The EPO has not been vested with the task of taking into account the economic effects of the grant of patents in specific areas of technology and of restricting the field of patentable subject-matter accordingly (see G 1/98 Reasons 3.9, and T 1213/05). The standard to apply for an exception under Art. 53(a) is whether the commercial exploitation of the invention is contrary to "ordre public" or morality.
Source: http://www.epo.org/law-practice/legal-texts/html/guidelines/e/g_ii_4_1_3.htm
Date retrieved: 17 May 2021