European Patent Office

T 0727/19 vom 01.04.2022

Europäischer Rechtsprechungsidentifikator
ECLI:EP:BA:2022:T072719.20220401
Datum der Entscheidung
1. April 2022
Aktenzeichen
T 0727/19
Antrag auf Überprüfung von
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Anmeldenummer
11772975.6
Verfahrenssprache
Englisch
Verteilung
An die Kammervorsitzenden und -mitglieder verteilt (B)
Amtsblattfassungen
Keine AB-Links gefunden
Weitere Entscheidungen für diese Akte
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Zusammenfassungen für diese Entscheidung
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Bezeichnung der Anmeldung
BEVERAGE MACHINE FOR DIFFERENT SPATIAL ENVIRONMENTS
Name des Antragstellers
Société des Produits Nestlé S.A.
Name des Einsprechenden
Koninklijke Douwe Egberts BV
Kammer
3.2.04
Leitsatz
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Schlagwörter
Justified suspicion of partiality (yes)
Substantial procedural violation - (yes)
Remittal - fundamental deficiency in first-instance proceedings (yes)
Remittal - re-examination of the case ab initio
New composition of the first-instance department ordered
Prohibition of reformatio in peius (no)
Reimbursement of appeal fee - (yes)
Orientierungssatz
1. The Guidelines, Part E, Chapter XI, set out the procedure whereby the reasons of a responsible superior's decision rejecting a challenge to the impartiality of a division can be appealed. This procedure does not make the responsible superior's decision formally appealable (Reasons 2.3 and 2.4)
2. The unexplained omission of the reasons of the responsible superior's decision from the final decision of the division justifies the suspicion of partiality and constitutes a substantial procedural violation (Reasons 2.9 and 2.15)
3. The principle of the prohibition of "reformatio in peius" is not applicable where a case is to be remitted to a division in a new composition because of a suspicion of partiality (Reasons 5.5 and 5.6)
Zitierende Akten
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Order

For these reasons it is decided that:

1. The decision under appeal is set aside.

2. The case is remitted for further prosecution to an Opposition Division to be re-constituted in a new composition pursuant to Article 19(2) EPC replacing all members.

3. The appeal fee is reimbursed.