European Patent Office

T 1807/15 of 02.12.2022

European Case Law Identifier
ECLI:EP:BA:2022:T180715.20221202
Date of decision
2 December 2022
Case number
T 1807/15
Petition for review of
-
Application number
04758381.0
IPC class
H03F 1/02
Language of proceedings
English
Distribution
Distributed to board chairmen (C)
OJ versions
No OJ links found
Application title
Doherty Amplifier with Output Hybrid Coupler
Applicant name
Andrew AG
Opponent name
Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co KG
Board
3.5.02
Headnote
-
Relevant legal provisions
European Patent Convention Art 104European Patent Convention Art 123(2)Rules of procedure of the Boards of Appeal 2020 Art 013(2)
Keywords
Amendment after summons - taken into account (no)
Amendments - added subject-matter (yes)
Apportionment of costs - (no)
Catchword
If more than one summons are issued in appeal proceedings, both after the entry into force of the revised version of the Rules of Procedure, the first of these summons are the summons referred to in Article 13(2) RPBA 2020. Summons represent a predictable and objectively determinable trigger for the third level of convergence. This trigger function is independent of any subsequent procedural development, see reasons 2.
The postponement of oral proceedings due to a request for a referral of a question of law to the Enlarged Board of Appeal which was not announced in advance by the party making the request normally does not justify apportionment of costs. Since there is no guarantee that such a request will be successful, all parties will normally have to prepare for a discussion of the substance of the case irrespective of whether the request is announced in advance or not, see reasons 8.
Cited cases
T 2279/16

Order

For these reasons it is decided that:

1. The decision under appeal is set aside.

2. The patent is revoked.