4. Request for oral proceedings

A party's right to oral proceedings is subject to a clear and unambiguous request for such proceedings (T 352/89,T 663/90, T 1976/08, T 1500/13). The refusal of a request for oral proceedings normally constitutes a violation of the right to present comments. If the request for oral proceedings is ignored, even due to an oversight, the decision must be set aside as null and void (T 19/87, OJ 1988, 268; T 93/88; T 766/90; T 556/95, OJ 1997, 205; T 996/09; T 740/15; J 12/15; T 1951/16).

In T 1050/19 the board admitted a late-filed request for oral proceedings on the basis that it was an exercise of the right to be heard rather than an amendment to the appeal case within the meaning of Art. 13(1) RPBA 2020.