GL-PCT A III 9.2.1.1 Full refund

The "full refund" level applies where the EPO can make full use of the earlier search report for drawing up the international search report.[OJ EPO 2019, A5; ]
This occurs, in particular, where the claims of the earlier and the later application are identical or where the claims of the later application are limited with respect to those of the earlier application, this limitation being due to
(a)the deletion of alternative features from an independent claim or 
(b)the introduction of one or more limiting features into one or more of the independent claims of the later application where the limiting feature(s) was/were all contained in a dependent claim referring back to said independent claim(s) in the earlier application. 

Source: http://www.epo.org/law-practice/legal-texts/html/guidelinespct/e/a_iii_9_2_1_1.htm

Date retrieved: 17 May 2021

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EPO PCT GL - A Formalities Examination

Offical Journal of the EPO