Which characteristic of a patentable product is emphasised by Article 54 of the EPC?

The correct answer is D. Novelty.

Article 54

of the European Patent Convention (EPC) states that “European patents shall be granted for any invention which is new, involves an inventive step and is capable of industrial application.” This means that a patentable product must be new, i.e., it must not have been made public before the date of filing the patent application. It must also involve an inventive step, i.e., it must not be obvious to a person skilled in the art. Finally, it must be capable of industrial application, i.e., it must be capable of being made or used in any kind of industry.

Exclusivity, grant, and commercial value are not characteristics of a patentable product. Exclusivity is a right that is granted to the patent holder, but it is not a characteristic of the product itself. Grant is the process by which a patent is issued, but it is not a characteristic of the product either. Commercial value is a potential benefit of a patent, but it

is not a characteristic of the product itself.

In conclusion, the correct answer is D. Novelty.