Selected decisions
The list of “Selected decisions” alerts users to all newly published decisions for which a headnote or a catchword has been provided by the board. Usually, a board will add a headnote or catchword if it wishes to provide a brief summary of a particular point of law or to draw attention to an important part of the reasons for the decision. The list contains all decisions with a headnote or catchword published in the last three years and can be viewed by year by selecting the year from the menu on the left.
The list below contains all decisions with a headnote or catchword that have been released for publication in the last six months (newest first).
July 2024
Amendment after communication - request for non-admittance of objection constitutes amendment to the party's appeal case - exceptional circumstances (no) - no obligation to assess and decide on admittance of objection ex officio
Amendments - allowable (no)
The following questions are referred to the Enlarged Board of Appeal, both to ensure the uniform application of the law [see point 3] and because a point of law of fundamental importance arises [see point 4]:
1. Is Article 69 (1), second sentence EPC and Article 1 of the Protocol on the Interpretation of Article 69 EPC to be applied to the interpretation of patent claims when assessing the patentability of an invention under Articles 52 to 57 EPC? [see points 3.2, 4.2 and 6.1]
2. May the description and figures be consulted when interpreting the claims to assess patentability and, if so, may this be done generally or only if the person skilled in the art finds a claim to be unclear or ambiguous when read in isolation? [see points 3.3, 4.3 and 6.2]
3. May a definition or similar information on a term used in the claims which is explicitly given in the description be disregarded when interpreting the claims to assess patentability and, if so, under what conditions? [see points 3.4, 4.4 and 6.3]
Referral to the Enlarged Board of Appeal
Claims interpretation
June 2024
Inventive step: unexpected balance of beneficial properties - no (points 1.7 and 1.8 of the Reasons). In contrast: see parallel case T 672/21 (points 1.4.5 and 1.5 of the Reasons)
Purported technical effect not encompassed by the teaching of the application as filed in the sense of G 2/21 (point 1.3 of the Reasons)
The use of an infant formula for promoting, in an infant, a postnatal growth trajectory or body development towards a growth trajectory or body development similar to those observed in human milk fed infants, does not qualify as a method of treatment by therapy under Article
53(c) EPC (Reasons 1.7 to 1.39).
Method of treatment excluded from patentability under Article 53(c) EPC - (No)
Purpose-limited product claim under Article 54(5) EPC - (No)
Novelty over the cited prior art documents
Novelty - (No)
Eine mathematisch rechnerische Optimierung zur effizienten Aufteilung eines Kommissionierauftrags bewirkt nicht zwangsläufig auch eine Simulation des zugrunde liegenden physikalischen Vorgangs (hier Warentransport), sondern es sind vom hier vorliegenden Anspruchsgegenstand auch rein deterministische mathematische Optimierungen umfasst.
Eine geltend gemachte Energieeinsparung ist rein spekulativ und kann nicht ohne weiteres zur Annahme eines technischen Effekts führen. Dazu wäre erforderlich, dass ein solcher Effekt mit technischen Mitteln erreicht würde. Beim beanspruchten Gegenstand wäre eine Energieeinsparung (sofern tatsächlich erzielt) aber Folge einer rein organisatorischen oder algorithmischen Optimierung, die im Wesentlichen auf einer gedanklichen Tätigkeit basiert. Daraus kann kein technischer Effekt zur Berücksichtigung einer erfinderischen Tätigkeit abgeleitet werden (vgl. insbesondere Entscheidungsgründe 1.6 und 1.11).
Erfinderische Tätigkeit - Hauptantrag, Hilfsanträge 1 bis 4 (nein)
Erfinderische Tätigkeit - Mischung technischer und nicht-technischer Merkmale
Spät eingereichte Hilfsanträge 5 und 6
Spät eingereichte Hilfsanträge - Zulassung (nein)
Besorgnis der Befangenheit - (ja)
Zurückverweisung - verhältnismäßig
Inventive step - (yes)
Amendment after summons - exceptional circumstances (no)
Amendment after summons - taken into account (no)
Nouveauté - (oui)
Activité inventive - (oui)