9. Documents noted in the search
9.4 Identification of relevant passages in prior-art documents
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A revised version of this publication entered into force. |
In the case of long documents, the search division indicates those parts (such as a claim, example, figure, table, or text passage on a particular page, or a certain time or a time segment in a video and/or audio media fragment) of a cited document which contain the technical subject-matter closest to (or coinciding with) the searched invention. This is of particular importance where the document is relied upon for objections of novelty or inventive step.
Where it relies on a translation of a prior-art document, the search division indicates the relevant passages in the original document, whenever possible.
Furthermore, it makes sense to cite not only those parts of the document describing the same or similar technical subject-matter, but also those parts or passages relating to the problem solved by that subject-matter. This approach facilitates the assessment of inventive step in examination and also gives the applicant a greater indication of how the document may be used during prosecution.