INFORMATION FROM THE EPO
Introduction of paragraph numbering in European patent documents
In January 1999 the European Patent Office will introduce paragraph numbering in the text of the description in European patent documents, ie published applications (A documents) and patent specifications (B documents).
The change only applies to the text of the description, as the patent claims are already numbered.
European patent documents are published in a wide range of media: paper, CD-ROMs,on-line databases, and the Internet. The content of the documents is available in various formats on paper and on-screen: for example, as an official publication, generally printed in two columns; in paper format or facsimile format on CD-ROM; in MIMOSA format, ie prepared from mixed-mode data for CD-ROM publication; or as editable text from on-line databases.
At present, users are provided with only one aid - line, column and page numbering - to enable them to locate particular sections of text in patent documents. This form of numbering is inadequate, since its function in guiding the reader is lost when the document is transferred from one format to another.
Paragraph numbering, however, is a uniform method of orientation which can be used with all the various formats.
The rules governing paragraph numbering in official printed publications will include the following:
1. For the production of A and B documents, the paragraph structure will be taken from the patent application (in the text as filed) or the text on which the decision to grant is based (the so-called Druckexemplar). The document will be printed with all the paragraphs in the description numbered consecutively.
2. In order to identify the paragraph numbers and avoid any risk of confusion with the text of the description, the numbers will be enclosed in square brackets and printed in bold.
3. The numbers will be printed as a four-digit sequence using Arabic numerals. Leading noughts will be shown.
4. The numbers will be inserted at the left-hand edge of the text in the first line of each new paragraph, with the text itself indented to the right.
5. Paragraph numbering supplied by the applicant will be taken over in full. However, the uniform printing specification described above - four-digit sequence, square brackets, bold type, etc. - will apply in every case.
6. The existing system of numbering lines and columns will remain unchanged.
Example:
Description
| [0001] This invention relates to the crystalline dihydrate D of 2-methyl-4-(4-methyl-1-iperazinyl)-10H-thieno[2,3-b] [1,5] benzodiazepine (referred to herein as "olanzapine"). |
|---|---|
5 |
The invention more specifically relates to a novel crystalline form which is particularly useful for preparing an aqueous olanzapine formulation. |
|
[0002] The stable crystalline Dihydrate D is particularly important for the commercial development of new formulations of the pharmaceutically active olanzapine. |
10 |
[0003] A novel dihydrate crystal form of olanzapine has now been synthesised and characterised which possesses distinct advantages over the previously known forms, .. |
The existing method of line numbering has been retained, using smaller type and italics so that any confusion with the paragraph numbers is ruled out.
The Office is considering incorporating paragraph numbering, after a transitional period, into Rule 35 EPC, "General provisions governing the presentation of the application documents". This would ensure that paragraph numbering would be consistent throughout, from the application as filed to the published A document in all its various forms.
The Office will wait until it has gained enough practical experience with the new system of paragraph numbering before deciding whether to dispense in the long term with the previous system of line and column numbering in applications and published documents.