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Date of decision
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15 November 2006
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Case number
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T 0154/04
- 3.5.01
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Application number
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94912949.8
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Title of the application
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Method of estimating product distribution
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Applicant name
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DUNS LICENSING ASSOCIATES, L.P.
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Headnote
I. Methods of business research are excluded "as such" from
patentability under Article 52(2)(c) and (3) EPC.
II. Gathering and evaluating data as part of a business research
method do not convey technical character to the business research
method if such steps do not contribute to the technical solution
of a technical problem.
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Keywords
Requirement of invention -- method, main request (no)
Requirement of invention -- method, auxiliary request 1 (yes)
Inventive step -- system, main and auxiliary requests 1 to 3 (no)
Amendments -- claim 1, auxiliary requests 4 and 5 (inadmissible)
Remittal for further prosecution (refused)
Referral to the Enlarged Board of Appeal (refused)
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