G 0001/90 (Revocation of the Patent) of 05.03.1991

European Case Law Identifier: ECLI:EP:BA:1991:G000190.19910305
Date of decision: 5 March 1991
Case number: G 0001/90
Petition for review of: -
Application number: -
IPC class: -
Language of proceedings: German
Distribution: Published in the EPO's Official Journal (A)
Download: -
OJ versions: German
English
French
Other decisions for this case: -
Abstracts for this decision: -
Application title: -
Applicant name: -
Opponent name: -
Board: -
Headnote: The revocation of a patent under Article 102(4) and (5) EPC requires a decision.
Relevant legal provisions: European Patent Convention Art 102(4) 1973 European Patent Convention Art 102(5) 1973 European Patent Convention Art 106 1973 European Patent Convention Art 112(1)(b) 1973 European Patent Convention R 58(5) 1973 European Patent Convention R 69(1) 1973
Keywords: Revocation of the patent by a decision
Revocation, failure to meet formal requirements when the patent is maintained as amended
Termination of opposition proceedings
Loss of rights
Legal fictions
Catchword: -
Cited cases: T 0073/84 T 0026/88 T 0387/88 T 0014/89
Citing cases: G 0004/98 G 0002/12 G 0002/13 G 0001/18 J 0007/92 J 0010/93 J 0007/96 J 0008/96 J 0004/11 J 0019/13 J 0023/14 J 0010/16 J 0006/22 T 0196/91 T 0691/91 T 0634/92 T 0195/94 T 0584/94 T 0343/95 T 0636/95 T 0016/99 T 0386/01 T 1003/01 T 1197/01 T 0555/08 T 0884/08 T 1571/08 T 1801/08 T 2206/08 T 0606/09 T 0028/10 T 1402/13 T 0541/15 T 1815/15 T 1403/16 T 1492/17 T 1874/23

Conclusion regarding the first point of law

19. The answer is as follows:

"The revocation of a patent under Article 102(4) and (5) EPC requires a decision."

Conclusion regarding the second point of law

20. In the submission to the Enlarged Board of Appeal the second point of law is not formulated as a primary question in the sense that the Boards of Appeal differ in their practice; it is raised only as an additional problem in case the revocation of a European patent under Article 102(4) and (5) EPC has to be noted initially through a communication under Rule 69(1) EPC. Since it has been established on the first point of law that the Opposition Division has to deliver a decision, there is no longer any need to give an opinion on the second point.