T 0337/95 (Lower alkyl) of 30.1.1996

European Case Law Identifier: ECLI:EP:BA:1996:T033795.19960130
Date of decision: 30 January 1996
Case number: T 0337/95
Application number: 90103338.1
IPC class: C07D 231/18
Language of proceedings: EN
Distribution: A
Download and more information:
Decision text in EN (PDF, 609 KB)
Documentation of the appeal procedure can be found in the Register
Bibliographic information is available in: EN
Versions: OJ | Published
Title of application: 3-(Substituted phenyl)pyrazole derivatives, salts thereof, herbicides therefrom, and process for producing said derivatives or salts
Applicant name: NIHON NOHYAKU CO., LTD.
Opponent name: -
Board: 3.3.01
Headnote: 1. Claims have to be clear for the sake of legal certainty (Nos. 2.2 to 2.4). 2. Since, in the absence of any unambiguous reference point, a relative term such as "lower alkyl" in the field of organic chemistry does not have a generally accepted meaning with respect to its maximum number of carbon atoms, such a term is ambiguous and therefore not suitable for clearly defining the subject-matter for which protection is sought in a claim which is directed to a group of organic compounds per se (No. 2.8).
Relevant legal provisions:
European Patent Convention 1973 Art 84
European Patent Convention 1973 R 29(1)
European Patent Convention 1973 R 35(12)
Keywords: Clarity of claims for compounds per se
Meaning of 'lower alkyl' unclear
Catchwords:

-

Cited decisions:
G 0002/88
J 0034/92
T 0860/93
Citing decisions:
T 0825/94
T 0586/97
T 0815/97
T 0872/97
T 1129/97
T 1208/97
T 0437/98
T 0728/98
T 0869/98
T 0250/00
T 0579/00
T 0927/00
T 0056/04
T 0648/04
T 0727/04
T 0799/04
T 0331/05
T 0642/05
T 0286/06
T 1398/08
T 0560/09
T 1730/09
T 2195/09
T 0134/10
T 0220/10
T 1026/10
T 1345/10
T 0270/11
T 1640/11
T 2316/11
T 2350/11
T 0445/12
T 0649/12
T 1041/12
T 0129/13
T 1636/14
T 1908/14
T 0387/15
T 0863/15
T 1388/15

23 references found.

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Offical Journal of the EPO

Case Law Book: II Conditions to be met by an Application

Case Law of the Enlarged Board

General Case Law