European Patent Office

G 0005/91 (Appealable decision) vom 05.05.1992

Europäischer Rechtsprechungsidentifikator
ECLI:EP:BA:1992:G000591.19920505
Datum der Entscheidung
5. Mai 1992
Aktenzeichen
G 0005/91
Antrag auf Überprüfung von
T 0261/88 1991-03-28
Anmeldenummer
81201022.1
IPC-Klasse
G11B 7/00
Verfahrenssprache
Englisch
Verteilung
Im Amtsblatt des EPA veröffentlicht (A)
Amtsblattfassungen
Weitere Entscheidungen für diese Akte
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Zusammenfassungen für diese Entscheidung
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Bezeichnung der Anmeldung
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Name des Antragstellers
Discovision
Name des Einsprechenden
Philips Gloeilampenfabrieken
Kammer
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Leitsatz

1. Although Article 24 EPC applies only to members of the Boards of Appeal and of the Enlarged Board of Appeal, the requirement of impartiality applies in principle also to employees of the departments of the first instance of the EPO taking part in decision-making activities affecting the rights of any party.

2. There is no legal basis under the EPC for any separate appeal against an order of a director of a department of the first instance such as an Opposition Division rejecting an objection to a member of the division on the ground of suspected partiality. However, the composition of the Opposition Division may be challenged on such a ground of appeal against the final decision of the division or against an interlocutory decision under Article 106(3) EPC allowing separate appeal.

Schlagwörter
Suspected partiality of a member of an Opposition Division - ground of appeal?
Orientierungssatz
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Zitierte Akten
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ORDER

For these reasons it is decided that:

The questions referred to the Enlarged Board of Appeal in the present case are to be answered as follows:

1. Although Article 24 EPC applies only to members of the Boards of Appeal and of the Enlarged Board of Appeal, the requirement of impartiality applies in principle also to employees of the departments of the first instance of the EPO taking part in decision-making activities affecting the rights of any party.

2. There is no legal basis under the EPC for any separate appeal against an order of a director of a department of the first instance such as an Opposition Division rejecting an objection to a member of the division on the ground of suspected partiality. However, the composition of the Opposition Division may be challenged on such a ground on appeal against the final decision of the division or against any interlocutory decision under Article 106(3) EPC allowing separate appeal.