European Patent Office

J 0016/17 vom 12.07.2018

Europäischer Rechtsprechungsidentifikator
ECLI:EP:BA:2018:J001617.20180712
Datum der Entscheidung
12. Juli 2018
Aktenzeichen
J 0016/17
Antrag auf Überprüfung von
-
Anmeldenummer
12740277.4
Verfahrenssprache
Englisch
Verteilung
An die Kammervorsitzenden verteilt (C)
Amtsblattfassungen
Keine AB-Links gefunden
Weitere Entscheidungen für diese Akte
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Zusammenfassungen für diese Entscheidung
-
Bezeichnung der Anmeldung
DOUBLE SERRATED FORK
Name des Antragstellers
Elezi, Dashamir
Name des Einsprechenden
-
Kammer
3.1.01
Leitsatz
-
Schlagwörter
Incorrect form of decision under appeal - missing name of responsible employee
Re-establishment of rights - request admissible (no)
Remittal to the department of first instance - special reasons for not remitting the case
Orientierungssatz
The requirement laid down in Rule 113(1) EPC, according to which decisions from the European Patent Office must be signed by and state the name of the employee responsible, is not just a mere formality but an essential procedural step in the decision-taking process. The name and the signature serve to identify the decision's authors and express that they unconditionally assume responsibility for its content. This requirement is aimed at preventing arbitrariness and abuse and ensuring that it can be verified that the competent body has taken the decision. It therefore constitutes an embodiment of the rule of law. As a consequence, a violation of the requirement pursuant to Rule 113(1) EPC amounts to a substantial procedural violation and renders the decision erroneous (Reasons, point 2.3).

Order

For these reasons it is decided that:

1. The decision under appeal is set aside.

2. The request for re-establishment of rights is rejected.

3. The application is deemed to be withdrawn with effect as of 3 January 2017.

4. All fees paid after this date, with the exception of the fee for re-establishment of rights and the appeal fee, are refunded.