T 0039/03 du 26.08.2005
- Identifiant européen de la jurisprudence
- ECLI:EP:BA:2005:T003903.20050826
- Date de la décision
- 26 août 2005
- Numéro de l'affaire
- T 0039/03
- Requête en révision de
- -
- Numéro de la demande
- 99100131.4
- Classe de la CIB
- H01L 31/18
- Langue de la procédure
- Anglais
- Distribution
- Publiées au Journal officiel de l'OEB (A)
- Téléchargement
- Décision en anglais
- Autres décisions pour cet affaire
- T 0039/03 2008-07-09
- Résumés pour cette décision
- -
- Titre de la demande
- Improved columnar-grained polycrystalline solar cell and process of manufacture
- Nom du demandeur
- ASTROPOWER Inc.
- Nom de l'opposant
- -
- Chambre
- 3.4.02
- Sommaire
The following questions are referred to the Enlarged Board of Appeal:
(1) Can a divisional application which does not meet the requirements of Article 76(1) EPC because, at its actual filing date, it extends beyond the content of the earlier application, be amended later in order to make it a valid divisional application?
(2) If the answer to question (1) is yes, is this still possible when the earlier application is no longer pending?
(3) If the answer to question (2) is yes, are there any further limitations of substance to this possibility beyond those imposed by Articles 76(1) and 123(2) EPC? Can the corrected divisional application in particular be directed to aspects of the earlier application not encompassed by those to which the divisional as filed had been directed?
- Dispositions juridiques pertinentes
- European Patent Convention Art 76(1) 1973
- Mots-clés
- Validity of divisional applications
Referral to Enlarged Board of Appeal - Exergue
- -
ORDER
For these reasons it is decided that:
The following questions are referred to the Enlarged Board of Appeal:
(1) Can a divisional application which does not meet the requirements of Article 76(1) EPC because, at its actual filing date, it extends beyond the content of the earlier application, be amended later in order to make it a valid divisional application?
(2) If the answer to question (1) is yes, is this still possible when the earlier application is no longer pending?
(3) If the answer to question (2) is yes, are there any further limitations of substance to this possibility beyond those imposed by Articles 76(1) and 123(2) EPC? Can the corrected divisional application in particular be directed to aspects of the earlier application not encompassed by those to which the divisional as filed had been directed?