European Patent Office

T 0445/08 du 30.01.2012

Identifiant européen de la jurisprudence
ECLI:EP:BA:2012:T044508.20120130
Date de la décision
30 janvier 2012
Numéro de l'affaire
T 0445/08
Requête en révision de
-
Numéro de la demande
99955620.2
Langue de la procédure
Anglais
Distribution
Publiées au Journal officiel de l'OEB (A)
Téléchargement
Décision en anglais
Résumés pour cette décision
-
Titre de la demande
WATER FILTRATION USING IMMERSED MEMBRANES
Nom du demandeur
Zenon Technology Partnership
Nom de l'opposant
Evoqua Water Technologies LLC
Chambre
3.3.07
Sommaire
-
Mots-clés
Notice of appeal filed in name of person not entitled to appeal - Error alleged in identity (yes): deficiency under Rule 101(2) and 99(1)(a) EPC or error under Rule 139 EPC? Point of law of fundamental importance - contradictory case law [yes] - legal uncertainty about admissibility requirements [yes] - necessity to refer questions to Enlarged Board [yes]
Exergue
Questions
(1) When a notice of appeal, in compliance with Rule 99(1)(a) EPC, contains the name and the address of the appellant as provided in Rule 41(2)(c) EPC and it is alleged that the identification is wrong due to an error, the true intention having been to file on behalf of the legal person which should have filed the appeal, is a request for substituting this other legal or natural person admissible as a remedy to "deficiencies" provided by Rule 101(2) EPC?
(2) If the answer is yes, what kind of evidence is to be considered to establish the true intention?
(3) If the answer to the first question is no, may the appellant's intention nevertheless play a role and justify the application of Rule 139 EPC?
(4) If the answer to questions (1) and (3) is no, are there any possibilities other than restitutio in integrum (when applicable)?

ORDER

For these reasons it is decided that:

The following questions are referred to the Enlarged Board:

(1) When a notice of appeal, in compliance with Rule 99(1)(a) EPC, contains the name and the address of the appellant as provided in Rule 41(2)(c) EPC and it is alleged that the identification is wrong due to an error, the true intention having been to file on behalf of the legal person which should have filed the appeal, is a request for substituting this other legal or natural person admissible as a remedy to "deficiencies" provided by Rule 101(2) EPC?

(2) If the answer is yes, what kind of evidence is to be considered to establish the true intention?

(3) If the answer to the first question is no, may the appellant's intention nevertheless play a role and justify the application of Rule 139 EPC?

(4) If the answer to questions (1) and (3) is no, are there any possibilities other than restitutio in integrum (when applicable)?