T 1076/21 (GRAIN ORIENTED ELECTRICAL STEEL/JFE Steel) of 26.05.2023

European Case Law Identifier: ECLI:EP:BA:2023:T107621.20230526
Date of decision: 26 May 2023
Case number: T 1076/21
Petition for review of: -
Application number: 14857559.0
IPC class: C21D 9/46 C22C 38/00 H01F 1/16 C22C 38/60 C21D 8/12
Language of proceedings: English
Distribution: Distributed to board chairmen (C)
Download: Decision in English
OJ versions: No OJ links found
Other decisions for this case: -
Abstracts for this decision: -
Application title: GRAIN ORIENTED ELECTRICAL STEEL SHEET HAVING EXCELLENT MAGNETIC CHARACTERISTICS AND COATING ADHESION
Applicant name: JFE Steel Corporation
Opponent name: thyssenkrupp Electrical Steel GmbH
Board: 3.3.05
Headnote: -
Relevant legal provisions: European Patent Convention Art 100(b)European Patent Convention Art 111(1)Rules of procedure of the Boards of Appeal Art 12(2)Rules of procedure of the Boards of Appeal Art 13(2)
Keywords: Grounds for opposition - insufficiency of disclosure (no)
Amendment after summons - exceptional circumstances (no)
Appeal decision - remittal to the department of first instance (yes)
primary object of appeal proceedings to review decision
Catchword: The burden of proof regarding the facts, arguments and evidence on the substance (which initially lies with the opponent) does not shift to the proprietor just because the patent has been revoked due to an alleged insufficient disclosure.
It is down to the patent proprietor to substantiate on appeal why that decision is wrong. The burden of proof on the substance (and in consequence the benefit of the doubt), however, is only shifted when the opposition division's assessment that the presented facts, arguments and evidence were sufficient to discharge the opponent's burden of proof turns out to be correct.
(See item 1. of the grounds)
Cited cases: G 0009/91 G 0010/91 T 0182/89 T 0019/90 T 0585/92 T 0376/95 T 0499/00 T 0072/04 T 1210/05 T 0063/06 T 0066/07 T 2006/08 T 0338/10 T 0518/10 T 0262/11 T 0480/11 T 1558/11 T 1746/12 T 0325/13 T 1052/13 T 1608/13 T 0030/15 T 0347/15 T 0355/15 T 0430/15 T 1596/16 T 2218/16 T 0720/17 T 1529/17 T 1911/17 T 0055/18 T 0188/18 T 0942/18 T 1487/18 T 0260/19 T 1002/20 T 0428/21
Citing cases: T 0467/21 T 1509/21 T 1756/21 T 2176/21 T 0127/22 T 0261/22 T 1608/22 T 1708/22 T 1786/22 T 1867/22 T 2181/22 T 0034/23 T 1272/23 T 1320/23 T 1554/23

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 for further prosecution.