1. whether to remove or modify the prohibition on protection of computer
programs "as such" and possibly other excluded classes of subject
matter;
2. whether to change the present provision which provides that a prior unpublished European application has a prior art effect against a later-filed application by the same applicant;
3. whether the grounds of opposition should be changed, in view of a growing sentiment that these should at least be amended to allow for a challenge to a granted patent on the ground that its claims are unclear or not properly supported by the description;
4. whether the present law on amendments should be changed; and
5. whether the present division between search and examination should be changed.
2. whether to change the present provision which provides that a prior unpublished European application has a prior art effect against a later-filed application by the same applicant;
3. whether the grounds of opposition should be changed, in view of a growing sentiment that these should at least be amended to allow for a challenge to a granted patent on the ground that its claims are unclear or not properly supported by the description;
4. whether the present law on amendments should be changed; and
5. whether the present division between search and examination should be changed.
March 1999 Index