Guidelines for Examination
PART C
CHAPTER III CLAIMS
4. Clarity and interpretation of claims
4.3a General statements, spirit of invention
 

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PART C
CHAPTER III CLAIMSCHAPTER III CLAIMS
4. Clarity and interpretation of claims4. Clarity and interpretation of claims
  4.3 Inconsistencies4.3 Inconsistencies     4.4 Essential features4.4 Essential features  
 

4.3a

General statements, "spirit" of invention

 

General statements in the description which imply that the extent of protection may be expanded in some vague and not precisely defined way should be objected to. In particular, objection should be raised to any statement which refers to the extent of protection being expanded to cover the "spirit" of the invention. Objection should likewise be raised, in the case where the claims are directed to a combination of features, to any statement which seems to imply that protection is nevertheless sought not only for the combination as a whole but also for individual features or sub-combinations thereof.