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T 1242/04 - Provision of product-specific data/MAN

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Reference numbers
Case number: 
T 1242/04
Headword: 
Provision of product-specific data/MAN
Application number: 
02026715.9
Publication number: 
1320055
Date of the Decision: 
2006-10-20
Additional Case Information
Title of the invention: 
Verfahren und System zur Bereitstellung productspezifischer Daten in einer Servicestation
IPC: 
G06F 17/60
Keyword: 
Declaration under Rule 45 EPC Additional search Enlarged Board of Appeal - referral by board of appeal (no) Remittal (yes - on basis of "further" auxiliary request)
Applicant: 
MAN Nutzfahrzeuge Ag
Chairman of the Board: 
Steinbrener, S.
Members of the Board: 
Wibergh, R.
Members of the Board: 
Weiss G.
Relevant Legal Provisions: 
EPÜ Art. 52(2),(3), 56, 111(1), 112(1)a) EPÜ R. 44(1), 45, 86(4) Richtlinien für die Prüfung im Europäischen Patentamt BVIII, 3 "Mitteilung des Europäischen Patentamts vom 26. März 2002 über Geschäftsmethoden" (ABl. EPA 2002, 260)
Cites (case law): 
T 258/03 - Auction method/HITACHI
Cites (case law): 
T 641/00 - Two identities/COMVIK
Cites (case law): 
T 931/95 - Controlling pension benefits system/PBS PARTNERSHIP
Cites further: 

T 181/82; T 271/85; T 198/88; T 390/90; T 972/91; T 939/92; T 1194/97

Language of the proceedings: 
DE
Headnote: 
  1. Rule 45 EPC relates only to the practicability of a search and not to the potential relevance of its results in subsequent substantive examination (Reasons 8.3).
  2. Where the application’s subject-matter has non-technical aspects, a declaration under Rule 45 EPC may be issued only in exceptional cases in which the claimed subject-matter, i.e. the entire set of claims including all independent and dependent claims, clearly has no technical character (Reasons 8.4).
Summary and Comments: 

For years it has been common practice of the EPO to issue a no-search declaration under Rule 45 EPC for applications that constituted to the Searcher’s opinion no technical contribution. In applications concerning computer-implemented inventions and business methods, this got to happen very regularly. With this Decision the Board of Appeal, this practice will probably diminish.

More will follow soon…