4.3.6 Boards' obligation to remain neutral

According to settled case law, a board must remain neutral in inter partes proceedings, both in its communications to the parties and in oral proceedings (R 15/09; see also R 11/08), especially when the opposing party is not present (R 9/14). By giving a party possible reasons to decide against its requests (R 18/09, R 15/10), by prompting a party to make further submissions (R 9/11, R 3/13, R 17/13), by informing a party of a possible different interpretation of a passage in a prior art document (R 19/11; see also R 18/09), or by suggesting a possible wording of a claim (R 4/09, R 22/10; see also R 7/14) a board would assist a party and compromise its neutrality.