

3.5.1Schemes, rules and methods for performing mental acts

3.5.2Schemes, rules and methods for playing games

3.5.3Schemes, rules and methods for doing business

3.6Programs for computers

3.6.1Examples of further technical effects

3.6.2Information modelling, activity of programming and programming languages

3.6.3Data retrieval, formats and structures

3.6.4Database management systems and information retrieval

3.7Presentations of information

3.7.1User interfaces

4.Exceptions to patentability

4.1Matter contrary to "ordre public" or morality

4.1.1Prohibited matter

4.1.2Offensive and non-offensive use

4.1.3Economic effects

4.2Surgery, therapy and diagnostic methods

4.2.1Limitations of exception under Art. 53(c)

4.2.1.3Diagnostic methods

4.2.2Methods for screening potential medicaments and clinical trials

5.Exclusions and exceptions for biotechnological inventions

5.1General remarks and definitions

5.2Patentable biotechnological inventions

5.3List of exceptions (Rule 28)

5.4Plant and animal varieties or essentially biological processes for the production of plants or animals

5.4.1Plant varieties

5.4.2Essentially biological processes for the production of plants or animals

5.4.2.1Examples

5.5Microbiological processes

5.5.1General remarks

5.5.2Repeatability of results of microbiological processes

5.6.1General remarks

5.6.1.1Definition by structure of the antibody

5.6.1.2Definition by reference to the target antigen

5.6.1.3Definition by target antigen and further functional features

5.6.1.4Definition by functional and structural features

5.6.1.5Definition by production process

5.6.1.6Definition by the epitope

5.6.1.7Definition by hybridoma

5.6.2Inventive step of antibodies

Chapter III – Industrial application

1.General remarks

2.Method of testing

3.Industrial application vs. exclusion under Art. 52(2)

4.Sequences and partial sequences of genes

Chapter IV – State of the art

1.General remarks and definition

2.Enabling disclosure

3.Date of filing or priority date as effective date

4.Documents in a non-official language

4.1Machine translations

5.Conflict with other European applications

5.1State of the art pursuant to Art. 54(3)

5.1.1Requirements

5.1.2Accorded date of filing still subject to review

5.2Euro-PCT applications

5.3Commonly designated states

5.4Double patenting

6.Conflict with national rights of earlier date

7.State of the art made available to the public "by means of a written or oral description, by use, or in any other way"

7.1Types of use and instances of state of the art made available in any other way

7.2Matters to be determined by the division as regards prior use

7.2.1General principles

7.2.2Agreement on secrecy

7.2.3Use on non-public property

7.2.4Example of the accessibility of objects used

7.2.5Example of the inaccessibility of a process

7.3State of the art made available by means of oral description

7.3.1Cases of oral description

7.3.2Non-prejudicial oral description

7.3.3Matters to be determined by the division in cases of oral description

7.3.4Standard of proof

7.4State of the art made available to the public in writing and/or by any other means

7.5Internet disclosures

7.5.1Establishing the publication date

7.5.2Standard of proof

7.5.3Burden of proof

7.5.3.1Technical journals

7.5.3.2Other "print equivalent" publications

7.5.3.3Non-traditional publications

7.5.4Disclosures which have no date or an unreliable date

7.5.5Problematic cases

7.5.6Technical details and general remarks

7.6Standards and standard preparatory documents

8.Cross-references between prior-art documents

9.Errors in prior-art documents

Chapter V – Non-prejudicial disclosures

3.Evident abuse

4.International exhibition

Chapter VI – Novelty

1.State of the art pursuant to Art. 54(2)

2.Implicit features or well-known equivalents

3.Relevant date of a prior-art document

4.Enabling disclosure of a prior-art document

5.Generic disclosure and specific examples

6.Implicit disclosure and parameters

7.Examination of novelty

7.1First or further medical use of known products

7.1.1Products that may be claimed for a further medical use

7.1.2Therapeutic uses pursuant to Art. 54(5)

7.1.3Diagnostic uses pursuant to Art. 54(5)

7.1.4Surgical uses pursuant to Art. 54(5)

7.1.5Dependent claims pursuant to Art. 54(5)

7.2Second non-medical use

8.Selection inventions

8.1Error margins in numerical values

9.Novelty of "reach-through" claims

Chapter VII – Inventive step

2.State of the art; date of filing

3.Person skilled in the art

3.1Common general knowledge of the skilled person

5.Problem-solution approach

5.1Determination of the closest prior art

5.2Formulation of the objective technical problem

5.3Could-would approach

5.4Claims comprising technical and non-technical features

5.4.1Formulation of the objective technical problem for claims comprising technical and non-technical features

5.4.2Examples of applying the steps listed in G‑VII, 5.4

5.4.2.1Example 1

5.4.2.2Example 2

5.4.2.3Example 3

5.4.2.4Example 4

6.Combining pieces of prior art

7.Combination vs. juxtaposition or aggregation

8."Ex post facto" analysis

9.Origin of an invention

10.Secondary indicators

10.1Predictable disadvantage; non-functional modification; arbitrary choice

10.2Unexpected technical effect; bonus effect

10.3Long-felt need; commercial success

11.Arguments and evidence submitted by the applicant

12.Selection inventions

13.Inventive step assessment in the field of biotechnology

14.Dependent claims; claims in different categories

AnnexExamples relating to the requirement of inventive step – indicators

1.Application of known measures?

2.Obvious combination of features?

3.Obvious selection?

4.Overcoming a technical prejudice?

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

Date retrieved: 17 May 2021

164 references found.

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EPO Guidelines Foreword

X GL FOREWORD 2.1 Overview

EPO Guidelines - C Procedureal Aspects of Substantive Examination

X GL C I 3 Overview

X GL C I 4 Purpose of examination

EPO Guidelines - G Patentability

X GL G I – Patentability

X GL G I 2 Further requirements of an invention

X GL G I 3 Technical progress, advantageous effect

X GL G II – Inventions

X GL G II 1 General remarks

X GL G II 2 Examination practice

X GL G II 3 List of exclusions

X GL G II 3.1 Discoveries

X GL G II 3.2 Scientific theories

X GL G II 3.3 Mathematical methods

X GL G II 3.3.1 Artificial intelligence and machine learning

X GL G II 3.3.2 Simulation, design or modelling

X GL G II 3.4 Aesthetic creations

X GL G II 3.5 Schemes, rules and methods for performing mental acts, playing games or doing business

X GL G II 3.5.1 Schemes, rules and methods for performing mental acts

X GL G II 3.5.2 Schemes, rules and methods for playing games

X GL G II 3.5.3 Schemes, rules and methods for doing business

X GL G II 3.6 Programs for computers

X GL G II 3.6.1 Examples of further technical effects

X GL G II 3.6.2 Information modelling, activity of programming and programming languages

X GL G II 3.6.3 Data retrieval, formats and structures

X GL G II 3.6.4 Database management systems and information retrieval

X GL G II 3.7 Presentations of information

X GL G II 3.7.1 User interfaces

X GL G II 4 Exceptions to patentability

X GL G II 4.1 Matter contrary to " ordre public " or morality

X GL G II 4.1.1 Prohibited matter

X GL G II 4.1.2 Offensive and non-offensive use

X GL G II 4.1.3 Economic effects

X GL G II 4.2 Surgery, therapy and diagnostic methods

X GL G II 4.2.1 Limitations of exception under Art. 53(c)

X GL G II 4.2.1.1 Surgery

X GL G II 4.2.1.2 Therapy

X GL G II 4.2.1.3 Diagnostic methods

X GL G II 4.2.2 Methods for screening potential medicaments and clinical trials

X GL G II 5 Exclusions and exceptions for biotechnological inventions

X GL G II 5.1 General remarks and definitions

X GL G II 5.2 Patentable biotechnological inventions

X GL G II 5.3 List of exceptions ( Rule 28 )

X GL G II 5.4 Plant and animal varieties or essentially biological processes for the production of plants or animals

X GL G II 5.4.1 Plant varieties

X GL G II 5.4.2 Essentially biological processes for the production of plants or animals

X GL G II 5.4.2.1 Examples

X GL G II 5.5 Microbiological processes

X GL G II 5.5.1 General remarks

X GL G II 5.5.2 Repeatability of results of microbiological processes

X GL G II 5.6 Antibodies

X GL G II 5.6.1 General remarks

X GL G II 5.6.1.1 Definition by structure of the antibody

X GL G II 5.6.1.2 Definition by reference to the target antigen

X GL G II 5.6.1.3 Definition by target antigen and further functional features

X GL G II 5.6.1.4 Definition by functional and structural features

X GL G II 5.6.1.5 Definition by production process

X GL G II 5.6.1.6 Definition by the epitope

X GL G II 5.6.1.7 Definition by hybridoma

X GL G II 5.6.2 Inventive step of antibodies

X GL G III – Industrial application

X GL G III 1 General remarks

X GL G III 2 Method of testing

X GL G III 3 Industrial application vs. exclusion under Art. 52(2)

X GL G III 4 Sequences and partial sequences of genes

X GL G IV – State of the art

X GL G IV 1 General remarks and definition

X GL G IV 2 Enabling disclosure

X GL G IV 3 Date of filing or priority date as effective date

X GL G IV 4 Documents in a non-official language

X GL G IV 4.1 Machine translations

X GL G IV 5 Conflict with other European applications

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

X GL G IV 5.1.1 Requirements

X GL G IV 5.1.2 Accorded date of filing still subject to review

X GL G IV 5.2 Euro-PCT applications

X GL G IV 5.3 Commonly designated states

X GL G IV 5.4 Double patenting

X GL G IV 6 Conflict with national rights of earlier date

X GL G IV 7 State of the art made available to the public "by means of a written or oral description, by use, or in any other way"

X GL G IV 7.1 Types of use and instances of state of the art made available in any other way

X GL G IV 7.2 Matters to be determined by the division as regards prior use

X GL G IV 7.2.1 General principles

X GL G IV 7.2.2 Agreement on secrecy

X GL G IV 7.2.3 Use on non-public property

X GL G IV 7.2.4 Example of the accessibility of objects used

X GL G IV 7.2.5 Example of the inaccessibility of a process

X GL G IV 7.3 State of the art made available by means of oral description

X GL G IV 7.3.1 Cases of oral description

X GL G IV 7.3.2 Non-prejudicial oral description

X GL G IV 7.3.3 Matters to be determined by the division in cases of oral description

X GL G IV 7.3.4 Standard of proof

X GL G IV 7.4 State of the art made available to the public in writing and/or by any other means

X GL G IV 7.5 Internet disclosures

X GL G IV 7.5.1 Establishing the publication date

X GL G IV 7.5.2 Standard of proof

X GL G IV 7.5.3 Burden of proof

X GL G IV 7.5.3.1 Technical journals

X GL G IV 7.5.3.2 Other "print equivalent" publications

X GL G IV 7.5.3.3 Non-traditional publications

X GL G IV 7.5.4 Disclosures which have no date or an unreliable date

X GL G IV 7.5.5 Problematic cases

X GL G IV 7.5.6 Technical details and general remarks

X GL G IV 7.6 Standards and standard preparatory documents

X GL G IV 8 Cross-references between prior-art documents

X GL G IV 9 Errors in prior-art documents

X GL G V – Non-prejudicial disclosures

X GL G V 1 General

X GL G V 2 Time limit

X GL G V 3 Evident abuse

X GL G V 4 International exhibition

X GL G VI – Novelty

X GL G VI 1 State of the art pursuant to Art. 54(2)

X GL G VI 2 Implicit features or well-known equivalents

X GL G VI 3 Relevant date of a prior-art document

X GL G VI 4 Enabling disclosure of a prior-art document

X GL G VI 5 Generic disclosure and specific examples

X GL G VI 6 Implicit disclosure and parameters

X GL G VI 7 Examination of novelty

X GL G VI 7.1 First or further medical use of known products

X GL G VI 7.1.1 Products that may be claimed for a further medical use

X GL G VI 7.1.2 Therapeutic uses pursuant to Art. 54(5)

X GL G VI 7.1.3 Diagnostic uses pursuant to Art. 54(5)

X GL G VI 7.1.4 Surgical uses pursuant to Art. 54(5)

X GL G VI 7.1.5 Dependent claims pursuant to Art. 54(5)

X GL G VI 7.2 Second non-medical use

X GL G VI 8 Selection inventions

X GL G VI 8.1 Error margins in numerical values

X GL G VI 9 Novelty of "reach-through" claims

X GL G VII – Inventive step

X GL G VII 1 General

X GL G VII 2 State of the art; date of filing

X GL G VII 3 Person skilled in the art

X GL G VII 3.1 Common general knowledge of the skilled person

X GL G VII 4 Obviousness

X GL G VII 5 Problem-solution approach

X GL G VII 5.1 Determination of the closest prior art

X GL G VII 5.2 Formulation of the objective technical problem

X GL G VII 5.3 Could-would approach

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

X GL G VII 5.4.1 Formulation of the objective technical problem for claims comprising technical and non-technical features

X GL G VII 5.4.2 Examples of applying the steps listed in G‑VII, 5.4

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

X GL G VII 5.4.2.4 Example 4

X GL G VII 6 Combining pieces of prior art

X GL G VII 7 Combination vs. juxtaposition or aggregation

X GL G VII 8 " Ex post facto " analysis

X GL G VII 9 Origin of an invention

X GL G VII 10 Secondary indicators

X GL G VII 10.1 Predictable disadvantage; non-functional modification; arbitrary choice

X GL G VII 10.2 Unexpected technical effect; bonus effect

X GL G VII 10.3 Long-felt need; commercial success

X GL G VII 11 Arguments and evidence submitted by the applicant

X GL G VII 12 Selection inventions

X GL G VII 13 Inventive step assessment in the field of biotechnology

X GL G VII 14 Dependent claims; claims in different categories

X GL G VII 15 Examples

X GL G VIIA – Annex Examples relating to the requirement of inventive step – indicators

X GL G VIIA 1 Application of known measures?

X GL G VIIA 2 Obvious combination of features?

X GL G VIIA 3 Obvious selection?

X GL G VIIA 4 Overcoming a technical prejudice?

X GL GL INDEX 2021