European Patent Office

T 0013/87 of 17.05.1988

European Case Law Identifier
ECLI:EP:BA:1988:T001387.19880517
Date of decision
17 May 1988
Case number
T 0013/87
Petition for review of
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Application number
79302460.5
IPC class
-
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
Programmable implantable medical device
Applicant name
Medtronic
Opponent name
-
Board
3.4.01
Headnote
-
Keywords
Notice of opposition delivered to German Patent Office
Filed at EPO after expiry of 9-month period
Effect of Administrative Agreement dated 29 June 1981
Referred to Enlarged Board of Appeal
Catchword
-
Cited cases
-
Citing cases
T 0695/89

ORDER

For these reasons, it is decided that:

The following questions concerning an important point of law shall be referrd to the Enlarged Board of Appeal for decision:

(i) If the President of the EPO makes an agreement with an outside organisation (here: the German Patent Office), has he the power to include in such an agreement a term which requires the EPO in certain circumstances to treat a document which was filed at the EPO outside a time limit set by the EPC as if it had been filed within such time limit?

(ii) If the making of an agreement which includes such a term is not within the power of the President of the EPO, what is the legal effect of such a term in such an agreement, having regard to the fact that the agreement was published in the Official Journal in order that parties to proceedings before the EPO should be informed of and rely upon its contents?