3. Kinds of claim
A revised version of this publication entered into force. |
A claim, whether independent or dependent, may refer to alternatives, provided that the number and presentation of alternatives in a single claim does not make the claim obscure or difficult to construe and provided that the claim meets the requirements of unity (see also F‑V, 3.2.1 and F‑V, 3.2). In the case of a claim defining (chemical or non-chemical) alternatives, i.e. a so-called "Markush grouping", unity of invention is considered to be present if the alternatives are of a similar nature and can fairly be substituted for one another (see F‑V, 3.2.5).