Rule 34

Prohibited matter

(1) The European patent application shall not contain:

(a) statements or other matter contrary to "ordre public" or morality;

(b) statements disparaging the products or processes of any particular person other than the applicant, or the merits or validity of applications or patents of any such person. Mere comparisons with the prior art shall not be considered disparaging per se;

(c) any statement or other matter obviously irrelevant or unnecessary under the circumstances.

(2) If a European patent application contains prohibited matter within the meaning of paragraph 1(a), the European Patent Office shall omit it when publishing the application, indicating the place and number of words or drawings omitted.

(3) If a European patent application contains statements within the meaning of paragraph 1(b), the European Patent Office may omit them when publishing the application. It shall indicate the place and number of words omitted, and shall furnish, upon request, a copy of the passages omitted.