In 2022 the Boards of Appeal settled a record number of 3 576 appeal cases and reduced the number of pending cases that are older than 30 months by 26.1% compared to 2021. Through digital transformation and a new diversity and inclusion strategy, they are also ensuring a modern judiciary.
The oral proceedings in cases G 1/22 and G 2/22 ("Entitlement to priority") before the EPO Enlarged Board of Appeal will be held on 26 May 2023. The public and members of the media will be able to follow the proceedings online via live stream.
The Enlarged Board of Appeal of the European Patent Office today issued decision G 2/21 and concluded that the term “plausibility” did not amount to a distinctive legal concept or a specific law requirement under the EPC.
Annual review containing summaries of decisions from 2022 now available
Angesichts der Entwicklungen im Zusammenhang mit der Coronavirus-Pandemie (COVID-19) haben die Beschwerdekammern getroffene Maßnahmen zur Regelung der Anberaumung und Durchführung mündlicher Verhandlungen mit Wirkung vom 1. Februar 2023 aufgehoben. Mündliche Verhandlungen können weiterhin mittels Videokonferenztechnologie durchgeführt werden, siehe nachstehenden Abschnitt "Als Videokonferenz durchgeführte mündliche Verhandlungen".
Artikel 15a der Verfahrensordnung der Beschwerdekammern
The German Federal Constitutional Court today published its decision on several constitutional complaints (2 BvR 2480/10, 2 BvR 421/13, 2 BvR 786/15, 2 BvR 756/16 and 2 BvR 561/18) which concerned an alleged lack of legal protection and an alleged violation of procedural rights in proceedings before technical Boards of Appeal and the Enlarged Board of Appeal. The Federal Constitutional Court held the constitutional complaints inadmissible.
