T 0382/97 (Dispenser/ECOLAB) vom 28.09.2000
- Europäischer Rechtsprechungsidentifikator
- ECLI:EP:BA:2000:T038297.20000928
- Datum der Entscheidung
- 28. September 2000
- Aktenzeichen
- T 0382/97
- Antrag auf Überprüfung von
- -
- Anmeldenummer
- 88113746.7
- IPC-Klasse
- C11D 17/04
- Verfahrenssprache
- Englisch
- Verteilung
- An die Kammervorsitzenden und -mitglieder verteilt (B)
- Download
- Entscheidung auf Englisch
- Amtsblattfassungen
- Keine AB-Links gefunden
- Weitere Entscheidungen für diese Akte
- -
- Zusammenfassungen für diese Entscheidung
- -
- Bezeichnung der Anmeldung
- Dispenser for an article comprising a water soluble bag containing a pelletized functional material, and methods for its use
- Name des Antragstellers
- ECOLAB INC.
- Name des Einsprechenden
- UNILEVER N.V. / UNILEVER PLC
- Kammer
- 3.3.06
- Leitsatz
- -
- Relevante Rechtsnormen
- European Patent Convention Art 108 1973European Patent Convention Art 114(2) 1973European Patent Convention Art 54 1973European Patent Convention Art 56 1973European Patent Convention Art 99(1) 1973European Patent Convention R 55(c) 1973European Patent Convention R 57a 1973European Patent Convention R 64(b) 1973European Patent Convention R 71a 1973
- Schlagwörter
- Main request: novelty - no
First auxiliary request: inventive step - yes
Procedural violation - no - Orientierungssatz
- I. Whereas Rule 57a EPC establishes explicitly the patent owner's right to amend its patent according to the criteria laid down in this rule, it does not entitle a patent proprietor to submit amendments of its patent at any time, i.e. also during oral proceedings, without the need to give good reasons for such late filing. Rules 57a and 71a EPC together govern the procedural preconditions for the admissibility of amendments of a patent by its proprietor before the Opposition Division. However amendments not complying with the time limit set under Rule 71a EPC may be admitted if good reasons can be acknowledged for their late submission (point 6.6 of the Reasons for the Decision).
II. A patent owner's right to amend its patent in accordance with Rule 57a EPC cannot be equated automatically with a right to file additional auxiliary requests. Any amendment has to be carried out in the most expedient manner which has to be established by the Opposition Division taking into due account the interest of all parties concerned (point 6.7 of the Reasons for the Decision).
ORDER
For these reasons it is decided that:
The decision under appeal is set aside and the case is remitted to the first instance with the order to maintain the patent in amended form with Claims 1 to 3 according to the first auxiliary request submitted during oral proceedings, with a description to be adapted thereto and with figures 1 to 3 as granted.