J 0003/87 (Membranes) of 02.12.1987
- European Case Law Identifier
- ECLI:EP:BA:1987:J000387.19871202
- Date of decision
- 2 December 1987
- Case number
- J 0003/87
- Online on
- 18 December 1987
- Petition for review of
- -
- Application number
- 84903426.9
- IPC class
- B01D 13/04
- Language of proceedings
- English
- Distribution
- Published in the EPO's Official Journal (A)
- Download
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- Other decisions for this case
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- Abstracts for this decision
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- Application title
- -
- Applicant name
- Memtec
- Opponent name
- -
- Board
- 3.1.01
- Headnote
1. The principles of good faith governing relations between the EPO and applicants require communications to be clear and unambiguous to the applicant (cf. decision J 2/87 of 20 July 1987, OJ EPO 1988,330). Communications must be worded so as to rule out any misunderstanding on the part of a reasonable addressee.
2. A party to proceedings before the EPO cannot suffer a disadvantage as a result of having been misled by a communication which could fairly be regarded as misleading to a reasonable addressee.
3. An examination fee surcharge which would not have become due in the absence of a misleading communication must accordingly be reimbursed in accordance with the principles of good faith.
- Relevant legal provisions
- European Patent Convention R 101(4) 1973European Patent Convention R 85b 1973European Patent Convention R 67 1973
- Keywords
- Reimbursement of surcharge on examination fee (yes)
Authorisation - filing in due time
Clarity and unambiguity of communications
Principles of good faith - Catchword
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- Cited cases
- -
- Citing cases
- G 0002/97J 0027/92J 0043/92J 0013/93J 0014/94J 0029/94J 0030/94J 0018/96J 0001/97J 0038/97J 0034/03J 0003/05J 0005/07J 0010/07J 0001/12J 0013/16J 0010/17J 0001/19J 0003/24T 0522/88T 0831/90T 0516/91T 0601/91T 0690/93T 0181/95T 0272/95T 0343/95T 0460/95T 0493/95T 0188/97T 0815/02T 1181/04T 0308/05T 2092/13T 0578/14
ORDER
For these reasons, it is decided that:
1. The contested decision is set aside.
2. Reimbursement of the examination fee surcharge and the appeal fee is ordered.