G 0001/95 (Fresh grounds for opposition) of 19.07.1996

European Case Law Identifier: ECLI:EP:BA:1996:G000195.19960719
Date of decision: 19 July 1996
Case number: G 0001/95
Petition for review of: T 0937/91 1994-11-10
Application number: 85302866.0
IPC class: B42D 15/00
Language of proceedings: English
Distribution: Published in the EPO's Official Journal (A)
Download: Decision in English
OJ versions: German
English
French
Other decisions for this case: -
Abstracts for this decision: -
Application title: Numbered documents and methods of and means for production thereof
Applicant name: THOMAS DE LA RUE & COMPANY LIMITED
Opponent name: GAO Gesellschaft für Automation und Organisation mbH
Board: -
Headnote: In a case where a patent has been opposed on the grounds set out in Article 100(a) EPC, but the opposition has only been substantiated on the grounds of lack of novelty and lack of inventive step, the ground of unpatentable subject-matter based upon Articles 52(1), (2) EPC is a fresh ground for opposition and accordingly may not be introduced into the appeal proceedings without the agreement of the patentee.
Relevant legal provisions: European Patent Convention Art 100(a) 1973 European Patent Convention Art 100(b) 1973 European Patent Convention Art 100(c) 1973 European Patent Convention Art 114(1) 1973 European Patent Convention Art 99 1973 European Patent Convention R 55 1973 European Patent Convention R 56 1973
Keywords: No power to examine fresh grounds for opposition without agreement of patentee
Catchword: -
Cited cases: G 0010/91 T 0220/83 T 0550/88 T 0796/90 T 0646/91 T 0018/93
Citing cases: G 0001/99 R 0002/08 T 0649/92 T 0433/93 T 0466/93 T 0566/93 T 0065/94 T 0472/94 T 0749/94 T 0154/95 T 0243/95 T 0389/95 T 0606/95 T 0704/95 T 0736/95 T 0806/95 T 0869/95 T 1007/95 T 0422/96 T 0463/96 T 0656/96 T 1072/96 T 0189/97 T 0659/97 T 0701/97 T 0832/97 T 0908/97 T 1138/98 T 1139/98 T 0151/99 T 0165/99 T 0365/99 T 0903/99 T 1086/99 T 0012/00 T 0108/00 T 0236/00 T 0395/00 T 0817/00 T 1052/00 T 0100/01 T 0389/01 T 1226/01 T 0198/02 T 0232/02 T 0623/02 T 1045/02 T 0448/03 T 0754/03 T 1027/03 T 0097/04 T 0154/04 T 0300/04 T 0514/04 T 1006/04 T 1187/04 T 1352/04 T 0083/05 T 0099/05 T 0190/05 T 0275/05 T 0365/05 T 0387/05 T 0774/05 T 0995/05 T 1424/05 T 0451/06 T 0463/06 T 0635/06 T 0764/06 T 1206/06 T 1242/06 T 1830/06 T 1912/06 T 0079/07 T 0151/07 T 0179/07 T 0371/07 T 1549/07 T 1715/07 T 1828/08 T 0144/09 T 1058/09 T 1495/09 T 1592/09 T 1918/09 T 0270/10 T 0365/10 T 1000/10 T 0167/11 T 0690/11 T 1513/11 T 1604/11 T 2606/11 T 0028/12 T 0429/12 T 0433/12 T 0721/12 T 0746/12 T 0810/12 T 0864/12 T 0915/12 T 0920/12 T 0057/13 T 0162/13 T 0899/13 T 0173/14 T 0231/14 T 0832/14 T 0892/14 T 1029/14 T 1286/14 T 1564/14 T 2007/14 T 0021/15 T 0022/15 T 0396/15 T 0418/15 T 1252/15 T 1298/15 T 1593/15 T 0825/16 T 0862/16 T 1272/16 T 1948/16 T 2339/16 T 0135/17 T 0184/17 T 0223/17 T 0718/17 T 0951/17 T 1407/17 T 1816/17 T 0738/18 T 1042/18 T 1287/18 T 0151/19 T 0250/20 T 0535/20 T 1864/21 T 0884/22 T 1620/23

ORDER

For these reasons it is decided that:

The question of law referred to the Enlarged Board of Appeal is to be answered as follows:

In a case where a patent has been opposed on the grounds set out in Article 100(a) EPC, but the opposition has only been substantiated on the grounds of lack of novelty and lack of inventive step, the ground of unpatentable subject-matter based upon Articles 52(1), (2) EPC is a fresh ground for opposition and accordingly may not be introduced into the appeal proceedings without the agreement of the patentee.