T 0320/88 (Arranging oral proceedings) of 13.03.1989

In relation to the fixing of oral proceedings before the EPO, paragraphs 1(a) and 1(b) of the Notice dated 21 April 1987. (published in OJ EPO 1987, 168. The procedure for fixing the date for oral proceedings was modified by the Notice of the Vice- Presidents of Directorate-General 2 and 3 dated 14 February 1989, OJ EPO 1989, 132) should be read togehter, and in the context of of paragraph 1 as a whole. A telefax from the Registrar of the Board of Appeal which proposes a date for oral proceedings, and which requires strong reasons to be stated within ten days before an alternative date will be considered (in principle, within the same week) is in accordance with paragraph 1(a) and (b) of the Notice. In the absence of any reasons being given within the ten days for a proposed date being stated by a party to be inconvenient, the EPO may issue a summons to oral proceedings on the proposed date.