2. State of the art; date of filing 

The "state of the art" for the purposes of considering inventive step is as defined in Art. 54(2) (see G‑IV, 1). It is to be understood as concerning such kind of information as is relevant to some field of technology. It does not include later published European applications referred to in Art. 54(3). As mentioned in G‑IV, 3, the date of priority counts as the date of filing for the European application being examined on condition that the priority is valid (Art. 89). The state of the art may reside in the relevant common general knowledge, which need not necessarily be in writing and needs substantiation only if challenged (see T 939/92).