Cross-reference list
EPC 1973	EPC 2000
Art. 56	Art. 56

URL: Location: Home→Patents→Law→Legal texts

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

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 56 - Inventive step

Article 55 - Non-prejudicial disclosures

Article 56 32

Inventive step

Art. 52, 100, 138
R. 27, 27a, 44

An invention shall be considered as involving an inventive step if, having regard to the state of the art, it is not obvious to a person skilled in the art. If the state of the art also includes documents within the meaning of Article 54, paragraph 3, these documents are not to be considered in deciding whether there has been an inventive step.

32 See decisions/opinions of the Enlarged Board of Appeal G 2/98, G 3/98, G 2/99, G 1/03, G 2/03 (Annex I).

Main Navigation

Sub Navigation

Main Content

European Patent Convention (EPC 1973)