Skip to main content Skip to footer
HomeHome
 
  • Homepage
  • Searching for patents

    Patent knowledge

    Access our patent databases and search tools.

    Go to overview 

    • Overview
    • Technical information
      • Overview
      • Espacenet - patent search
      • European Publication Server
      • EP full-text search
    • Legal information
      • Overview
      • European Patent Register
      • European Patent Bulletin
      • European Case Law Identifier sitemap
      • Third-party observations
    • Business information
      • Overview
      • PATSTAT
      • IPscore
      • Technology insight reports
    • Data
      • Overview
      • Technology Intelligence Platform
      • Linked open EP data
      • Bulk data sets
      • Web services
      • Coverage, codes and statistics
    • Technology platforms
      • Overview
      • Plastics in transition
      • Water innovation
      • Space innovation
      • Technologies combatting cancer
      • Firefighting technologies
      • Clean energy technologies
      • Fighting coronavirus
    • Helpful resources
      • Overview
      • First time here?
      • Asian patent information
      • Patent information centres
      • Patent Translate
      • Patent Knowledge News
      • Business and statistics
      • Unitary Patent information in patent knowledge
    Image
    Plastics in Transition

    Technology insight report on plastic waste management

  • Applying for a patent

    Applying for a patent

    Practical information on filing and grant procedures.

    Go to overview 

    • Overview
    • European route
      • Overview
      • European Patent Guide
      • Oppositions
      • Oral proceedings
      • Appeals
      • Unitary Patent & Unified Patent Court
      • National validation
      • Request for extension/validation
    • International route (PCT)
      • Overview
      • Euro-PCT Guide – PCT procedure at the EPO
      • EPO decisions and notices
      • PCT provisions and resources
      • Extension/validation request
      • Reinforced partnership programme
      • Accelerating your PCT application
      • Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH)
      • Training and events
    • National route
    • Find a professional representative
    • MyEPO services
      • Overview
      • Understand our services
      • Get access
      • File with us
      • Interact with us on your files
      • Online Filing & fee payment outages
    • Forms
      • Overview
      • Request for examination
    • Fees
      • Overview
      • European fees (EPC)
      • International fees (PCT)
      • Unitary Patent fees (UP)
      • Fee payment and refunds
      • Warning

    UP

    Find out how the Unitary Patent can enhance your IP strategy

  • Law & practice

    Law & practice

    European patent law, the Official Journal and other legal texts.

    Go to overview 

    • Overview
    • Legal texts
      • Overview
      • European Patent Convention
      • Official Journal
      • Guidelines
      • Extension / validation system
      • London Agreement
      • National law relating to the EPC
      • Unitary patent system
      • National measures relating to the Unitary Patent
    • Court practices
      • Overview
      • European Patent Judges' Symposium
    • User consultations
      • Overview
      • Ongoing consultations
      • Completed consultations
    • Substantive patent law harmonisation
      • Overview
      • The Tegernsee process
      • Group B+
    • Convergence of practice
    • Options for professional representatives
    Image
    Law and practice scales 720x237

    Keep up with key aspects of selected BoA decisions with our monthly "Abstracts of decisions”

  • News & events

    News & events

    Our latest news, podcasts and events, including the European Inventor Award.

    Go to overview 

     

    • Overview
    • News
    • Events
    • European Inventor Award
      • Overview
      • The meaning of tomorrow
      • About the award
      • Categories and prizes
      • Meet the finalists
      • Nominations
      • European Inventor Network
      • The 2024 event
    • Young Inventor Prize
      • Overview
      • About the prize
      • Nominations
      • The jury
      • The world, reimagined
    • Press centre
      • Overview
      • Patent Index and statistics
      • Search in press centre
      • Background information
      • Copyright
      • Press contacts
      • Call back form
      • Email alert service
    • Innovation and patenting in focus
      • Overview
      • Water-related technologies
      • CodeFest
      • Green tech in focus
      • Research institutes
      • Women inventors
      • Lifestyle
      • Space and satellites
      • The future of medicine
      • Materials science
      • Mobile communications
      • Biotechnology
      • Patent classification
      • Digital technologies
      • The future of manufacturing
      • Books by EPO experts
    • "Talk innovation" podcast

    Podcast

    From ideas to inventions: tune into our podcast for the latest in tech and IP

  • Learning

    Learning

    The European Patent Academy – the point of access to your learning

    Go to overview 

    • Overview
    • Learning activities and paths
      • Overview
      • Learning activities
      • Learning paths
    • EQE and EPAC
      • Overview
      • EQE - European qualifying examination
      • EPAC - European patent administration certification
      • CSP – Candidate Support Programme
    • Learning resources by area of interest
      • Overview
      • Patent granting
      • Technology transfer and dissemination
      • Patent enforcement and litigation
    • Learning resources by profile
      • Overview
      • Business and IP managers
      • EQE and EPAC Candidates
      • Judges, lawyers and prosecutors
      • National offices and IP authorities
      • Patent attorneys and paralegals
      • Universities, research centres and technology transfer centres (TTOs)
    Image
    Patent Academy catalogue

    Have a look at the extensive range of learning opportunities in the European Patent Academy training catalogue

  • About us

    About us

    Find out more about our work, values, history and vision

    Go to overview 

    • Overview
    • The EPO at a glance
    • 50 years of the EPC
      • Overview
      • Official celebrations
      • Member states’ video statements
      • 50 Leading Tech Voices
      • Athens Marathon
      • Kids’ collaborative art competition
    • Legal foundations and member states
      • Overview
      • Legal foundations
      • Member states of the European Patent Organisation
      • Extension states
      • Validation states
    • Administrative Council and subsidiary bodies
      • Overview
      • Communiqués
      • Calendar
      • Documents and publications
      • Administrative Council
    • Principles & strategy
      • Overview
      • Our mission, vision, values and corporate policy
      • Strategic Plan 2028
      • Towards a New Normal
    • Leadership & management
      • Overview
      • President António Campinos
      • Management Advisory Committee
    • Sustainability at the EPO
      • Overview
      • Environmental
      • Social
      • Governance and Financial sustainability
    • Services & activities
      • Overview
      • Our services & structure
      • Quality
      • Consulting our users
      • European and international co-operation
      • European Patent Academy
      • Chief Economist
      • Ombuds Office
      • Reporting wrongdoing
    • Observatory on Patents and Technology
      • Overview
      • Innovation actors
      • Policy and funding
      • Tools
      • About the Observatory
    • Procurement
      • Overview
      • Procurement forecast
      • Doing business with the EPO
      • Procurement procedures
      • Sustainable Procurement Policy
      • About eTendering and electronic signatures
      • Procurement portal
      • Invoicing
      • General conditions
      • Archived tenders
    • Transparency portal
      • Overview
      • General
      • Human
      • Environmental
      • Organisational
      • Social and relational
      • Economic
      • Governance
    • Statistics and trends
      • Overview
      • Statistics & Trends Centre
      • Patent Index 2024
      • EPO Data Hub
      • Clarification on data sources
    • History
      • Overview
      • 1970s
      • 1980s
      • 1990s
      • 2000s
      • 2010s
      • 2020s
    • Art collection
      • Overview
      • The collection
      • Let's talk about art
      • Artists
      • Media library
      • What's on
      • Publications
      • Contact
      • Culture Space A&T 5-10
      • "Long Night"
    Image
    Patent Index 2024 keyvisual showing brightly lit up data chip, tinted in purple, bright blue

    Track the latest tech trends with our Patent Index

 
Website
cancel
en de fr
  • Language selection
  • English
  • Deutsch
  • Français
Main navigation
  • Homepage
    • Go back
    • New to patents
  • New to patents
    • Go back
    • Your business and patents
    • Why do we have patents?
    • What's your big idea?
    • Are you ready?
    • What to expect
    • How to apply for a patent
    • Is it patentable?
    • Are you first?
    • Patent quiz
    • Unitary patent video
  • Searching for patents
    • Go back
    • Overview
    • Technical information
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Espacenet - patent search
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • National patent office databases
        • Global Patent Index (GPI)
        • Release notes
      • European Publication Server
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Release notes
        • Cross-reference index for Euro-PCT applications
        • EP authority file
        • Help
      • EP full-text search
    • Legal information
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • European Patent Register
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Release notes archive
        • Register documentation
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Deep link data coverage
          • Federated Register
          • Register events
      • European Patent Bulletin
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Download Bulletin
        • EP Bulletin search
        • Help
      • European Case Law Identifier sitemap
      • Third-party observations
    • Business information
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • PATSTAT
      • IPscore
        • Go back
        • Release notes
      • Technology insight reports
    • Data
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Technology Intelligence Platform
      • Linked open EP data
      • Bulk data sets
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Manuals
        • Sequence listings
        • National full-text data
        • European Patent Register data
        • EPO worldwide bibliographic data (DOCDB)
        • EP full-text data
        • EPO worldwide legal event data (INPADOC)
        • EP bibliographic data (EBD)
        • Boards of Appeal decisions
      • Web services
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Open Patent Services (OPS)
        • European Publication Server web service
      • Coverage, codes and statistics
        • Go back
        • Weekly updates
        • Updated regularly
    • Technology platforms
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Plastics in transition
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Plastics waste recovery
        • Plastics waste recycling
        • Alternative plastics
      • Innovation in water technologies
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Clean water
        • Protection from water
      • Space innovation
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Cosmonautics
        • Space observation
      • Technologies combatting cancer
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Prevention and early detection
        • Diagnostics
        • Therapies
        • Wellbeing and aftercare
      • Firefighting technologies
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Detection and prevention of fires
        • Fire extinguishing
        • Protective equipment
        • Post-fire restoration
      • Clean energy technologies
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Renewable energy
        • Carbon-intensive industries
        • Energy storage and other enabling technologies
      • Fighting coronavirus
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Vaccines and therapeutics
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Vaccines
          • Overview of candidate therapies for COVID-19
          • Candidate antiviral and symptomatic therapeutics
          • Nucleic acids and antibodies to fight coronavirus
        • Diagnostics and analytics
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Protein and nucleic acid assays
          • Analytical protocols
        • Informatics
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Bioinformatics
          • Healthcare informatics
        • Technologies for the new normal
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Devices, materials and equipment
          • Procedures, actions and activities
          • Digital technologies
        • Inventors against coronavirus
    • Helpful resources
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • First time here?
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Basic definitions
        • Patent classification
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC)
        • Patent families
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • DOCDB simple patent family
          • INPADOC extended patent family
        • Legal event data
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • INPADOC classification scheme
      • Asian patent information
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • China (CN)
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Facts and figures
          • Grant procedure
          • Numbering system
          • Useful terms
          • Searching in databases
        • Chinese Taipei (TW)
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Grant procedure
          • Numbering system
          • Useful terms
          • Searching in databases
        • India (IN)
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Facts and figures
          • Grant procedure
          • Numbering system
        • Japan (JP)
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Facts and figures
          • Grant procedure
          • Numbering system
          • Useful terms
          • Searching in databases
        • Korea (KR)
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Facts and figures
          • Grant procedure
          • Numbering system
          • Useful terms
          • Searching in databases
        • Russian Federation (RU)
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Facts and figures
          • Numbering system
          • Searching in databases
        • Useful links
      • Patent information centres (PATLIB)
      • Patent Translate
      • Patent Knowledge News
      • Business and statistics
      • Unitary Patent information in patent knowledge
  • Applying for a patent
    • Go back
    • Overview
    • European route
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • European Patent Guide
      • Oppositions
      • Oral proceedings
        • Go back
        • Oral proceedings calendar
          • Go back
          • Calendar
          • Public access to appeal proceedings
          • Public access to opposition proceedings
          • Technical guidelines
      • Appeals
      • Unitary Patent & Unified Patent Court
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Unitary Patent
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Legal framework
          • Main features
          • Applying for a Unitary Patent
          • Cost of a Unitary Patent
          • Translation and compensation
          • Start date
          • Introductory brochures
        • Unified Patent Court
      • National validation
      • Extension/validation request
    • International route
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Euro-PCT Guide
      • Entry into the European phase
      • Decisions and notices
      • PCT provisions and resources
      • Extension/validation request
      • Reinforced partnership programme
      • Accelerating your PCT application
      • Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH)
        • Go back
        • Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) programme outline
      • Training and events
    • National route
    • MyEPO services
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Understand our services
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Exchange data with us using an API
          • Go back
          • Release notes
      • Get access
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Release notes
      • File with us
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • What if our online filing services are down?
        • Release notes
      • Interact with us on your files
        • Go back
        • Release notes
      • Online Filing & fee payment outages
    • Fees
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • European fees (EPC)
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Decisions and notices
      • International fees (PCT)
        • Go back
        • Reduction in fees
        • Fees for international applications
        • Decisions and notices
        • Overview
      • Unitary Patent fees (UP)
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Decisions and notices
      • Fee payment and refunds
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Payment methods
        • Getting started
        • FAQs and other documentation
        • Technical information for batch payments
        • Decisions and notices
        • Release notes
      • Warning
    • Forms
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Request for examination
    • Find a professional representative
  • Law & practice
    • Go back
    • Overview
    • Legal texts
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • European Patent Convention
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Archive
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Documentation on the EPC revision 2000
            • Go back
            • Overview
            • Diplomatic Conference for the revision of the EPC
            • Travaux préparatoires
            • New text
            • Transitional provisions
            • Implementing regulations to the EPC 2000
            • Rules relating to Fees
            • Ratifications and accessions
          • Travaux Préparatoires EPC 1973
      • Official Journal
      • Guidelines
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • EPC Guidelines
        • PCT-EPO Guidelines
        • Unitary Patent Guidelines
        • Guidelines revision cycle
        • Consultation results
        • Summary of user responses
        • Archive
      • Extension / validation system
      • London Agreement
      • National law relating to the EPC
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Archive
      • Unitary Patent system
        • Go back
        • Travaux préparatoires to UP and UPC
      • National measures relating to the Unitary Patent 
    • Court practices
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • European Patent Judges' Symposium
    • User consultations
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Ongoing consultations
      • Completed consultations
    • Substantive patent law harmonisation
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • The Tegernsee process
      • Group B+
    • Convergence of practice
    • Options for professional representatives
  • News & events
    • Go back
    • Overview
    • News
    • Events
    • European Inventor Award
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • The meaning of tomorrow
      • About the award
      • Categories and prizes
      • Meet the inventors
      • Nominations
      • European Inventor Network
        • Go back
        • 2024 activities
        • 2025 activities
        • Rules and criteria
        • FAQ
      • The 2024 event
    • Young Inventors Prize
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • About the prize
      • Nominations
      • The jury
      • The world, reimagined
      • The 2025 event
    • Press centre
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Patent Index and statistics
      • Search in press centre
      • Background information
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • European Patent Office
        • Q&A on patents related to coronavirus
        • Q&A on plant patents
      • Copyright
      • Press contacts
      • Call back form
      • Email alert service
    • In focus
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Water-related technologies
      • CodeFest
        • Go back
        • CodeFest Spring 2025 on classifying patent data for sustainable development
        • Overview
        • CodeFest 2024 on generative AI
        • CodeFest 2023 on Green Plastics
      • Green tech in focus
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • About green tech
        • Renewable energies
        • Energy transition technologies
        • Building a greener future
      • Research institutes
      • Women inventors
      • Lifestyle
      • Space and satellites
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Patents and space technologies
      • Healthcare
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Medical technologies and cancer
        • Personalised medicine
      • Materials science
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Nanotechnology
      • Mobile communications
      • Biotechnology
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Red, white or green
        • The role of the EPO
        • What is patentable?
        • Biotech inventors
      • Classification
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Nanotechnology
        • Climate change mitigation technologies
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • External partners
          • Updates on Y02 and Y04S
      • Digital technologies
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • About ICT
        • Hardware and software
        • Artificial intelligence
        • Fourth Industrial Revolution
      • Additive manufacturing
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • About AM
        • AM innovation
      • Books by EPO experts
    • Podcast
  • Learning
    • Go back
    • Overview
    • Learning activities and paths
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Learning activities: types and formats
      • Learning paths
    • EQE and EPAC
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • EQE - European Qualifying Examination
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Compendium
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Paper F
          • Paper A
          • Paper B
          • Paper C
          • Paper D
          • Pre-examination
        • Candidates successful in the European qualifying examination
        • Archive
      • EPAC - European patent administration certification
      • CSP – Candidate Support Programme
    • Learning resources by area of interest
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Patent granting
      • Technology transfer and dissemination
      • Patent enforcement and litigation
    • Learning resources by profile
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Business and IP managers
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Innovation case studies
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • SME case studies
          • Technology transfer case studies
          • High-growth technology case studies
        • Inventor's handbook
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Introduction
          • Disclosure and confidentiality
          • Novelty and prior art
          • Competition and market potential
          • Assessing the risk ahead
          • Proving the invention
          • Protecting your idea
          • Building a team and seeking funding
          • Business planning
          • Finding and approaching companies
          • Dealing with companies
        • Best of search matters
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Tools and databases
          • EPO procedures and initiatives
          • Search strategies
          • Challenges and specific topics
        • Support for high-growth technology businesses
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Business decision-makers
          • IP professionals
          • Stakeholders of the Innovation Ecosystem
      • EQE and EPAC Candidates
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Paper F brain-teasers
        • Daily D questions
        • European qualifying examination - Guide for preparation
        • EPAC
      • Judges, lawyers and prosecutors
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Compulsory licensing in Europe
        • The jurisdiction of European courts in patent disputes
      • National offices and IP authorities
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Learning material for examiners of national officers
        • Learning material for formalities officers and paralegals
      • Patent attorneys and paralegals
      • Universities, research centres and TTOs
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Modular IP Education Framework (MIPEF)
        • Pan-European Seal Young Professionals Programme
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • For students
          • For universities
            • Go back
            • Overview
            • IP education resources
            • University memberships
          • Our young professionals
          • Professional development plan
        • Academic Research Programme
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Completed research projects
          • Current research projects
        • IP Teaching Kit
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Download modules
        • Intellectual property course design manual
        • PATLIB Knowledge Transfer to Africa
          • Go back
          • The PATLIB Knowledge Transfer to Africa initiative (KT2A)
          • KT2A core activities
          • Success story: Malawi University of Science and Technology and PATLIB Birmingham
  • About us
    • Go back
    • Overview
    • The EPO at a glance
    • 50 years of the EPC
      • Go back
      • Official celebrations
      • Overview
      • Member states’ video statements
        • Go back
        • Albania
        • Austria
        • Belgium
        • Bulgaria
        • Croatia
        • Cyprus
        • Czech Republic
        • Denmark
        • Estonia
        • Finland
        • France
        • Germany
        • Greece
        • Hungary
        • Iceland
        • Ireland
        • Italy
        • Latvia
        • Liechtenstein
        • Lithuania
        • Luxembourg
        • Malta
        • Monaco
        • Montenegro
        • Netherlands
        • North Macedonia
        • Norway
        • Poland
        • Portugal
        • Romania
        • San Marino
        • Serbia
        • Slovakia
        • Slovenia
        • Spain
        • Sweden
        • Switzerland
        • Türkiye
        • United Kingdom
      • 50 Leading Tech Voices
      • Athens Marathon
      • Kids’ collaborative art competition
    • Legal foundations and member states
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Legal foundations
      • Member states
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Member states by date of accession
      • Extension states
      • Validation states
    • Administrative Council and subsidiary bodies
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Communiqués
        • Go back
        • 2024
        • Overview
        • 2023
        • 2022
        • 2021
        • 2020
        • 2019
        • 2018
        • 2017
        • 2016
        • 2015
        • 2014
        • 2013
      • Calendar
      • Documents and publications
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Select Committee documents
      • Administrative Council
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Composition
        • Representatives
        • Rules of Procedure
        • Board of Auditors
        • Secretariat
        • Council bodies
    • Principles & strategy
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Mission, vision, values & corporate policy
      • Strategic Plan 2028
        • Go back
        • Driver 1: People
        • Driver 2: Technologies
        • Driver 3: High-quality, timely products and services
        • Driver 4: Partnerships
        • Driver 5: Financial sustainability
      • Towards a New Normal
      • Data protection & privacy notice
    • Leadership & management
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • About the President
      • Management Advisory Committee
    • Sustainability at the EPO
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Environmental
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Inspiring environmental inventions
      • Social
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Inspiring social inventions
      • Governance and Financial sustainability
    • Procurement
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Procurement forecast
      • Doing business with the EPO
      • Procurement procedures
      • Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) publications
      • Sustainable Procurement Policy
      • About eTendering
      • Invoicing
      • Procurement portal
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • e-Signing contracts
      • General conditions
      • Archived tenders
    • Services & activities
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Our services & structure
      • Quality
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Foundations
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • European Patent Convention
          • Guidelines for examination
          • Our staff
        • Enabling quality
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Prior art
          • Classification
          • Tools
          • Processes
        • Products & services
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Search
          • Examination
          • Opposition
          • Continuous improvement
        • Quality through networking
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • User engagement
          • Co-operation
          • User satisfaction survey
          • Stakeholder Quality Assurance Panels
        • Patent Quality Charter
        • Quality Action Plan
        • Quality dashboard
        • Statistics
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Search
          • Examination
          • Opposition
        • Integrated management at the EPO
      • Consulting our users
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Standing Advisory Committee before the EPO (SACEPO)
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Objectives
          • SACEPO and its working parties
          • Meetings
          • Single Access Portal – SACEPO Area
        • Surveys
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Detailed methodology
          • Search services
          • Examination services, final actions and publication
          • Opposition services
          • Formalities services
          • Customer services
          • Filing services
          • Key Account Management (KAM)
          • Website
          • Archive
      • Our user service charter
      • European and international co-operation
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Co-operation with member states
          • Go back
          • Overview
        • Bilateral co-operation with non-member states
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Validation system
          • Reinforced Partnership programme
        • Multilateral international co-operation with IP offices and organisations
        • Co-operation with international organisations outside the IP system
      • European Patent Academy
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Partners
      • Chief Economist
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Economic studies
      • Ombuds Office
      • Reporting wrongdoing
    • Observatory on Patents and Technology
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Innovation against cancer
      • Innovation actors
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Startups and SMEs
      • Policy and funding
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Financing innovation programme
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Our studies on the financing of innovation
          • EPO initiatives for patent applicants
          • Financial support for innovators in Europe
        • Patents and standards
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Publications
          • Patent standards explorer
      • Tools
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Deep Tech Finder
      • About the Observatory
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Work plan
    • Transparency portal
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • General
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Annual Review 2023
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Foreword
          • Executive summary
          • 50 years of the EPC
          • Strategic key performance indicators
          • Goal 1: Engaged and empowered
          • Goal 2: Digital transformation
          • Goal 3: Master quality
          • Goal 4: Partner for positive impact
          • Goal 5: Secure sustainability
        • Annual Review 2022
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Foreword
          • Executive summary
          • Goal 1: Engaged and empowered
          • Goal 2: Digital transformation
          • Goal 3: Master quality
          • Goal 4: Partner for positive impact
          • Goal 5: Secure sustainability
      • Human
      • Environmental
      • Organisational
      • Social and relational
      • Economic
      • Governance
    • Statistics and trends
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Statistics & Trends Centre
      • Patent Index 2024
        • Go back
        • Insight into computer technology and AI
        • Insight into clean energy technologies
        • Statistics and indicators
          • Go back
          • European patent applications
            • Go back
            • Key trend
            • Origin
            • Top 10 technical fields
              • Go back
              • Computer technology
              • Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy
              • Digital communication
              • Medical technology
              • Transport
              • Measurement
              • Biotechnology
              • Pharmaceuticals
              • Other special machines
              • Organic fine chemistry
            • All technical fields
          • Applicants
            • Go back
            • Top 50
            • Categories
            • Women inventors
          • Granted patents
            • Go back
            • Key trend
            • Origin
            • Designations
      • Data to download
      • EPO Data Hub
      • Clarification on data sources
    • History
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • 1970s
      • 1980s
      • 1990s
      • 2000s
      • 2010s
      • 2020s
    • Art collection
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • The collection
      • Let's talk about art
      • Artists
      • Media library
      • What's on
      • Publications
      • Contact
      • Culture Space A&T 5-10
        • Go back
        • Catalyst lab & Deep vision
          • Go back
          • Irene Sauter (DE)
          • AVPD (DK)
          • Jan Robert Leegte (NL)
          • Jānis Dzirnieks (LV) #1
          • Jānis Dzirnieks (LV) #2
          • Péter Szalay (HU)
          • Thomas Feuerstein (AT)
          • Tom Burr (US)
          • Wolfgang Tillmans (DE)
          • TerraPort
          • Unfinished Sculpture - Captives #1
          • Deep vision – immersive exhibition
          • Previous exhibitions
        • The European Patent Journey
        • Sustaining life. Art in the climate emergency
        • Next generation statements
        • Open storage
        • Cosmic bar
      • "Long Night"
  • Boards of Appeal
    • Go back
    • Overview
    • Decisions of the Boards of Appeal
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Recent decisions
      • Selected decisions
    • Information from the Boards of Appeal
    • Procedure
    • Oral proceedings
    • About the Boards of Appeal
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • President of the Boards of Appeal
      • Enlarged Board of Appeal
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Pending referrals (Art. 112 EPC)
        • Decisions sorted by number (Art. 112 EPC)
        • Pending petitions for review (Art. 112a EPC)
        • Decisions on petitions for review (Art. 112a EPC)
      • Technical Boards of Appeal
      • Legal Board of Appeal
      • Disciplinary Board of Appeal
      • Presidium
        • Go back
        • Overview
    • Code of Conduct
    • Business distribution scheme
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Technical boards of appeal by IPC in 2025
      • Archive
    • Annual list of cases
    • Communications
    • Annual reports
      • Go back
      • Overview
    • Publications
      • Go back
      • Abstracts of decisions
    • Case Law of the Boards of Appeal
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Archive
  • Service & support
    • Go back
    • Overview
    • Website updates
    • Availability of online services
      • Go back
      • Overview
    • FAQ
      • Go back
      • Overview
    • Publications
    • Ordering
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Patent Knowledge Products and Services
      • Terms and conditions
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Patent information products
        • Bulk data sets
        • Open Patent Services (OPS)
        • Fair use charter
    • Procedural communications
    • Useful links
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Patent offices of member states
      • Other patent offices
      • Directories of patent attorneys
      • Patent databases, registers and gazettes
      • Disclaimer
    • Contact us
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Filing options
      • Locations
    • Subscription centre
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Subscribe
      • Change preferences
      • Unsubscribe
    • Official holidays
    • Glossary
    • RSS feeds
Board of Appeals
Decisions

Recent decisions

Overview
  • 2025 decisions
  • 2024 decisions
  • 2023 decisions
  1. Home
  2. T 1863/06 24-06-2008
Facebook X Linkedin Email

T 1863/06 24-06-2008

European Case Law Identifier
ECLI:EP:BA:2008:T186306.20080624
Date of decision
24 June 2008
Case number
T 1863/06
Petition for review of
-
Application number
00901499.4
IPC class
C08L 101/00
Language of proceedings
EN
Distribution
NO DISTRIBUTION (D)

Download and more information:

Decision in EN 40.85 KB
Documentation of the appeal procedure can be found in the European Patent Register
Bibliographic information is available in:
EN
Versions
Unpublished
Application title

Synthetic polymers comprising additive blends with enhanced effect

Applicant name
Ciba Holding Inc.
Opponent name
BASF SE
Board
3.3.03
Headnote
-
Relevant legal provisions
European Patent Convention Art 123(2)
Keywords
Amendments - added subject-matter (yes) - (all requests)
Catchword
-
Cited decisions
-
Citing decisions
T 0313/09

I. The mention of the grant of European patent No. 1 149 133, in respect of European patent application No. 00901499.4, based on International application PCT/EP2000/000010, in the name of Ciba Specialty Chemicals Holding Inc. (now Ciba Holding Inc.), filed on 4 January 2000 and claiming priorities from EP 99810011 (11 January 1999) and CH 135699 (23 July 1999), was published on 17 March 2004 (Bulletin 2004/12). The granted patent contained 19 claims, whereby Claim 1 read as follows:

"A composition, which comprises

a) a synthetic polymer subject to oxidative, thermal or light-induced degradation,

b) at least one additive selected from the stabiliser, antistatic agent, nucleating agent, biocide and/or flame retardant group, and

c) at least one polymeric dispersing or solvating agent having amphiphilic properties."

The remaining claims are not relevant for the decision and will therefore not be discussed in further detail.

II. A notice of opposition was filed by BASF AG (now BASF SE) on 17 December 2004 requesting revocation of the patent in its entirety on the grounds that the claimed subject-matter was neither novel nor inventive and that the patent did not disclose the invention in a manner sufficiently clear and complete for it to be carried out a by person skilled in the art (Article 100(a) and (b) EPC).

The following documents were - inter alia - cited during the opposition procedure:

D1: EP 0 717 079 A2;

D2: Abstract and English translation of

JP 06 016824 A;

D6: English translation of JP 08 081534 A; and

D9: Römpp Lexikon Chemie, 10. Auflage, 1996, Georg Thieme Verlag Suttgart New York, page 180.

III. At the oral proceedings of 11 October 2006 before the Opposition Division, the Proprietor filed new Claims 1 to 16. Claim 1 differed from Claim 1 as granted in that "antistatic agent" was deleted as an option from component b) and component c) was further specified to read as follows:

"c) at least one polymeric dispersing or solvating agent based on polyacrylates, polysiloxanes, polyvinyl acetate or on block copolymers containing at least one block based on acrylate, acrylic acid or methacrylate having amphiphilic properties".

IV. In a decision which was announced orally on 11 October 2006 and issued in writing on 25 October 2006, the Opposition Division revoked the patent for lack of novelty in view of D6.

As regards the Opponent's objection under Article 100(b) EPC that the definition of "polymeric dispersing or solvating agents having amphiphilic properties" was so vague that it did not allow the invention of the patent to be carried out and, related to this, that there was a real difficulty in assessing whether one was working inside or outside the scope of the claims, the Opposition Division held that this objection was based on Article 84 EPC which was not a ground of opposition. Apart from that, the Opposition Division was of the opinion that a person skilled in the art knowing the full content of the opposed patent and being aware of the general knowledge as illustrated by eg D9 was able to work the full scope of the claimed invention.

V. On 12 December 2006, the Appellant (Proprietor) filed a notice of the appeal against the above decision with simultaneous payment of the prescribed fee.

With the statement of grounds of appeal, the Appellant filed on 20 February 2007 a new set of claims (Claims 1 to 15) whereby Claim 1 read as follows:

"A composition, which comprises

a) a synthetic polymer subject to oxidative, thermal or light-induced degradation,

b) at least one additive selected from the stabiliser, nucleating agent, biocide and/or flame retardant group; wherein the stabiliser is selected from the group consisting of phenolic antioxidants, aminic antioxidants, UV absorbers, light stabilisers, metal deactivators, phosphites, phosphonites, hydroxylamines, nitrones, thiosynergists, peroxide-scavenging compounds, compounds of the benzofuran-2-one type and/or PVC heat stabilisers; and

c) at least one polymeric dispersing or solvating agent based on polyacrylates, polysiloxanes, polyvinyl acetate or on block copolymers containing at least one block based on acrylate, acrylic acid or methacrylate having amphiphilic properties."

According to the Appellant, the subject-matter of Claims 1 to 15 was novel and inventive over the cited prior art, in particular D6.

VI. The arguments of the Respondent (Opponent) filed with its reply dated 17 September 2007 may be summarized as follows:

(a) According to the definition in the patent specification (paragraphs [0019] and [0020], polymeric dispersing or solvating agents having amphiphilic properties were polymers which had polar and non polar groups in the same molecule. This definition applied for example to polydimethylsiloxane having polar -SiOSi- and non polar Si-CH3 groups in the molecule. On the other hand, the Appellant had argued before the Opposition Division that polydimethylsiloxane was not an amphiphilic polymer. Thus, there arose a real difficulty in assessing whether one was working inside or outside the scope of the claims. Therefore, the invention was not disclosed in a manner sufficiently clear for it to be carried out by a person skilled in the art.

(b) The subject-matter of Claim 1 was not novel over Examples 1 and 2 of D1. Particularly, Example 1 disclosed a composition comprising a styrene-butadiene block copolymer (equivalent to component a) of Claim 1), a hindered phenolic antioxidant (equivalent to component b) of Claim 1) and polydimethylsiloxane which was considered to be equivalent to component c) of Claim 1.

The subject-matter of Claim 1 was also not novel over D2 which disclosed in the abstract a composition comprising 100 parts by weight polypropylene (equivalent to component a) of Claim 1), 0.5-60 parts by weight of an organopolysiloxane containing vinyl groups (equivalent to component c) of Claim 1) and 0.05-2 parts by weight of a sorbitol type nucleating agent (equivalent to component b) of Claim 1).

(c) Further, the Respondent raised an inventive step objection against the claimed subject-matter and various objections against the amendments in the claims under Article 84 EPC and Rule 57a EPC 1973.

VII. On 24 June 2008, oral proceedings were held before the Board.

(a) At first the discussion focussed on the question as to whether or not the definition of component c) in Claim 1 ["polymeric dispersing or solvating agent having amphiphilic properties"] was intelligible to a person skilled in the art. According to the Respondent the definition of "amphiphilic" in paragraph [0019] of the patent specification exceeded the meaning a person skilled in the art would normally attribute to this term (eg the definition given in D9). Thus, polydimethylsiloxane having both polar and non polar groups in the molecule was considered as an amphiphilic polymer. The difficulty in assessing whether one was working inside or outside the scope of the claims led to an objection under Article 83 EPC. After having heard the parties on this issue, the Board indicated that the requirements of Article 83 EPC appeared to be met.

(b) The Respondent maintained its novelty objection in view of D1 (Examples 1 and 2) and D2 already submitted in writing. In addition, it pointed out that D2 disclosed not only polydimethylsiloxane (corresponding to component c) of Claim 1) but disclosed also alternatives for this polymer, namely polymethylphenyl siloxane and polysiloxanes which had undergone eg amino-modification, or polyether-modification (reference was made to page 5 of the English translation). These compounds would be in any case thought of as amphiphilic polymers. Thus, the teaching of D2, including the alternatives for polydimethylsiloxane, was novelty destroying to the claimed subject-matter.

(c) The Appellant was of the opinion that the claimed subject-matter was novel over both D1 and D2. It also pointed out that it was astounded by the new novelty argument based on the alternative compounds mentioned in the description of D2. Since this aspect was raised for the first time at the oral proceedings, the Appellant wished to file a new request.

(d) In view of the intended filing of a new request, the Board indicated its preliminary opinion that present Claim 1 also did not meet the requirements of Article 123(2) EPC since the combination of features, in particular with respect to the more narrowly defined components b) and c), was not supported by the application as originally filed. This objection should be taken into account when drafting new claims.

(e) The Appellant withdrew its main request filed on 20 February 2007 and submitted three new claim sets, namely a main request (Claims 1-14 headed "Hauptantrag"), a 1st auxiliary request (Claims 1-14 headed "1. Hilfsantrag") and a 2nd auxiliary request (Claims 1-14 headed "2. Hilfsantrag").

(f) Claim 1 of the main request read as follows:

"A composition, which comprises

a) a synthetic polymer subject to oxidative, thermal or light-induced degradation,

b) at least one additive selected from the stabiliser, nucleating agent, biocide and/or flame retardant group; wherein the stabiliser is selected from the group consisting of phenolic antioxidants, aminic antioxidants, UV absorbers, light stabilisers, metal deactivators, phosphites, phosphonites, hydroxylamines, nitrones, thiosynergists, peroxide-scavenging compounds, compounds of the benzofuran-2-one type and/or PVC heat stabilisers; and

c) 0.01 to 10% based on the weight of the synthetic polymer, of at least one polymeric dispersing or solvating agent based on polyacrylates or polysiloxanes containing long-chain side-groups."

(g) Claim 1 of the 1st auxiliary request read as follows:

"A composition, which comprises

a) a synthetic polymer subject to oxidative, thermal or light-induced degradation,

b) at least one additive selected from the stabiliser, nucleating agent, biocide and/or flame retardant group; wherein the stabiliser is selected from the group consisting of phenolic antioxidants, aminic antioxidants, UV absorbers, light stabilisers, metal deactivators, phosphites, phosphonites, hydroxylamines, nitrones, thiosynergists, peroxide-scavenging compounds, compounds of the benzofuran-2-one type and/or PVC heat stabilisers; and

c) 0.01 to 10% based on the weight of the synthetic polymer, of at least one polymeric dispersing or solvating agent based on polyacrylates, polyvinyl acetate or on block copolymers containing at least one block based on acrylate, acrylic acid or methacrylate having amphiphilic properties."

(h) Claim 1 of the 2nd auxiliary request read as follows:

"A composition, which comprises

a) a synthetic polymer subject to oxidative, thermal or light-induced degradation,

b) at least one additive selected from the stabiliser, nucleating agent, biocide and/or flame retardant group; wherein the stabiliser is selected from the group consisting of phenolic antioxidants, aminic antioxidants, UV absorbers, light stabilisers, metal deactivators, phosphites, phosphonites, hydroxylamines, nitrones, thiosynergists, peroxide-scavenging compounds, compounds of the benzofuran-2-one type and/or PVC heat stabilisers; and

c) 0.01 to 10% based on the weight of the synthetic polymer, of at least one polymeric dispersing or solvating agent based on polyacrylates containing long-chain side-groups."

(i) The Appellant argued that the amendments were further limitations based on the application as originally filed. On the other hand, the Respondent pointed out that the combination of features in Claim 1 of each request had no basis in the application as originally filed. Consequently, all requests were not allowable.

VIII. The Appellant requested that the decision under appeal be set aside and the patent be maintained on the basis of the main request (headed "Hauptantrag") or, in the alternative, of the 1st or 2nd auxiliary request (headed "1. Hilfsantrag" and "2. Hilfsantrag"), all filed during the oral proceedings of 24 June 2008.

The Respondent requested that the appeal be dismissed.

1. The appeal is admissible.

2. Procedural matter

The Appellant filed a new main request as well as a 1st and a 2nd auxiliary request at the oral proceedings of 24 June 2008. The necessity further to amend the claims submitted with the statement of grounds of appeal had become apparent for the first time at the oral proceedings (see point VII (b) to VII (d), above). Since, furthermore, the new requests were based on the previous request, the Board was satisfied that the other party could properly deal with the late filed requests. Consequently, the new main request and the 1st and 2nd auxiliary requests were admitted into the proceedings for consideration. Nor did the Respondent raise any objection in this connection.

3. Main request

3.1 In Claim 1 of the main request (point VII (f), above) components b) and c) have been further specified in that

- the stabiliser has to be selected from the group consisting of phenolic antioxidants, aminic antioxidants, UV absorbers, light stabilisers, metal deactivators, phosphites, phosphonites, hydroxylamines, nitrones, thiosynergists, peroxide-scavenging compounds, compounds of the benzofuran-2-one type and/or PVC heat stabilisers;

- the polymeric dispersing or solvating agent has to be based on polyacrylates or polysiloxanes containing long-chain side-groups; and

- the amount of component c) has to be 0.01 to 10% based on the weight of the synthetic polymer.

3.2 Although each of the newly introduced features of Claim 1 is individually disclosed in the application as originally filed, it is conspicuous to the Board that the combination of features as now claimed is not disclosed in the application as originally filed, neither in the claims nor in the description.

3.2.1 Thus, the passage at page 14, 2nd paragraph of the application as originally filed merely states: "Interesting compositions are those where component (b) is a stabiliser selected from the group consisting of phenolic antioxidants, aminic antioxidants, UV absorbers, light stabilisers, metal deactivators, phosphites, phosphonites, hydroxylamines, nitrones, thiosynergists, peroxide-scavenging compounds, compounds of the benzofuran-2-one type and/or PVC heat stabilisers, such as …". This passage contains no explicit or implicit hint that these stabilisers should be combined with a specific subclass of dispersing or solvating agents, let alone with a specific amount thereof.

3.2.2 As regards the nature of component c), Claim 8 as originally filed reads: "A composition according to claim 1, wherein component (c) is a dispersing or solvating agent based on polyacrylates or polysiloxanes containing long-chain side-groups." In this connection it might be worth mentioning that Claim 1 as originally filed is identical with Claim 1 as granted (point I, above) and describes components b) and c) in rather general terms. Thus, it is clear from the claim structure (Claim 8 as originally filed only refers back to Claim 1) that the feature described in dependent Claim 8 as originally filed refers only to preferred embodiments of component c) but bears no relation to other preferred embodiments of the claimed invention. The same applies to the passage on page 20, 1st paragraph of the application as originally filed (paragraph [0033] of the patent specification) which is just the exact counterpart to Claim 8 as originally filed.

3.2.3 Claim 10 as originally filed reads: "A composition according to claim 1, wherein component (c) is present in an amount from 0.01 to 10%, based on the weight of component (a)." Again, this feature is disclosed without any relation to other preferred embodiments.

3.2.4 It is clear from the above analysis that the combination of specific components b) with specific components c), let alone in combination with a specific amount of compound c), is not clearly and unambiguously derivable from the application as originally filed. Or, in other words, the amendment creates a criticality as to the combination of the subclasses for components b) and c) which was not disclosed in the application as originally filed. In this connection, the content of the application as originally filed must not be treated as something in the nature of a reservoir from which it would be permissible to combine different individual features pertaining to preferred embodiments in order to create artificially a particular new embodiment, unless the application as originally filed itself suggests such a combination of features. In the present case, however, the combination of features as now claimed is neither explicitly nor implicitly suggested by the application as originally filed. Therefore, Claim 1 of the main request contravenes Article 123(2) EPC.

3.3 In summary, the combination of features introduced into Claim 1 of the main request violates Article 123(2) EPC. Hence, for this reason alone the main request has to be refused.

3.4 Under these circumstances it is not necessary to investigate as to whether or not the claims of the main request contain further deficiencies, eg the deletion of the term "having amphiphilic properties" for component c) in Claim 1.

4. 1st and 2nd auxiliary request

4.1 Just as in the case of Claim 1 of the main request, Claim 1 of both the 1st and 2nd auxiliary requests (point VII (g) and VII (h), above) combines a specific subclass of stabilisers with a specific subclass of dispersing or solvating agents in a specific amount thereof. These claims differ from Claim 1 of the main request only in that the subclass of dispersing or solvating agents is defined slightly differently. Nevertheless, the objection that this new combination of features, namely the combination of a specific subclass of stabilisers with a specific subclass of dispersing or solvating agents in a specific amount thereof, is not clearly and unambiguously derivable from the application as originally filed is equally valid for these claims. Thus, for the same reasons as given for Claim 1 of the main request, Claim 1 of both the 1st and the 2nd auxiliary requests contravenes Article 123(2) EPC and are not allowable.

4.2 Consequently, the 1st and 2nd auxiliary requests as a whole must be refused.

4.3 Under these circumstances it is not necessary to investigate as to whether or not the claims of the 1st and 2nd auxiliary requests contain further deficiencies.

Order

ORDER

For these reasons it is decided that:

The appeal is dismissed.

Footer - Service & support
  • Service & support
    • Website updates
    • Availability of online services
    • FAQ
    • Publications
    • Procedural communications
    • Contact us
    • Subscription centre
    • Official holidays
    • Glossary
Footer - More links
  • Jobs & careers
  • Press centre
  • Single Access Portal
  • Procurement
  • Boards of Appeal
Facebook
European Patent Office
EPO Jobs
Instagram
EuropeanPatentOffice
Linkedin
European Patent Office
EPO Jobs
EPO Procurement
X (formerly Twitter)
EPOorg
EPOjobs
Youtube
TheEPO
Footer
  • Legal notice
  • Terms of use
  • Data protection and privacy
  • Accessibility