G 0004/95 (Representation) of 19.02.1996

European Case Law Identifier

ECLI:EP:BA:1996:G000495.19960219

Date of decision

19 February 1996

Case number

G 0004/95

Petition for review of

T 0803/93 1995-07-19

Application number

85304219.0

IPC class

G07G 1/06

Language of proceedings

English

Distribution

Published in the EPO's Official Journal (A)

Download

OJ versions

Other decisions for this case

Abstracts for this decision

Application title

Apparatus and method for reducing theft from a store

Applicant name

Bogasky, John J.

Opponent name

Sensormatic Electronics Corp.

Board

Headnote

1. During oral proceedings under Article 116 EPC in the context of opposition or opposition appeal proceedings, a person accompanying the professional representative of a party may be allowed to make oral submissions on specific legal or technical issues on behalf of that party, otherwise than under Article 117 EPC, in addition to the complete presentation of the party's case by the professional representative.

2. (a) Such oral submissions cannot be made as a matter of right, but only with the permission of and under the discretion of the EPO.

(b) The following main criteria should be considered by the EPO when exercising its discretion to allow the making of oral submissions by an accompanying person in opposition or opposition appeal proceedings:

(i) The professional representative should request permission for such oral submissions to be made. The request should state the name and qualifications of the accompanying person, and should specify the subject-matter of the proposed oral submissions.

(ii) The request should be made sufficiently in advance of the oral proceedings so that all opposing parties are able properly to prepare themselves in relation to the proposed oral submissions.

(iii) A request which is made shortly before or at the oral proceedings should in the absence of exceptional circumstances be refused, unless each opposing party agrees to the making of the oral submissions requested.

(iv) The EPO should be satisfied that oral submissions by an accompanying person are made under the continuing responsibility and control of the professional representative.

(c) No special criteria apply to the making of oral submissions by qualified patent lawyers of countries which are not contracting states to the EPC.

Relevant legal provisions

European Patent Convention Art 116 1973 European Patent Convention Art 117 1973 European Patent Convention Art 133 1973 European Patent Convention Art 134 1973

Keywords

Oral submissions by an accompanying person in opposition or opposition appeal proceedings

Catchword

Cited cases

Citing cases

G 0002/12 G 0002/13 G 0003/19 R 0003/08 R 0010/10 R 0022/10 R 0012/12 R 0012/22 R 0024/22 J 0001/04 T 0085/93 T 0803/93 T 1077/93 T 1082/93 T 0097/94 T 0334/94 T 0151/95 T 0840/95 T 0941/95 T 0476/96 T 0212/97 T 0502/97 T 0633/97 T 0899/97 T 1180/97 T 0005/98 T 0144/98 T 0241/98 T 0438/98 T 0556/98 T 0621/98 T 0840/98 T 0695/99 T 0966/99 T 0780/00 T 0896/00 T 0922/00 T 1048/00 T 1169/00 T 0179/01 T 0292/01 T 0475/01 T 1288/01 T 0063/02 T 0302/02 T 0596/02 T 0764/02 T 0956/02 T 1212/02 T 0120/03 T 0315/03 T 0566/03 T 0741/03 T 0877/03 T 0089/04 T 0256/04 T 0496/04 T 1392/04 T 0365/05 T 0774/05 T 1394/05 T 0083/06 T 0392/06 T 0678/06 T 0910/06 T 1207/06 T 1208/06 T 1706/06 T 0095/07 T 0131/07 T 0482/07 T 0520/07 T 0699/07 T 0708/07 T 0919/07 T 1357/07 T 0378/08 T 0453/08 T 0604/08 T 1168/08 T 1546/08 T 2135/08 T 0124/09 T 0150/09 T 0756/09 T 1045/09 T 0032/10 T 0614/10 T 1314/10 T 1693/10 T 2422/10 T 0577/11 T 1271/11 T 1329/11 T 1458/11 T 1713/11 T 2197/11 T 2321/11 T 2552/11 T 0443/12 T 0623/12 T 1150/12 T 1431/12 T 1654/12 T 1706/12 T 1821/12 T 1914/12 T 2036/12 T 2216/12 T 2440/12 T 1027/13 T 1102/13 T 1233/13 T 2086/13 T 0420/14 T 0544/14 T 1635/14 T 1668/14 T 0335/15 T 0491/15 T 0833/15 T 1287/15 T 1890/15 T 2068/15 T 2196/15 T 2198/15 T 0421/16 T 0589/16 T 0634/16 T 0946/16 T 1105/16 T 1711/16 T 2492/16 T 0459/17 T 0484/17 T 1656/17 T 2064/17 T 2758/17 T 0885/18 T 2243/18 T 2502/18 T 0247/19 T 0406/19 T 1166/19 T 2116/19 T 2401/19 T 2914/19 T 1194/20 T 1624/20 T 0440/21 T 0765/21 T 0953/21 T 1612/21 T 1946/21 T 2045/21 T 0302/22 T 0654/22 T 1252/22 T 2112/22 T 0579/23 T 1047/23 T 1966/23 T 1994/23 T 1996/23

ORDER

For these reasons it is decided that:

(1) and (2) During oral proceedings under Article 116 EPC in the context of opposition or opposition appeal proceedings, a person accompanying the professional representative of a party may be allowed to make oral submissions on specific legal or technical issues on behalf of that party, otherwise than under Article 117 EPC, in addition to the complete presentation of the party's case by the professional representative.

(3) (a) Such oral submissions cannot be made as a matter of right, but only with the permission of and under the discretion of the EPO.

(ii) The request should be made sufficiently in advance of the oral proceedings so that all opposing parties are able properly to prepare themselves in relation to the proposed oral submissions.

(iv) The EPO should be satisfied that oral submissions by an accompanying person are made under the continuing responsibility and control of the professional representative.

(c) No special criteria apply to the making of oral submissions by qualified patent lawyers of countries which are not contracting states to the EPC.