GL F II 7.4 Irrelevant or unnecessary matter

The third category is irrelevant or unnecessary matter: such matter is specifically prohibited under Rule 48(1)(c) only if it is "obviously irrelevant or unnecessary", for instance, if it has no bearing on the subject-matter of the invention or its background of relevant prior art (see also F‑II, 4.4). The matter to be removed may already be obviously irrelevant or unnecessary in the original description.

GL F II 7.3 Disparaging statements

It is necessary to discriminate in the second category between libellous or similarly disparaging statements, which are not allowed, and fair comment, e.g. in relation to obvious or generally recognised disadvantages, or disadvantages stated to have been found and substantiated by the applicant, which, if relevant, is permitted.[Rule 48(1)(b); ]

GL F II 7.2 Matter contrary to " ordre public " or morality

The omission, from the publication of the application, is mandatory for the first category. Examples of the kind of matter coming within this category are: incitement to riot or to acts of disorder; incitement to criminal acts; racial, religious or similar discriminatory propaganda; and grossly obscene matter.[Rule 48(1)(a); ]

With regard to patentability issues with such matter, see G‑II, 4.1 and subsections.

GL F II 7.1 Categories

There are three categories of specifically prohibited matter, these being defined in sub-paragraphs (a) to (c) of Rule 48(1) (see also G‑II, 4).[Rule 48; ]

GL F II 7 Prohibited matter

7.1 Categories

7.2 Matter contrary to "ordre public" or morality

7.3 Disparaging statements

7.4 Irrelevant or unnecessary matter

7.5 Omission of matter from publication

GL F II 6.1 Reference to sequences disclosed in a database

The application may refer to a biological sequence belonging to the state of the art by merely providing the sequence's accession number and its version or release number in a publicly available database, without presenting the sequence itself either in a sequence listing complying with WIPO Standard ST.25 or in any other format.

Since in this case the sequence is already publicly available, the applicant does not need to supply a sequence listing.

GL F II 6 Sequence listings

For the presentation of sequence listings in general, see A‑IV, 5.

6.1 Reference to sequences disclosed in a database

GL F II 5.3 Photographs

For the presentation of photographs, see A‑IX, 1.2. In the case of photographs of insufficient original quality for printing, the examining division does not request filing of better photographs, as the risk of infringing Art. 123(2) is obvious. In that case, the insufficient quality is accepted for reproduction.

GL F II 5.2 Printing quality

The examining division has also to check whether the drawings in the printing copy ("Druckexemplar") are suitable for printing. If necessary, a copy of the original drawings must be prepared as the printing copy. If, however, the quality of the original drawings is also insufficient, then the examining division must request the applicant to present drawings of sufficient quality for printing. It needs to, however, beware of any extension of subject-matter (Art. 123(2)).

GL F II 5.1 Form and content

The requirements relating to the form and content of drawings are set down in Rule 46. Most of these are formal (see A‑IX), but the examining division may sometimes need to consider the requirements of Rule 46(2)(f), (h), (i) and (j).