T 0242/24 of 25.02.2026
- European Case Law Identifier
- ECLI:EP:BA:2026:T024224.20260225
- Date of decision
- 25 February 2026
- Case number
- T 0242/24
- Online on
- 24 April 2026
- Petition for review of
- -
- Application number
- 16892527.9
- Language of proceedings
- English
- Distribution
- No distribution (D)
- Download
- Decision in English
- OJ versions
- No OJ links found
- Other decisions for this case
- -
- Abstracts for this decision
- -
- Application title
- PANTS-TYPE ABSORBENT ARTICLE
- Applicant name
- Unicharm Corporation
- Opponent name
- Procter & Gamble, Inc.
- Board
- 3.2.04
- Headnote
- -
- Relevant legal provisions
- European Patent Convention Art 100(a)European Patent Convention Art 54European Patent Convention Art 56European Patent Convention Art 123(2)Rules of procedure of the Boards of Appeal 2020 Art 013(2)
- Keywords
- Grounds for opposition - lack of patentability (yes)
Novelty - main request (no)
Novelty - auxiliary requests 1 to and 5 (no)
Inventive step - auxiliary request 7 (yes)
Amendments - auxiliary requests 4 and 6
Amendments - added subject-matter (yes)
Amendment after notification of Art. 15(1) RPBA communication - deletion of dependent claims
Amendment after notification of Art. 15(1) RPBA communication - taken into account (yes) - Catchword
- -
- Cited cases
- G 0001/19
- 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 in amended form with the following claims and a description to be adapted thereto:
claims 1 - 4 of auxiliary request 7a filed during oral proceedings of 25 February 2026.