European Patent Office

T 0323/97 (Disclaimer/UNILEVER) of 17.09.2001

European Case Law Identifier
ECLI:EP:BA:2001:T032397.20010917
Date of decision
17 September 2001
Case number
T 0323/97
Petition for review of
-
Application number
91309598.0
IPC class
C11D 17/00
Language of proceedings
English
Distribution
Published in the EPO's Official Journal (A)
Other decisions for this case
-
Abstracts for this decision
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Application title
Detergent composition in tablet form
Applicant name
UNILEVER PLC. et al.
Opponent name
Henkel
Benckiser GmbH
Procter & Gamble
Board
3.3.06
Headnote

I. An amendment to a patent by the introduction of a "negative" technical feature into a claim resulting in the exclusion of certain embodiments is, regardless of the name "disclaimer", none the less an amendment governed by Articles 123(2) and (3) EPC (point 2.2 of the Reasons for the Decision).

II. Re: Admissibility of disclaimers (points 2.3 to 2.5 of the Reasons for the Decision).

Keywords
Disclaimer (main request) (no) - disclaimer not based upon application as filed is not admissible
Request filed for the first time at oral proceedings - not admissible
Inventive step (no)
Catchword
-

ORDER

For these reasons it is decided that:

The appeal is dismissed.