9.4 Identification of relevant passages in prior-art documents 

If a cited document is very long, the search division will identify the specific parts (e.g. claim, example, figure, table, text passage on a particular page, or a specific time or time range in a video and/or audio media fragment) which contain the technical subject-matter closest to (or coinciding with) the searched invention. This is particularly important where the document is relied on to support objections to novelty or inventive step.

Where the search division relies on a translation of a prior-art document, it will indicate the relevant passages in the original document whenever possible.

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 makes it easier to assess inventive step in examination and also gives the applicant a better idea of how the document may be used during the proceedings.