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European Patent Convention (EPC 1973)

A revised version of the European Patent Convention entered into force on 13 December 2007. The provisions of the revised Convention apply unless the transitional provisions provide for the applicability of the EPC 1973.
EUROPEAN PATENT CONVENTION 1973 - Table of Contents
CONVENTION Preface Implementing Regulations
PART II - SUBSTANTIVE PATENT LAW PART I - GENERAL AND INSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS PART III - APPLICATION FOR EUROPEAN PATENTS
Chapter I - Patentability   Chapter II - Persons entitled to apply for and obtain European patents - Mention of the inventor
Article 55 - Non-prejudicial disclosures Article 54 - Novelty Article 56 - Inventive step


Article 55

Non-prejudicial disclosures

Art. 100, 138
R. 23, 107



(1) For the application of Article 54 a disclosure of the invention shall not be taken into consideration if it occurred no earlier than six months preceding the filing of the European patent application and if it was due to, or in consequence of:


(a)31 an evident abuse in relation to the applicant or his legal predecessor, or


(b) the fact that the applicant or his legal predecessor has displayed the invention at an official, or officially recognised, international exhibition falling within the terms of the Convention on international exhibitions signed at Paris on 22 November 1928 and last revised on 30 November 1972.


(2) In the case of paragraph 1(b), paragraph 1 shall apply only if the applicant states, when filing the European patent application, that the invention has been so displayed and files a supporting certificate within the period and under the conditions laid down in the Implementing Regulations.



31 See decisions of the Enlarged Board of Appeal G 3/98, G 2/99 (Annex I).


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