European Patent Office

T 0371/88 (Transmission apparatus) vom 29.05.1990

Europäischer Rechtsprechungsidentifikator
ECLI:EP:BA:1990:T037188.19900529
Datum der Entscheidung
29. Mai 1990
Aktenzeichen
T 0371/88
Antrag auf Überprüfung von
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Anmeldenummer
80304241.5
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
Fuji
Name des Einsprechenden
Steyr-Daimler-Puch
Kammer
3.2.01
Leitsatz

The amendment of a granted claim to replace a restrictive term, which in its strict literal meaning does not clearly embrace a further embodiment of the description, by a less restrictive term clearly embracing also this embodiment, is permissible under Article 123(3) EPC, if the examination of the extent of protection conferred by the granted claim results in the following conclusions:

(a) The restrictive term in the granted claim is not so clear in its technical meaning in the given context that it could be used to determine the extent of protection without interpretation by reference to the description and the drawings of the patent;

(b) It is quite clear from the description and the drawings of the patent and also from the examination procedure up to grant that the further embodiment belongs to the invention and that it was never intended to exclude it from protection conferred by the

Schlagwörter
Extension of the protection by broadening a restrictive term in a claim during opposition proceedings
Inventive step (yes)
Orientierungssatz
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Zitierte Akten
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ORDER

For these reasons it is decided that:

1. The impugned decision is set aside.

2. The case is remitted to the first instance with the order to maintain the patent on the basis of Claim 1 according to the main request as presented at the oral proceedings, Claim 2 and description as amended during the opposition proceedings and further corrected on page 1a according to point 7 of the Decision, together with the drawings as granted.