The referencing of prior art documents in European patents and applications

Noël J. Akers

World Patent Information, 2000, vol. 22, issue 4, 309-315

Abstract: This paper explains the nature, origin and extent of the various documents and other prior art that may be cited in the course of the procedure from the filing of an EP patent application, through the search report and 'A' publication stages, the examination stage, and the eventual grant or refusal. The implications of the much weaker "duty of candour" in the European system of granting a bundle of national patents, compared with the US system, are described.

Keywords: Prior; art; references; European; specifications; Duty; of; candour; US; comparison; Search; report; Examiner; citations; Third; party; observations (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2000
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (9)

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