EPO decision T 22/85 against IBM archival system
Abstracting a document, storing the abstract, and retrieving it in response to a query falls as such within the category of schemes, rules and methods for performing mental acts and is therefore non-patentable subject matter under Art 52(2) and (3). Mere setting out sequence of steps in terms of functions or functional means to be realised with conventional computer hardware does not import any technical considerations.