European Patent Office

J 0010/20 of 22.01.2021

European Case Law Identifier
ECLI:EP:BA:2021:J001020.20210122
Date of decision
22 January 2021
Case number
J 0010/20
Petition for review of
-
Application number
16874169.2
Language of proceedings
English
Distribution
No distribution (D)
OJ versions
No OJ links found
Other decisions for this case
-
Abstracts for this decision
-
Application title
INDUSTRIAL METHOD FOR RECOVERING PHOSPHOLIPIDS AND PRODUCING LECITHIN FROM A RESIDUE FROM THE PRODUCTION OF SOY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE (SPC)
Applicant name
Fernandes De Siqueira Machado, Paula
Opponent name
-
Board
3.1.01
Headnote
-
Keywords
Extension of periods - COVID-19 pandemic - Notice from the EPO
Protection of legitimate expectations (yes)
Statement of grounds of appeal filed within time limit (yes)
Date on which payment is made - payment through bank outside of a Contracting State
Request for further processing within time limit (no)
Request for re-establishment of rights within time limit (no)
Catchword
If the European Patent Office issues a promise or statement on how to act in a given area, the principle of legitimate expectations requires that promise or statement to be honoured unless there is good reason not to do so. Users and representatives cannot be expected to question, without any apparent reason, statements on the extension of time limits which are made in publications under Rule 134(4) EPC. Even in the absence of a general dislocation in the delivery or transmission of mail, they can rely on such publications without suffering any disadvantages (points 1.12.-1.20 of the Reasons).

Order

For these reasons it is decided that:

The appeal is dismissed.