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Board of Appeals
Decisions of the Boards of Appeal

Selected decisionsOverview

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Selected decisions 

The list of “Selected decisions” alerts users to all newly published decisions for which a headnote or a catchword has been provided by the board. Usually, a board will add a headnote or catchword if it wishes to provide a brief summary of a particular point of law or to draw attention to an important part of the reasons for the decision. The list contains all decisions with a headnote or catchword published in the last three years and can be viewed by year by selecting the year from the menu on the left.

The list below contains all decisions with a headnote or catchword that have been released for publication in the last six months (newest first). 

September 2023

T 0620/19 (Security Substrates / De La Rue International Limited) 09-05-2023
Online on
28-09-2023
Board
3.4.01
Date of decision
09-05-2023
Language of proceedings
EN
IPC class
G06K 1/12
G06K 19/06
G06K 19/08
Application number
11704834.8
Catchword
A characteristic employed in the prior art concerned was introduced to the claims as a limitation. This amendment was not suitable for addressing the fundamental novelty issue in the case. In that sense, the amended claim set (auxiliary request 5) did not "[relate] to the case under appeal" and was not taken into account (Article 12(4) RPBA 2007).
Keywords

Main request, Auxiliary request 4 - Novelty - (no)

Auxiliary requests 1, 2, 3 and 5 - taken into account (no)

Auxiliary requests 6 to 10 - pending (no)

Application title

IMPROVEMENTS IN SECURITY SUBSTRATES FOR SECURITY DOCUMENTS

European Case Law Identifier
ECLI:EP:BA:2023:T062019.20230509
Distribution
NO DISTRIBUTION (D)
Decision in EN 379.96 KB
View decision
T 1408/19 04-07-2023
Online on
12-09-2023
Board
3.4.03
Date of decision
04-07-2023
Language of proceedings
EN
IPC class
H01J 37/244
H01J 37/28
Application number
11162291.6
Catchword

On the admissibility of an opposition in case the publication data of a piece of evidence is erroneous in the notice of opposition (Reasons, point 2)

Rule 76(2)(c) EPC merely requires an indication of the facts and evidence presented in support of the argued grounds for opposition, but not necessarily every piece of evidence need already be presented along with the notice of opposition. For an admissible opposition it is normally sufficient that the indications given in the notice of opposition permit the substantive content of the offered evidence to be established only at a later stage, provided that this substantive content can be established without undue effort and still within a reasonable time. (Reasons, point 2.5.1)

Keywords

Admissibility of appeal - (yes)

Admissibility of appeal - admission of the line of attack forming the basis of the appeal is not a legal requirement for the admissibility of appeal

Late-filed facts - no reason not to admit new line of attack

Admissibility of opposition - (yes)

Admissibility of opposition - corrigible erroneous reference

Inventive step - (yes)

Application title

Arrangement and method for the contrast improvement in a charged particle beam device for inspecting a specimen

European Case Law Identifier
ECLI:EP:BA:2023:T140819.20230704
Distribution
DISTRIBUTED TO BOARD CHAIRMEN (C)
Decision in EN 704.72 KB
View decision
R 0006/20 (Fundamental violation of the right to be heard) 10-07-2023
Online on
07-09-2023
Board
-
Date of decision
10-07-2023
Language of proceedings
EN
IPC class
B26B19/06
B26B19/20
B26B19/38
Application number
09251666.5
Catchword

1. The Enlarged Board of Appeal affirms its previous decisions R 8/15 and R 10/18.

2. Catchword 1, second paragraph, of R 10/18 reading: "Article 113(1) EPC is infringed if the board does not address submissions that, in its view, are relevant for the decision in a manner adequate to show that the parties were heard on them, i.e. that the board substantively considered those submissions..." is complemented as follows:

the requirement that "the Board substantively considered those submissions" should be given the meaning that "the Board considered the contents of those submissions", with this consideration comprising matters

- pertaining to admittance of facts, evidence and requests, and/or

- relating to substantive law, i.e. the merits of a case.

(See Reasons, point 2).

3. Article 12(4) RPBA 2007 is in line with Articles 114(1) and 113(1) EPC. (See Reasons, point 3.2.2(a) in fine.)

Keywords

Compliance of Art. 12(4) RPBA 2007 with Art. 114(1) and 113(1) EPC (yes)

Petition allowable (no) no violation of petitioner's right to be heard

Application title

Blade assembly

European Case Law Identifier
ECLI:EP:BA:2023:R000620.20230710
Distribution
DISTRIBUTED TO BOARD CHAIRMEN (C)
Decision in EN 530.81 KB
View decision
J 0005/23 04-09-2023
Online on
07-09-2023
Board
3.1.01
Date of decision
04-09-2023
Language of proceedings
EN
IPC class
A61B 8/12
A61B 1/00
A61B 8/00
A61B 90/00
Application number
21204983.7
Catchword
In the absence of a different definition in the Implementing Regulations, the term "signature" in Article 72 EPC must be understood as referring to a handwritten depiction of someone's name (Reasons 2.9).
Keywords

Assignment of a European patent application - signature requirement

Registration of transfers - evidence

Notice from the EPO - legal nature

Application title

TIP ASSEMBLIES FOR REAL-TIME SAMPLING SYSTEM

European Case Law Identifier
ECLI:EP:BA:2023:J000523.20230904
Distribution
DISTRIBUTED TO BOARD CHAIRMEN (C)
Decision in EN 457.87 KB
View decision

August 2023

T 0463/19 15-06-2023
Online on
01-08-2023
Board
3.4.02
Date of decision
15-06-2023
Language of proceedings
DE
IPC class
G01G 21/28
Application number
11187979.7
Catchword

Aufgrund folgender außergewöhnlicher Umstände ist das von der Einsprechenden verspätet eingereichte Dokument E65a im Sinne der Artikel 13 (1) und (2) VOBK 2020 im Verfahren zu berücksichtigen:

- Das Dokument war objektiv schwer auffindbar.

- Es wurde zweifellos nicht absichtlich zurückgehalten, sondern von einem Dritten erstmals in einem vom vorliegendem Einspruchsverfahren getrennten Einspruchsverfahren entgegengehalten und ist hierdurch der Einsprechenden bekannt geworden.

- Es gehört prima facie zum Stand der Technik.

- Es ist prima facie sehr relevant.

(Siehe Punkt 3.3 der Entscheidungsgründe)

Keywords

Änderungen - zulässig (ja)

Ausreichende Offenbarung - Ausführbarkeit (ja)

Spät eingereichte Beweismittel - Verfahrensmissbrauch (nein)

Spät eingereichte Beweismittel - Dokument hätte bereits im erstinstanzlichen Verfahren vorgebracht werden können (nein)

Spät eingereichte Beweismittel - prima facie relevant (ja)

Spät eingereichte Beweismittel - zugelassen (ja)

Zurückverweisung - besondere Gründe für Zurückverweisung

Application title

Nahtlose Wagenkörper und Verfahren zur Herstellung

European Case Law Identifier
ECLI:EP:BA:2023:T046319.20230615
Distribution
AN DIE KAMMERVORSITZENDEN VERTEILT (C)
Decision in DE 815.78 KB
View decision
J 0006/22 (Limits to oral proceedings on request) 26-07-2023
Online on
01-08-2023
Board
3.1.01
Date of decision
26-07-2023
Language of proceedings
EN
IPC class
-
Application number
-
Catchword

1. The requirement for immediate and complete substantiation of a request for re-establishment corresponds to the principle of "Eventualmaxime/Häufungsgrundsatz/le principe de la concentration des moyens", according to which the request must state all grounds for re-establishment and means of evidence without the possibility of submitting these at a later stage.

2. Dynamic interpretation of the EPC, as derived from Articles 31(1) and 31(3) Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, must take account of developments in national and inter­natio­nal procedural law, notably as regards the guarantees of fair trial before a tribunal of law (Article 6(1) ECHR).

3. There is no "absolute" right to oral proceedings upon a party's request, but it is subject to inherent restrictions by the EPC and procedural principles generally recognised in the Contracting States of the EPO.

4. If oral proceedings do not serve any legitimate purpose, the requirement of legal certainty in due time prevents the Board from appointing them.

5. It is not the purpose of oral proceedings in the context of proceedings for re-establishment to give the appellant a further chance to substantiate their factual assertions or to provide evidence despite the absence of factual assertions in the request for re-establishment.

Keywords

Re-establishment of rights - (no)

Re-establishment of rights - time limit for paying renewal fee

Re-establishment of rights - time limit for filing statement of grounds

Re-establishment of rights - cross-check (no)

Re-establishment of rights - request not duly substantiated

Re-establishment of rights - all due care (no)

Re-establishment of rights - due care on the part of the professional representative

Admissibility of appeal - statement of grounds

Admissibility of appeal - filed within time limit (no)

Oral proceedings - before board of appeal

Oral proceedings - right to be heard in oral proceedings

Oral proceedings - request for oral proceedings

Application title

...

European Case Law Identifier
ECLI:EP:BA:2023:J000622.20230726
Distribution
NO DISTRIBUTION (D)
Decision in EN 583.49 KB
View decision

July 2023

T 0967/18 (Cancer therapy/BIOTEMPUS) 14-03-2023
Online on
20-07-2023
Board
3.3.04
Date of decision
14-03-2023
Language of proceedings
EN
IPC class
A61K 39/00
A61P 35/00
G01N 33/68
G01N 33/574
Application number
09007539.1
Catchword

Where opposition proceedings have been interrupted under Rule 142(1)(b) EPC, acts done by the parties or the competent body of the EPO during the period of interruption are considered invalid.

An appeal against a decision taken during the interruption is inadmissible, because it has no valid subject eligible for a judicial review.

The RPBA also apply to requests for apportionment of costs under Article 104(1) EPC.

A negligent behaviour may also justify apportionment of costs. However, the negligence must be serious enough to be considered equivalent to wilful misconduct.

Keywords

Admissibility of appeal - (no)

Apportionment of costs - severe negligence (no)

Amendment after summons - exceptional circumstances (yes)

Application title

Cancer therapy

European Case Law Identifier
ECLI:EP:BA:2023:T096718.20230314
Distribution
NO DISTRIBUTION (D)
Decision in EN 435.96 KB
View decision
T 1906/19 (Broadband multi-strip patch antenna / Shure) 31-05-2023
Online on
19-07-2023
Board
3.4.01
Date of decision
31-05-2023
Language of proceedings
EN
IPC class
H01Q 9/04
H01Q 5/00
H01Q 1/38
Application number
13748159.4
Catchword
The Board understands [the wording of Article 13(2) RPBA 2020] as laying down a basic rule but leaving some limited leeway for exceptions. The basic rule is that amendments are not considered unless there are exceptional circumstances justified by cogent reasons (by the submitting party). The leeway for deviating from this rule lies in the expression "in principle" ("en principe"; "grundsätzlich"), which the Board reads roughly as "as a rule", meaning that the provision's basic rule is not entirely without exception. This leeway, when applied, means that an amendment can be considered despite the absence of exceptional circumstances justified by cogent reasons.
Keywords

Admission - final new request of claims (yes)

Amendments - allowable (yes)

Inventive step - (yes)

Application title

BROADBAND MULTI-STRIP PATCH ANTENNA

European Case Law Identifier
ECLI:EP:BA:2023:T190619.20230531
Distribution
NO DISTRIBUTION (D)
Decision in EN 396.49 KB
View decision

June 2023

T 1983/19 03-04-2023
Online on
29-06-2023
Board
3.2.05
Date of decision
03-04-2023
Language of proceedings
DE
IPC class
F16J 15/34
Application number
14720469.7
Catchword
Ausführbarkeit der Erfindung "über den gesamten beanspruchten Bereich" auf dem Gebiet der Mechanik (siehe Punkt 2.1.3 der Entscheidungsgründe)
Keywords

Ausführbarkeit der Erfindung (ja)

Erfinderische Tätigkeit (nein: Hauptantrag und Hilfsanträge 1 bis 4; ja: Hilfsantrag 5)

Application title

Gleitringdichtung

European Case Law Identifier
ECLI:EP:BA:2023:T198319.20230403
Distribution
NICHT VERTEILT (D)
Decision in DE 1.05 MB
View decision
T 0438/19 27-06-2023
Online on
28-06-2023
Board
3.3.03
Date of decision
27-06-2023
Language of proceedings
EN
IPC class
H01L 31/042
C08F 210/02
C08K 5/541
C08L 23/08
C09K 3/10
C09D 123/08
Application number
11830390.8
Catchword

The following questions are referred to the Enlarged Board of

Appeal for decision:

1. Is a product put on the market before the date of filing of a European patent application to be excluded from the state of the art within the meaning of Article 54(2) EPC for the sole reason that its composition or internal structure could not be analysed and reproduced without undue burden by the skilled person before that date?

2. If the answer to question 1 is no, is technical information about said product which was made available to the public before the filing date (e.g. by publication of technical brochure, non-patent or patent literature) state of the art within the meaning of Article 54(2) EPC, irrespective of whether the composition or internal structure of the product could be analysed and reproduced without undue burden by the skilled person before that date?

3. If the answer to question 1 is yes or the answer to question 2 is no, which criteria are to be applied in order to determine whether or not the composition or internal structure of the product could be analysed and reproduced without undue burden within the meaning of opinion G 1/92? In particular, is it required that the composition and internal structure of the product be fully analysable and identically reproducible?

Keywords

Document resubmitted with the statement of grounds of appeal - admitted (yes)

Sufficiency of disclosure (yes)

Inventive step

Referral to the Enlarged Board of Appeal

High Court of England and Wales TAKEDA UK LTD v F. HOFFMANN-LA ROCHE AG [2019] EWHC 1911

Application title

SOLAR CELL SEALING MATERIAL, AND SOLAR CELL MODULE

European Case Law Identifier
ECLI:EP:BA:2023:T043819.20230627
Distribution
PUBLISHED IN THE EPO'S OFFICIAL JOURNAL (A)
Decision in EN 664.78 KB
View decision

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