T 0799/24 - Technical CAD method

Key points

• G 1/19 held that "The answers to the first and second questions are no different if the computer-implemented simulation is claimed as part of a design process, in particular for verifying a design", and that inventive step of a computer-implemented design method requires a 'further technical effect'. 
• Board 3.5.07 in charge of G06F/17, including G06F17/50 (computer-aided design) indicates that the applicant in this case has found a solution - not only of a technical problem but also of the legal obstacle to patenting CAD methods that G 1/19 poses. 
• Claim 1 is directed to a computer-implemented method for designing a car. Formally, the claim is formulated as an apparatus claim with corresponding features. The method is directed to designing a car body. The claim recites: "an optimization analysis unit (23) that performs an optimization analysis on the welding candidates by applying at least one [input] to the optimization analysis model to select an additional welded point or an additional welded location that satisfies the optimization analysis conditions from the welding candidates and thereby determine a location of the additional welded point or the additional welded location to be added to the automotive body to improve the stiffness of the automotive body during driving"
• So, the positions of welded points are calculated, which are recited as "to be added to the automotive body"
• The Board: "The additional welded point(s) is/are "to be added" to the automotive body to improve its stiffness during driving. In the board's view, this formulation at least implicitly specifies a further technical use (see decision G 1/19, points 124 and 137)."
• The Board gave the decision a long headnote, starting with "In the board's view, the formulation in claim 1 of the main request that additional welded point(s) is/are "to be added" to the automotive body to improve its stiffness during driving at least implicitly specifies a further technical use".
• I guess that this claim-drafting construct could be applied quite broadly for methods for designing an industrial product. 

EPO 

The link to the decision is provided after the jump.

https://www.epo.org/en/boards-of-appeal/decisions/t240799eu1