European Patent Office

J 0018/82 (Force majeure) of 18.05.1983

European Case Law Identifier
ECLI:EP:BA:1983:J001882.19830518
Date of decision
18 May 1983
Case number
J 0018/82
Petition for review of
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Application number
81870054.4
IPC class
-
Language of proceedings
French
Distribution
Published in the EPO's Official Journal (A)
Download
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Other decisions for this case
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Abstracts for this decision
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Application title
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Applicant name
Cockerill
Opponent name
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Board
3.1.01
Headnote

I. Article 122(5) EPC excludes "restitutio in integrum" not only where the time limits provided for in the specifically mentioned Articles 78(2) and 79(2) are not observed, but also where the period of grace laid down in Rule 85a, extending the normal period for payment of the filing, search and designation fees respectively, is not observed (see J 12/82 dated 11 March 1983, OJ (EPO) 6/1983, p.221) regarding the impossibility of "restitutio in integrum" where Rule 85b is not observed).

II. An argument based on the existence of "force majeure" in order to seek a re-establishment of rights can be considered only within the terms of Article 122 EPC.

Keywords
Force majeure
Period of grace/non-observance of
Payment of fees/filing/search/designation
Restitutio in integrum
Catchword
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Cited cases
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ORDER

For these reasons it is decided that:

The appeal against the decision of the Receiving Section of the European Patent Office dated 2 June 1982 is dismissed.