Section F‑IV, 4.10, in the Guidelines for Examination in the EPO applies mutatis mutandis.[GL/ISPE 5.35; ]

It should be noted that the requirements for allowing a definition of subject-matter in terms of a result to be achieved differ from those for allowing a definition of subject-matter in terms of functional features (see GL/PCT‑EPO F‑IV, 4.22 and GL/PCT-EPO F-IV, 6.5).

Moreover, claims pertaining to a result to be achieved may likewise pose problems in the sense that essential features are missing (see GL/PCT‑EPO F‑IV, 4.5).