T 0296/87 (Enantiomers) of 30.08.1988

European Case Law Identifier: ECLI:EP:BA:1988:T029687.19880830
Date of decision: 30 August 1988
Case number: T 0296/87
Petition for review of: -
Application number: 78101792.6
IPC class: C07C 59/58
Language of proceedings: German
Distribution: Published in the EPO's Official Journal (A)
Download: -
OJ versions: German
English
French
Other decisions for this case: -
Abstracts for this decision: -
Application title: -
Applicant name: Hoechst
Opponent name: -
Board: 3.3.01
Headnote: A chemical substance is held to be new if it differs from a known substance in a reliable parameter. The configuration is such a parameter. If the prior art describes specific racemates in more detail by reference to their structural formulae, that alone does not disclose their specific configurations (here D- enantiomers); see points 6 and 7 of the Reasons (in conjunction with T 12/81 "Diastereomers", T 181/82 "Spiro compounds" and T 7/86 "Xanthines" in OJ EPO 1982, 296; 1984, 401; and 1988, 381 respectively).
Relevant legal provisions: European Patent Convention Art 114 1973 European Patent Convention Art 123 1973 European Patent Convention Art 54 1973 European Patent Convention Art 56 1973
Keywords: New version of claims in opposition proceedings
Formulation attempt, not partial surrender
Novelty (yes) - enantiomers of known racemates
Inventive step (no)
Quantitatively surprising result of obvious tests (activity of enantiomer more than double that of racemate)
Objection of insufficient disclosure disregarded - not in due time e time
Catchword: -
Cited cases: -
Citing cases: G 0001/16 T 0135/88 T 0572/88 T 0640/88 T 0021/89 T 0763/89 T 0012/90 T 0449/90 T 0731/90 T 0196/91 T 0294/91 T 0636/91 T 0686/91 T 0805/92 T 1048/92 T 0013/93 T 0412/93 T 0656/94 T 0024/95 T 0600/95 T 0727/96 T 0990/96 T 1046/97 T 0219/98 T 0368/98 T 0432/98 T 0564/98 T 0726/98 T 0940/98 T 0308/99 T 0400/99 T 0507/99 T 0717/99 T 0184/00 T 0260/00 T 0926/00 T 1072/00 T 0244/01 T 0321/01 T 0393/01 T 0866/01 T 0880/01 T 0773/02 T 0934/02 T 0857/04 T 0944/04 T 1394/05 T 1970/07 T 0423/09 T 1150/11 T 1677/11 T 1760/11 T 2397/11 T 1085/13 T 0143/14 T 0043/16 W 0030/04

ORDER

For these reasons, it is decided that:

1. The contested decision is set aside.

2. The appeal is dismissed in respect of the appellants' main request.

3. The case is remitted to the department of first instance with the instruction to maintain the European patent on the basis of the claims set out in the subsidiary request and a description which has yet to be adapted.