European Patent Office

G 0004/19 (Double patenting) du 22.06.2021

Identifiant européen de la jurisprudence
ECLI:EP:BA:2021:G000419.20210622
Date de la décision
22 juin 2021
Numéro de l'affaire
G 0004/19
Requête en révision de
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Numéro de la demande
10718590.2
Langue de la procédure
Anglais
Distribution
Publiées au Journal officiel de l'OEB (A)
Téléchargement
Décision en anglais
Autres décisions pour cet affaire
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Résumés pour cette décision
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Titre de la demande
PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF ALLERGIC DIARRHOEA
Nom du demandeur
Société des Produits Nestlé S.A.
Nom de l'opposant
-
Chambre
-
Sommaire

1. A European patent application can be refused under Articles 97(2) and 125 EPC if it claims the same subject-matter as a European patent which has been granted to the same applicant and does not form part of the state of the art pursuant to Article 54(2) and (3) EPC.

2. The application can be refused on that legal basis, irrespective of whether it

a) was filed on the same date as, or

b) is an earlier application or a divisional application (Article 76(1) EPC) in respect of, or

c) claims the same priority (Article 88 EPC) as the European patent application leading to the European patent already granted.

Mots-clés
Admissibility of referral - (yes)
Interpretation of Article 125 EPC
Procedural provision absent from the Convention
Supplementary means of interpretation under the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties
Legal basis for a refusal under Article 97(2) EPC for double patenting
Exergue
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Order

For these reasons, it is decided that the questions referred to the Enlarged Board of Appeal are answered as follows:

1. A European patent application can be refused under Articles 97(2) and 125 EPC if it claims the same subject-matter as a European patent which has been granted to the same applicant and does not form part of the state of the art pursuant to Article 54(2) and (3) EPC.

2.1 The application can be refused on that legal basis, irrespective of whether it

a) was filed on the same date as, or

b) is an earlier application or a divisional application (Article 76(1) EPC) in respect of, or

c) claims the same priority (Article 88 EPC) as the European patent application leading to the European patent already granted.

2.2 In view of the answer to Question 2.1 a separate answer is not required.