Guidelines for Examination
PART C
CHAPTER VI EXAMINATION PROCEDURE
3. The first stage of examination
3.4 Reasoned objections
 

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PART C
CHAPTER VI EXAMINATION PROCEDURECHAPTER VI EXAMINATION PROCEDURE
3. The first stage of examination3. The first stage of examination
  3.3 First communication3.3 First communication     3.5 Invitation to file comments and amendments3.5 Invitation to file comments and amendments  
 

3.4

Reasoned objections

 

For each objection the communication should indicate the part of the application which is deficient and the requirement of the EPC which is not met, either by referring to specific Articles or Rules, or by other clear indication; it should also give the reason for any objection where this is not immediately apparent. For example, where prior art is cited and only part of a cited document is relevant, the particular passage relied upon should be identified. If the cited prior art is such as to demonstrate lack of novelty or inventive step in the independent claim or claims, and if, consequently, there is lack of unity between dependent claims (see III, 7.8), the applicant should be informed of this situation (see VI, 5.2(i)). Substantive matters should normally be set out first. The communication should be drafted in such a manner as to facilitate re-examination of the amended application and, in particular, to avoid the need for extensive rereading (see VI, 4.2).