Guidelines for Examination
PART B
CHAPTER III CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SEARCH
3. The subject of the search
3.8 Search on dependent claims
 

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PART B
CHAPTER III CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SEARCHCHAPTER III CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SEARCH
3. The subject of the search3. The subject of the search
  3.7 Independent and dependent claims3.7 Independent and dependent claims     3.9 Combination of elements in a claim3.9 Combination of elements in a claim  
 

3.8

Search on dependent claims

 

However, where the patentability of the subject-matter of the independent claim is questioned, it may be necessary for assessing whether the subject-matter of the dependent claim as such is novel and involves an inventive step to continue the search in other sections of the documentation, e.g. in one or more additional classification units. No such special search should be made for features that are trivial or generally known in the art. However, if a handbook or other document showing that a feature is generally known can be found rapidly, it should be cited (see C-IV, 9.9(iii)). When the dependent claim adds a further feature (rather than providing more detail of an element figuring already in the independent claim), the dependent claim is to be considered in combination with the features in the independent claim and should be dealt with accordingly (see C-III, 3.4).