Amendments under the European Patent Convention

Amendments under the European Patent Convention

Article 123 of the European Patent Convention (EPC) EPC Article|123 ] relates to the amendments under the EPC, i.e. the amendments to a European patent application or patent.

In particular, EPC Article|123|2 provides that a European patent application, or European patent, may not be amended (during prosecution for an application, and after grant for a patent) in such a way that it contains subject-matter which extends beyond the content of the application as filed. The underlying idea of Article 123(2) EPC is that an applicant should not be allowed to improve his position by adding subject-matter not disclosed in the application as filed, which would give him an unwarranted advantage and could be damaging to the legal security of third parties relying on the content of the original application. [ [http://www.epo.org/patents/appeals/case-law.html Case Law of the Boards of Appeal (Fifth edition 2006)] , III.A.1., page 242, citing G 1/93 (OJ 1994, 541). ] This legal provision illustrates the importance accorded by the Convention to the content of a European patent application as filed - i.e. on the filing date - in respect of its legal effects. [ Enlarged Board of Appeal of the EPO [http://legal.european-patent-office.org/dg3/biblio/g910011ep1.htm G 1/93] (19 November 1992), Reasons 1.5 ]

An extension of the subject-matter of the European patent beyond the content of the application as filed is a ground of opposition, [ EPC Article|100|c ] and revocation. [ EPC Article|138|1|c ]

ee also

* G 1/03 and G 2/03 (relating to disclaimers (patent))
* G 1/05 and G 1/06 (relating to divisional patent applications)

References and notes


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