European Patent Office

T 0363/96 (Requirements to the standard of proof applicable to an alleged prior use ('balance of probabilities' - 'up to the hilt')) of 24.05.2000

European Case Law Identifier
ECLI:EP:BA:2000:T036396.20000524
Date of decision
24 May 2000
Case number
T 0363/96
Petition for review of
-
Application number
89107034.4
Language of proceedings
English
Distribution
Distributed to board chairmen (C)
OJ versions
No OJ links found
Other decisions for this case
-
Abstracts for this decision
-
Application title
Absorbent products containing hydrogels with ability to swell against pressure
Applicant name
KIMBERLY-CLARK CORPORATION
Opponent name
The Procter & Gamble Company
Stockhausen GmbH & Co.KG
Mölnlycke AB
Board
3.2.06
Headnote
-
Keywords
Limitation of appeal proceedings to the question of novelty of the subject-matter of claim 1
Novelty of subject-matter of claim 1 (no) (public prior use) (main and auxiliary requests 1, 1a, 1b)
Novelty of subject-matter of claim 1 (yes) (auxiliary request 2)
Catchword
-
Citing cases
T 1105/00T 1008/02

ORDER

For these reasons it is decided that:

1. The decision under appeal is set aside.

2. The main request and the auxiliary requests 1, 1a and 1b are rejected.

3. The case is remitted to the first instance for continuation of the opposition proceedings.