T 1137/97 (Marek's Disease Virus Vaccine/AMERICAN HOME PRODUCTS CORPORATION) du 14.10.2002

Identifiant européen de la jurisprudence: ECLI:EP:BA:2002:T113797.20021014
Date de la décision: 14 octobre 2002
Numéro de l'affaire: T 1137/97
Requête en révision de: -
Numéro de la demande: 91203365.1
Classe de la CIB: A61K 39/255
Langue de la procédure: Anglais
Distribution: Distribuées aux présidents et aux membres des chambres de recours (B)
Téléchargement: Décision en anglais
Versions JO: Aucun lien JO trouvé
Autres décisions pour cet affaire: -
Résumés pour cette décision: -
Titre de la demande: Cell free marek's disease virus vaccine
Nom du demandeur: Akzo Nobel N.V.
Nom de l'opposant: American Home Products Corporation
Chambre: 3.3.04
Sommaire: -
Dispositions juridiques pertinentes: European Patent Convention Art 106 1973 European Patent Convention Art 107 1973 European Patent Convention Art 108 1973 European Patent Convention Art 111(1) 1973 European Patent Convention Art 54 1973 European Patent Convention R 64 1973
Mots-clés: Transfer of opponent status - allowable (yes)
Appeal by original opponent - filed before entry at EPO of transfer of opposition - admissible (yes)
Appeal by transferee of opposition - filed before entry at EPO of transfer of opposition - admissible (no)
Prior publication - date of receipt of journal in library - strength of presumptions based on circumstantial evidence
Apportionment of costs (yes) - fixed amount awarded by board
Exergue: 1. A transfer of an opposition together with the relevant business assets in whose interests the opposition has been filed is allowable (following G 4/88). Where both the original opponent and the transferee each file an appeal before the transfer of the opposition has been notified to the EPO with supporting evidence of the transfer, the appeal of the original opponent is admissible, but the appeal of the transferee is inadmissible. The transferee however acquires the status of opponent and appellant as of the date when the EPO has been requested to make the transfer and has been supplied with adequate documentation evidencing the transfer.
(Points 1 to 7).
2. The strength of the presumption in favour of the accuracy of a Received date marking appearing on the copy of a journal in a library as evidence of the actual date when the journal was made available to the public will depend on the library routine used. A handwritten date on the cover of a journal not accepted as correct in view of other evidence. (Points 8 to 14).
3. Relevant document belatedly introduced was allowed into the procedure. The belated submission was, however, considered to have caused unnecessary costs to be incurred, and so to make equitable an apportionment of costs in favour of respondent patentee. A fixed sum of Euro 2,500 was awarded by board of appeal itself, in the exercise of its discretion under Article 111(1) EPC to avoid the need for an investigation of an exact amount which would be more burdensome for the parties. (Points 18 to 20).
Affaires citées: G 0004/88 J 0026/95 T 0326/87
Affaires citantes: T 0602/99 T 0136/01 T 1091/02 T 0085/03 T 0229/03 T 0503/03 T 0956/03 T 0006/05 T 1421/05 T 0293/07 T 1668/07 T 1697/07 T 0960/08 T 1911/09 T 1032/10 T 0184/11 T 0423/11 T 0244/12 T 0545/12 T 2357/12 T 0194/15 T 0833/15 T 1268/17 T 0488/18

ORDER

For these reasons it is decided that:

1. The decision under appeal insofar as it rejected the opposition under Article 102(2) EPC is set aside.

2. The appeal filed by the present appellant's predecessor in title Duphar International Research B.V. is admissible and the transfer to the present appellant of the status of appellant and opponent is recognized.

3. The separate appeal filed by the present appellant in its own name is inadmissible.

4. The matter is remitted to the first instance for further prosecution.

5. An apportionment of costs of Euro 2,500 (two thousand five hundred) is made in favour of the respondent.