Error message

Deprecated function: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in include_once() (line 1442 of includes/bootstrap.inc).
Deprecated function: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in include_once() (line 1442 of includes/bootstrap.inc).
Deprecated function: Optional parameter $type declared before required parameter $nid is implicitly treated as a required parameter in include_once() (line 1442 of includes/bootstrap.inc).

R.63 EPC Incomplete search

(1)

If the European Patent Office considers that the European patent application fails to such an extent to comply with this Convention that it is impossible to carry out a meaningful search regarding the state of the art on the basis of all or some of the subject-matter claimed, it shall invite the applicant to file, within a period of two months, a statement indicating the subject-matter to be searched.

(2)

If the statement under paragraph 1 is not filed in due time, or if it is not sufficient to overcome the deficiency noted under paragraph 1, the European Patent Office shall either issue a reasoned declaration stating that the European patent application fails to such an extent to comply with this Convention that it is impossible to carry out a meaningful search regarding the state of the art on the basis of all or some of the subject-matter claimed or, as far as is practicable, draw up a partial search report. The reasoned declaration or the partial search report shall be considered, for the purposes of subsequent proceedings, as the European search report.

(3)

When a partial search report has been drawn up, the Examining Division shall invite the applicant to restrict the claims to the subject-matter searched unless it finds that the objection under paragraph 1 was not justified.

[ Art. 83 84 92 R. 65 135 137 ]

Amended by decision of the Administrative Council CA/D 3/09 of 25.03.2009 (OJ EPO 2009, 299), which entered into force on 01.04.2010.

Source: http://www.epo.org/law-practice/legal-texts/html/epc/2016/e/r63.html

Date retrieved: 17 May 2021

75 references found.

Click X to load a reference inside the current page, click on the title to open in a new page.

EPC Articles

X A.83 EPC Disclosure of the invention

X A.84 EPC Claims

X A.92 EPC Drawing up of the European search report

EPC Implementing Rules

X Chapter II European search report

X R.65 EPC Transmittal of the European search report

X R.135 EPC Further processing

X R.137 EPC Amendment of the European patent application

X R.164 EPC Unity of invention and further searches

EPO Guidelines - A Formalities Examination

X GL A XI 2.1 Documents open to file inspection

EPO Guidelines - B Search

X GL B I 2 Search division

X GL B II 4.2 Additional European searches

X GL B II 4.3 Supplementary European searches

X GL B III 3.2.1 Claims with explicit references to the description or drawings

X GL B III 3.2.5 Ascertaining the existence of a fallback position

X GL B III 3.6 Broad claims

X GL B III 3.11 Subject-matter excluded from search

X GL B IV 1 Procedure prior to searching

X GL B IV 1.3 Documents cited or supplied by the applicant

X GL B IV 2.1 Subject of the search; restrictions

X GL B VII 3 Lack of unity and Rule 62a or Rule 63

X GL B VIII 1 General remarks

X GL B VIII 2.1 Methods for treatment of the human or animal body by surgery or therapy and diagnostic methods practised on the human or animal body

X GL B VIII 2.2.1 Computer-implemented business methods

X GL B VIII 3 No meaningful search possible

X GL B VIII 3.1 Invitation to indicate subject-matter for search

X GL B VIII 3.2.1 Failure to reply in time or no reply

X GL B VIII 3.2.2 Reply in time

X GL B VIII 3.3 The content of the extended European search report (EESR)

X GL B VIII 3.4 Applications to which Rule 63 applies which also lack unity

X GL B VIII 4.2.1 Failure to reply in time

X GL B VIII 4.2.2 Reply filed in time

X GL B VIII 5 Invitation under both Rule 62a(1) and Rule 63(1)

X GL B VIII 6 Claims contravening Art. 123(2) or Art. 76(1)

X GL B X 1 General

X GL B X 3.1 Form

X GL B X 3.2 Language

X GL B X 8 Restriction of the subject of the search

X GL B XI 2 Basis of the search opinion

X GL B XI 6 The search opinion in cases of a limitation of the search

EPO Guidelines - C Procedureal Aspects of Substantive Examination

X GL C III 2.3 Searches under Rule 164(2)

X GL C III 3.1.3 Invitation to pay additional search fees combined with invitation to restrict the scope of the search

X GL C IV 7.2 Additional searches during examination

EPO Guidelines - E General Procedural Matters

X GL E II 1.1 General remarks

X GL E III 5.1 When can summons to oral proceedings be issued in substantive examination?

X GL E VIII 2 Further processing

X GL E VIII 4.1 Accelerated search

EPO Guidelines - F The European Patent Application

X GL F III 1 Sufficiency of disclosure

X GL F IV 4.1 Clarity

X GL F IV 4.3 Inconsistencies

X GL F IV 5 Conciseness, number of claims

X GL F IV 6.3 Objection of lack of support

EPO Guidelines - G Patentability

X GL G II 2 Examination practice

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

EPO Guidelines - H Amendments and Corrections

X GL H II 2.1 Before receipt of the search report – Rule 137(1)

X GL H II 2.3 After receipt of the first communication – Rule 137(3)

X GL H II 5 Amendments required by a limitation of the search under Rule 62a and/or Rule 63

X GL H II 6 Amendments relating to unsearched matter – Rule 137(5)

X GL H II 6.1 Rule 62a and/or Rule 63 cases

EPO Guide for Applicants, part II Int. - C The EPO as ISA and SISA

Offical Journal of the EPO

X OJ EPO SE 4/2020, p62 - IV. PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE DEPARTMENTS OF FIRST INSTANCE

X OJ EPO 2012, 22 - Notice from the European Patent Office dated 13 December 2011 concerning EPO online services

X OJ EPO 2012, 10 - Decision of the President of the European Patent Office dated 13 December 2011 concerning notification by technical means of communication in selected EPO proceedings

X OJ EPO 2009, 533 - Notice from the European Patent Office dated 15 October 2009 concerning amendments to the Implementing Regulations to the European Patent Convention (EPC)

X OJ EPO 2009, 299 - Decision of the Administrative Council of 25 March 2009 amending the Implementing Regulations to the European Patent Convention (CA/D 3/09)

Case Law Book: IV Divisional Applications

X CLR IV B 4.1.1 Introduction

X CLR IV B 4.1.2 Additional search necessary: limited discretion of the examining division

X CLR IV B 5.1 General issues

Case Law Book: V Priority

X CLR V A 3.3 Patentability requirements under examination in ex parte proceedings

X CLR V A 4.12.9.C Carrying out an additional search

General Case Law

X T 1515/07 (Cost estimate/SAP) of 3.7.2008

X T 1875/07 (Predicting internet traffic/YAHOO) of 5.11.2008

X T 2411/10 (Ortungssystem/AIZO) of 23.11.2012

X T 1653/12 (MAGNETIC SENSOR / Alps Electric) of 7.9.2018

X T 2249/13 (Mobile device/TRADE CAPTURE) of 17.10.2014

X T 0918/14 () of 2.11.2016