European Patent Office

T 2082/11 (Surfactant components in particulate form/PROCTER & GAMBLE) of 08.01.2014

European Case Law Identifier
ECLI:EP:BA:2014:T208211.20140108
Date of decision
8 January 2014
Case number
T 2082/11
Petition for review of
-
Application number
05723647.3
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
A granular laundry detergent composition comprising a ternary detersive surfactant system and low levels of, or no, zeolite builders and phosphate builders
Applicant name
The Procter & Gamble Company
Opponent name
UNILEVER N.V. / UNILEVER PLC
Board
3.3.06
Headnote
-
Keywords
Admissibility of experimental evidence submitted with the Respondent's reply to the statement of the grounds of appeal: yes
Inventive step (main request): no
Added subject-matter (auxiliary requests 1, 3, 7, 9 and 10): yes
Inventive step (auxiliary requests 2, 4, 5, 6 and 8): no
Inventive step (auxiliary request 11): yes - optimization not suggested in the prior art
Refund of the appeal fee: no - no procedural violation
Refund of the appeal fee: no - admission of late-filed experimental report by the Opposition Division
Catchword
-
Citing cases
-

Order

For these reasons it is decided that:

1. The decision under appeal is set aside.

2. The case is remitted to the Opposition Division with the order to maintain the patent on the basis of the claims according to the auxiliary request 11 submitted with the letter dated 20 March 2012 and a description to be adapted thereto where appropriate.

3. The request of the Appellant for refund of the appeal fee is dismissed.