European Patent Office

J 0007/87 (Abandonment) of 28.10.1987

European Case Law Identifier
ECLI:EP:BA:1987:J000787.19871028
Date of decision
28 October 1987
Case number
J 0007/87
Petition for review of
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Application number
83103133.1
IPC class
C07J 51/00
Language of proceedings
English
Distribution
Published in the EPO's Official Journal (A)
Other decisions for this case
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Abstracts for this decision
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Application title
-
Applicant name
Schwarz Italia
Opponent name
-
Board
3.1.01
Headnote

Effective withdrawal of a European patent application does not depend on whether the applicant has used the term "withdrawal". The language used must be interpreted having regard to the surrounding circumstances from which it must be clear that the applicant really wants immediate and unconditional withdrawal rather than passive abandonment leading in the course of time to deemed withdrawal.

Relevant legal provisions
European Patent Convention R 67 1973
Keywords
Withdrawal of patent application (no) - passive abandonment (yes)
Interpretation of written statement - need for clarification
Failure to seek clarification
Substantial procedural violation (yes)
Catchword
-
Cited cases
-

ORDER

For these reasons, it is ordered that:

1. The Decision of the Head of the Formalities Section of Directorate General 2 dated 14 October 1986 is set aside.

2. It is declared that European patent application No. 83 103 133.1 (publication No. 0 092 073) has never been withdrawn.

3. The fee for appeal is to be reimbursed.