European Patent Office

T 0937/91 (Numbered documents) of 10.11.1994

European Case Law Identifier
ECLI:EP:BA:1994:T093791.19941110
Date of decision
10 November 1994
Case number
T 0937/91
Petition for review of
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Application number
85302866.0
IPC class
B42D 15/00
Language of proceedings
English
Distribution
Published in the EPO's Official Journal (A)
Other decisions for this case
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Abstracts for this decision
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Application title
Numbered documents and methods of and means for production thereof
Applicant name
THOMAS DE LA RU
Opponent name
GAO mbH
Board
3.2.05
Headnote

The following question is referred to the Enlarged Board of Apeal:

In a case where a patent has been opposed on the basis of Article 100(a) EPC, but the opposition has only been substantiated on the grounds of lack of novelty and inventive step pursuant to Articles 54 and 56 EPC, can a Board of Appeal introduce the ground that the subject-matter of the claims does not meet the conditions of Article 52(2) EPC of its own motion into the proceedings?

Keywords
Extent of obligation and power to examine grounds for opposition
Referral to the Enlarged Board of Appeal
Catchword
-
Citing cases
T 0514/92T 0131/01

ORDER

For these reasons it is decided that:

Under Article 112(1)(a) EPC, the following question is referred to the Enlarged Board of Appeal:

"In a case where a patent has been opposed on the basis of Article 100(a) EPC, but the opposition has only been substantiated on the grounds of lack of novelty and inventive step pursuant to Articles 54 and 56 EPC, can a Board of Appeal introduce the ground that the subject-matter of the claims does not meet the conditions of Article 52(2) EPC of its own motion into the proceedings?"