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The European Patent Convention

 
 
Table of Contents - The European Patent Convention
Convention on the Grant of European Patents (European Patent Convention)
Part VI Appeals procedure
Article 112a Petition for review by the Enlarged Board of Appeal
Article 112a[120]
Petition for review by the Enlarged Board of Appeal 
Art. 22, 106, 111
R. 104-111, 140
(1)
Any party to appeal proceedings adversely affected by the decision of the Board of Appeal may file a petition for review of the decision by the Enlarged Board of Appeal. 
(2)
The petition may only be filed on the grounds that:  
(a)
a member of the Board of Appeal took part in the decision in breach of Article 24, paragraph 1, or despite being excluded pursuant to a decision under Article 24, paragraph 4;
(b)
the Board of Appeal included a person not appointed as a member of the Boards of Appeal; 
(c)
a fundamental violation of Article 113 occurred;
(d)
any other fundamental procedural defect defined in the Implementing Regulations occurred in the appeal proceedings; or 
(e)
a criminal act established under the conditions laid down in the Implementing Regulations may have had an impact on the decision. 
(3)
The petition for review shall not have suspensive effect.  
(4)
The petition for review shall be filed in a reasoned statement, in accordance with the Implementing Regulations. If based on paragraph 2(a) to (d), the petition shall be filed within two months of notification of the decision of the Board of Appeal. If based on paragraph 2(e), the petition shall be filed within two months of the date on which the criminal act has been established and in any event no later than five years from notification of the decision of the Board of Appeal. The petition shall not be deemed to have been filed until after the prescribed fee has been paid.
(5)
The Enlarged Board of Appeal shall examine the petition for review in accordance with the Implementing Regulations. If the petition is allowable, the Enlarged Board of Appeal shall set aside the decision and shall re‑open proceedings before the Boards of Appeal in accordance with the Implementing Regulations. 
(6)
Any person who, in a designated Contracting State, has in good faith used or made effective and serious preparations for using an invention which is the subject of a published European patent application or a European patent in the period between the decision of the Board of Appeal and publication in the European Patent Bulletin of the mention of the decision of the Enlarged Board of Appeal on the petition, may without payment continue such use in the course of his business or for the needs thereof. 
 
[120] Inserted by the Act revising the European Patent Convention of 29.11.2000.
References
Art. 22, 106, 111
R. 104-111, 140
 
Cross-reference list
EPC EPC 1973
Art. 112a-