T 1028/96 (Suspected partiality/DU PONT DE NEMOURS) of 15.09.1999
- European Case Law Identifier
- ECLI:EP:BA:1999:T102896.19990915
- Date of decision
- 15 September 1999
- Case number
- T 1028/96
- Petition for review of
- -
- Application number
- 86106603.3
- Language of proceedings
- English
- Distribution
- Published in the EPO's Official Journal (A)
- Download
- Decision in English
- Other decisions for this case
- T 1028/96 2000-01-19
- Abstracts for this decision
- -
- Application title
- Rembourrage fibreux en polyester et son procédé de fabrication
- Applicant name
- E. I. Du Pont De Nemours and Company
- Opponent name
- Fa. Karl Thiel
Fabromont AG
Firma Christian Heinrich Sandler GmbH & Co. KG - Board
- 3.2.01
- Headnote
I. In certain special circumstances members of a Board of Appeal in opposition proceedings may be "suspected of partiality" as set out in Article 24(3) EPC if they participated as such in the decision to grant the patent in suit (cf. point 6.5 of the reasons).
II. The Board in its original composition, i.e. with the member(s) objected to, is competent to examine the admissibility of an objection under Article 24(1) or Article 24(3) for the purpose of opening the procedure under Article 24(4) EPC (cf. point 1 of the reasons).
- Relevant legal provisions
- European Patent Convention Art 19(2) 1973European Patent Convention Art 24 1973European Patent Convention R 10(1) 1973Rules of procedure of the Boards of Appeal Art 1(2)Rules of procedure of the Boards of Appeal Art 2(1)Rules of procedure of the Boards of Appeal Art 3(2)
- Keywords
- Allegation of suspected partiality against chairman of the Board of Appeal
Competence of the Board in its original composition, i.e. with the member objected to, to examine the admissibility of the objection of suspected partiality for the purpose of opening the Article 24(4) procedure (yes)
Applicability of Article 24(1) where a member of the Board in opposition proceedings participated as such in the decision to grant the patent (no)
Applicability in such case of the ground of suspected partiality set out in Article 24(3) (yes, in certain circumstances) - Catchword
- -
ORDER
For these reasons it is decided that:
1. The original chairman of the Board is excluded from taking part in the further opposition appeal proceedings on the case.
2. The exclusion of the original technical member and of the original legal member of the Board also applies to the further opposition appeal proceedings on the case.