European Patent Office

T 0311/22 (Nicotine-containing particulate material / NICONOVUM) of 15.01.2025

European Case Law Identifier
ECLI:EP:BA:2025:T031122.20250115
Date of decision
15 January 2025
Case number
T 0311/22
Petition for review of
-
Application number
07007325.9
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 method for the preparation of a nicotine-containing particulate material with a crystalline cellulose (in particular MCC)
Applicant name
NicoNovum AB
Opponent name
Philip Morris Products S.A.
Swedish Match North Europe AB
Board
3.3.07
Headnote
-
Relevant legal provisions
EPC2000_Art_111(1)_(2007)_Sent_2European Patent Convention Art 114(2)European Patent Convention Art 123(2)European Patent Convention Art 56European Patent Convention Art 76(1)Rules of procedure of the Boards of Appeal Art 12(4)
Keywords
Admittance of items of evidence - admissibly raised and maintained in the first instance proceedings (yes)
Admittance of arguments - Amendment to the case (no)
Amendments - extension beyond the content of the (earlier) application as filed
Amendments - main request (yes), auxiliary request 2 (no)
Inventive step - reasonable expectation of success
Inventive step - auxiliary request 2 (no)
Catchword
-
Cited cases
T 1912/10
Citing cases
T 1091/22

Order

For these reasons it is decided that:

The decision under appeal is set aside.

The case is remitted to the opposition division with the order to maintain a patent on the basis of the claims of auxiliary request 2 filed with the reply to the grounds of appeal and a description to be adapted thereto.