T 1821/13 18-03-2016
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POSITION SENSOR
I. The opponent (appellant) lodged an appeal against the decision of the opposition division maintaining European patent No. 1706709 in amended form.
II. In a communication of the registrar dated 13 November 2014, the appellant was informed that the patent had meanwhile lapsed in all designated Contracting States, and that the appeal proceedings would be continued at the appellant's request, provided that within two months from the notification of this communication a request to this effect was filed. On the same day a copy of the communication was sent to the patentee (respondent).
III. There was no reply to the communication.
1. If the European patent has lapsed in all designated Contracting States, opposition proceedings may be continued at the request of the opponent pursuant to Rule 84(1) EPC, provided that this request is filed within two months from a communication by the EPO, informing the opponent of the lapse. According to Rule 100(1) EPC, this also applies in appeal proceedings.
2. Since in the present case the appellant has not requested the continuation of the appeal proceedings, the appeal proceedings are to be terminated.
For these reasons it is decided that:
The appeal proceedings are terminated.