EPC/PCT Legal Search Skill

Hybrid RAG search across the European Patent Convention (EPC), EPO Guidelines for Examination, and PCT Rules for patent law research.

When to Use

Invoke this skill when users ask to:

Find EPC articles or rules on a specific topic
Search EPO Guidelines for Examination
Look up PCT rules or Administrative Instructions
Compare EPC requirements with USPTO/MPEP practice
Research EPO Board of Appeal case law principles
Understand European patent prosecution procedure
Find legal basis for EPO examination objections

What This Skill Does

Provides legal research across European and international patent law:

EPC Search (European Patent Convention):
- Articles 1-178 EPC
- Rules 1-167 EPC (Implementing Regulations)
- Protocol on Interpretation of Art. 69 EPC
- Protocol on Centralisation
- Protocol on Privileges and Immunities
EPO Guidelines Search (Guidelines for Examination):
- Part A: Guidelines for Formalities Examination
- Part B: Guidelines for Search
- Part C: Guidelines for Procedural Aspects of Substantive Examination
- Part D: Guidelines for Opposition and Limitation/Revocation
- Part E: Guidelines for General Procedural Matters
- Part F: Guidelines for Substantive Examination (The Patent Application)
- Part G: Guidelines for Patentability
- Part H: Guidelines for Amendments and Corrections
PCT Rules Search (Patent Cooperation Treaty):
- PCT Articles 1-69
- PCT Rules 1-96 (Regulations under the PCT)
- Administrative Instructions under the PCT
- WIPO Standards (ST.25, ST.26, ST.36)
Cross-Jurisdiction Comparison:
- EPC vs 35 USC mapping
- EPO Guidelines vs MPEP equivalents
- PCT requirements vs national requirements

Required Data

MCP Tools Available:

search_patent_law - Search EPC, EPO Guidelines, PCT rules with jurisdiction parameter
search_mpep - Search MPEP/35 USC/37 CFR for comparison

How to Use

When this skill is invoked:

Determine jurisdiction:
- EPO: search EPC articles/rules and EPO Guidelines
- PCT: search PCT articles/rules and Administrative Instructions
- Both: search across all sources
- Comparison: search EPO + USPTO sources

Execute search:

EPC/EPO Guidelines search:

results = search_patent_law(
    query="claim clarity requirements",
    jurisdiction="EPO",
    top_k=5
)

PCT rules search:

results = search_patent_law(
    query="unity of invention",
    jurisdiction="PCT",
    top_k=5
)

Cross-jurisdiction comparison:

epo_results = search_patent_law(query="sufficiency of disclosure", jurisdiction="EPO")
us_results = search_mpep(query="enablement requirement")

Present results:
- Show relevant provisions with full text
- Provide article/rule numbers and section references
- Include EPO Guidelines commentary
- Note practical implications for prosecution

Key EPC Provisions Reference

Patentability

Article	Topic	Description
Art. 52	Patentable inventions	What can be patented
Art. 52(2)	Exclusions	Discoveries, theories, programs "as such"
Art. 53	Exceptions	Morality, plant/animal varieties, medical methods
Art. 54	Novelty	Absolute novelty, no grace period
Art. 55	Non-prejudicial disclosures	6-month grace for abuse or exhibitions
Art. 56	Inventive step	Problem-solution approach
Art. 57	Industrial applicability	Capable of industrial application

The Patent Application

Article/Rule	Topic	Description
Art. 78	Requirements	What an EP application must contain
Art. 83	Disclosure	Sufficiency of disclosure
Art. 84	Claims	Clarity, conciseness, support
Rule 42	Description	Content and form of description
Rule 43	Claims	Two-part form, numbering, categories
Rule 46	Drawings	Form and content requirements
Rule 47	Abstract	Max 150 words, figure designation

Examination Procedure

Article	Topic	Description
Art. 90	Formalities examination	Initial formality check
Art. 92	European search	Search report
Art. 94	Substantive examination	Examination on request
Art. 97	Grant/refusal	Decision on application
Art. 99	Opposition	9-month opposition period

Key PCT Rules Reference

Application Requirements

Rule	Topic	Description
Rule 4	The request	Form PCT/RO/101 contents
Rule 5	The description	Required sections and order
Rule 6	The claims	Numbering, form, categories
Rule 8	The abstract	Max 150 words, figure
Rule 11	Physical requirements	Paper, margins, fonts
Rule 12	Language	Accepted languages

Unity and Search

Rule	Topic	Description
Rule 13	Unity of invention	Single general inventive concept
Rule 33	Relevant prior art	ISA search scope
Rule 39	Subject matter not searched	Excluded from ISA search
Rule 43bis	International search report	Written opinion of ISA

National Phase

Rule	Topic	Description
Rule 49	Physical requirements	National phase format
Rule 49.6	Translation	Language requirements
Rule 51bis	Certain national requirements	National law compliance

EPO Guidelines Structure

Part A: Formalities Examination
├── Chapter I: Checking the application on filing
├── Chapter II: Filing and examination for formalities
├── Chapter III: Special cases (divisionals, PCT)
└── Chapter IV: Designation of inventor

Part F: The Patent Application
├── Chapter I: Description
├── Chapter II: Claims (MOST COMMONLY SEARCHED)
│   ├── F-IV, 2: Independent claims
│   ├── F-IV, 3: Two-part form
│   ├── F-IV, 4: Clarity
│   ├── F-IV, 6: Support by description
│   └── F-IV, 7: Dependent claims
├── Chapter III: Sufficiency of disclosure
├── Chapter V: Abstract
└── Chapter VI: Drawings

Part G: Patentability
├── Chapter I: Excluded subject matter
├── Chapter II: Non-technical subject matter
├── Chapter III: Novelty
├── Chapter V: Non-prejudicial disclosures
├── Chapter VI: Inventive step (problem-solution)
└── Chapter VII: Inventive step (combinability)

Presentation Format

Present search results as:

EPC/EPO LEGAL RESEARCH RESULTS
=================================

Query: "claim clarity requirements"
Jurisdiction: EPO (EPC + Guidelines)

[1] Art. 84 EPC - The Claims
    "The claims shall define the matter for which protection
    is sought. They shall be clear, concise and be supported
    by the description."

    EPO Guidelines F-IV, 4 - Clarity
    "Each claim should be read giving the words the meaning
    and scope which they normally have in the relevant art..."

    Key Points:
    - Claims must be clear on their own (not by reference to spec)
    - Technical terms given their normal meaning in the art
    - Relative terms need objective reference point
    - Functional features must be verifiable

[2] Rule 43(1) EPC - Form and content of claims
    "...shall contain: (a) a statement indicating the designation
    of the subject-matter and those technical features necessary
    for the definition... (preamble); and (b) a characterising
    portion preceded by 'characterised in that'..."

    EPO Guidelines F-IV, 3.2 - Two-part form
    "Independent claims should normally be in the two-part form..."

---

Related MPEP Comparison:
- MPEP 2173: Claims Must Particularly Point Out and Distinctly Claim
- 35 USC 112(b): Equivalent US clarity requirement
- Key difference: EPO applies stricter objective clarity standard

Cross-Jurisdiction Mapping

EPO (EPC)	USPTO (35 USC)	PCT
Art. 54 (Novelty)	35 USC 102	Art. 33(2)
Art. 56 (Inventive step)	35 USC 103	Art. 33(3)
Art. 83 (Sufficiency)	35 USC 112(a) Enablement	Rule 5.1(a)(v)
Art. 84 (Clarity)	35 USC 112(b)	Rule 6.1
Art. 84 (Support)	35 USC 112(a) Written desc.	Rule 6.1
Rule 42 (Description)	MPEP 608	Rule 5
Rule 43 (Claims)	37 CFR 1.75	Rule 6
Rule 47 (Abstract)	37 CFR 1.72	Rule 8
Art. 52(2) (Exclusions)	35 USC 101	N/A
Art. 53(c) (Medical methods)	N/A (allowed in US)	N/A

Tools Available

Read: To load legal documents
Bash: To run legal search queries
Write: To save research results and legal memoranda

epc-search