T 0643/00 (Searching image data/CANON) of 16.10.2003

European Case Law Identifier: ECLI:EP:BA:2003:T064300.20031016
Date of decision: 16 October 2003
Case number: T 0643/00
Application number: 93300749.4
IPC class: G06F 15/64
Language of proceedings: EN
Distribution: C
Download and more information:
Decision text in EN (PDF, 40 KB)
Documentation of the appeal procedure can be found in the Register
Bibliographic information is available in: EN
Versions: Unpublished
Title of application: Image processing apparatus and method therefor
Applicant name: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Opponent name: -
Board: 3.5.01
Headnote: -
Relevant legal provisions:
European Patent Convention 1973 Art 52
European Patent Convention 1973 Art 54
European Patent Convention 1973 Art 56
European Patent Convention 1973 Art 84
European Patent Convention 1973 Art 123(2)
European Patent Convention 1973 R 86(4)
Keywords: Patentable invention (yes)
Novelty (yes)
Inventive step (yes)
Catchwords:

An arrangement of menu items (or images) on a screen may be determined by technical considerations. Such considerations may aim at enabling the user to manage a technical task, such as searching and retrieving images stored in an image processing apparatus, in a more efficient or faster manner, even if an evaluation by the user on a mental level is involved. Although such evaluation per se does not fall within the meaning of "invention" pursuant to Article 52 EPC, the mere fact that mental activities are involved does not necessarily qualify subject matter as non-technical since any technical solutions in the end aim at providing tools which serve, assist or replace human activities of different kinds, including mental ones.

Cited decisions:
T 1177/97
T 1194/97
T 0049/99
T 0244/00
T 0641/00
Citing decisions:
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T 0125/04
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T 0756/06
T 1143/06
T 0509/07
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T 0823/07
T 1741/08
T 1214/09
T 0862/10
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T 2434/10
T 0551/11
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T 1793/12
T 1750/13
T 1930/13
T 1958/13
T 0336/14
T 0581/14
T 0973/15
T 1868/15
T 2276/15
T 1442/16
T 2379/16
T 1091/17
T 1849/17

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