European Patent Office

T 0862/98 (Apparatus for fluid dispersing/ABBOTT LABORATORIES) du 17.08.1999

Identifiant européen de la jurisprudence
ECLI:EP:BA:1999:T086298.19990817
Date de la décision
17 août 1999
Numéro de l'affaire
T 0862/98
Requête en révision de
-
Numéro de la demande
87116861.3
Langue de la procédure
Anglais
Distribution
Distribuées aux présidents des chambres de recours (C)
Téléchargement
Décision en anglais
Versions JO
Aucun lien JO trouvé
Autres décisions pour cet affaire
-
Résumés pour cette décision
-
Titre de la demande
Apparatus and process for reagent fluid dispensing and printing
Nom du demandeur
Abbott Laboratories
Nom de l'opposant
Roche Diagnostics GmbH
Chambre
3.4.02
Sommaire
-
Mots-clés
Unclear situation of the file: substantive oral decision or intention announced
Infringement of Rule 68(2) EPC: substantial procedural violation
Change in composition of Opposition Division: obligation to offer new oral proceedings
Exergue
Changes in the composition of an Opposition Division after oral proceedings should be generally avoided also in cases where no final substantive decision has been given orally. Where this is not possible, new oral proceedings must in general be offered to the parties under such circumstances (see the analogous regulation of Article 7(1) of the Rules of Procedure of the Boards of Appeal). Such offers may be foregone in exceptional cases, in particular if the final decision given by a differently composed Opposition Division is not substantially based on findings arrived at during the oral proceedings but on fresh facts and arguments communicated to the parties in the resumed written proceedings (see point 2.3 of the reasons).

ORDER

For these reasons it is decided that:

1. The decision under appeal is set aside.

2. The case is remitted to the department of first instance for further prosecution.

3. The reimbursement of the appeal fee is ordered.