G 0003/14 of 24.03.2015

European Case Law Identifier: ECLI:EP:BA:2015:G000314.20150324
Date of decision: 24 March 2015
Case number: G 0003/14
Petition for review of: T 0373/12 2014-04-02
Application number: 05851833.3
IPC class: B28B 1/00 B29C 33/40 A61F 2/78
Language of proceedings: English
Distribution: Published in the EPO's Official Journal (A)
Download: Decision in English
OJ versions: German
English
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Other decisions for this case: -
Abstracts for this decision: -
Application title: NOVEL ENHANCED COATING FOR PROSTHETIC LINERS PROCESSES, PRODUCTS AND IMPROVED UMBRELLAS
Applicant name: Freedom Innovations, LLC
Opponent name: Otto Bock HealthCare GmbH
Board: -
Headnote: -
Relevant legal provisions: European Patent Convention Art 100 European Patent Convention Art 101(1)European Patent Convention Art 101(1) 1973 European Patent Convention Art 101(2)European Patent Convention Art 101(2) 1973 European Patent Convention Art 101(3)European Patent Convention Art 102(1) 1973 European Patent Convention Art 102(2) 1973 European Patent Convention Art 102(3) 1973 European Patent Convention Art 105a European Patent Convention Art 111(1)European Patent Convention Art 112 European Patent Convention Art 114 European Patent Convention Art 123(2)European Patent Convention Art 123(3)European Patent Convention Art 138(1)European Patent Convention Art 138(2)European Patent Convention Art 138(3)European Patent Convention Art 54 European Patent Convention Art 56 European Patent Convention Art 64 European Patent Convention Art 69 European Patent Convention Art 82 European Patent Convention Art 83 European Patent Convention Art 84 European Patent Convention Art 94 European Patent Convention Art 97 European Patent Convention Art 99 European Patent Convention R 100(1)European Patent Convention R 29(4) 1973 European Patent Convention R 43(1)European Patent Convention R 43(3)European Patent Convention R 43(4)European Patent Convention R 61a 1973 European Patent Convention R 80 European Patent Convention R 86 European Patent Convention R 95(2)Rules relating to fees Art 2, item 15Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (1969) Art s 31, 31(1), 32
Keywords: Amendments to claims made by proprietor during the opposition proceedings before the EPO
Whether claims as amended during opposition proceedings required to meet requirements of Article 84 EPC
Meaning of the term 'amendments' as used in decision G 9/91
Meaning of the term 'amendments' as used in Article 101(3) EPC
Whether combination of granted claims constitutes an amendment
General ambit of Article 101(3) EPC and the requirements of Article 84 EPC in the case of amended claims
Ambit of Article 101(3) EPC and the requirements of Article 84 EPC in the case of amended claims encompassing insertion of elements of dependent claims as granted into an independent claim as granted
Ambit of Article 101(3) EPC and the requirements of Article 84 EPC in the case of amended claims encompassing insertion of complete dependent claims as granted into an independent claim as granted
Catchword: In considering whether, for the purposes of Article 101(3) EPC, a patent as amended meets the requirements of the EPC, the claims of the patent may be examined for compliance with the requirements of Article 84 EPC only when, and then only to the extent that the amendment introduces non-compliance with Article 84 EPC.
Cited cases: G 0001/84 G 0002/88 G 0006/88 G 0001/91 G 0009/91 G 0010/91 G 0001/12 J 0009/84 J 0006/96 J 0006/12 T 0127/85 T 0009/87 T 0301/87 T 0227/88 T 0472/88 T 0684/89 T 0525/90 T 0892/90 T 0126/91 T 0522/91 T 0626/91 T 0759/91 T 0617/92 T 0057/94 T 0367/96 T 0433/97 T 0005/99 T 0698/99 T 0420/00 T 0681/00 T 0326/02 T 0381/02 T 0518/03 T 1459/05 T 0656/07 T 1484/07 T 1659/07 T 1855/07 T 2049/07 T 1440/08 T 0459/09 T 0589/09 T 1033/09 T 0059/10 T 0409/10 T 0493/10 T 1577/10
Citing cases: G 0002/19 G 0002/21 T 0022/09 T 0254/10 T 0356/10 T 0427/10 T 0958/10 T 2163/10 T 2203/10 T 2420/10 T 0123/11 T 0162/11 T 0247/11 T 0565/11 T 1025/11 T 1107/11 T 1256/11 T 1412/11 T 1502/11 T 1878/11 T 1942/11 T 2054/11 T 2243/11 T 2397/11 T 2430/11 T 2544/11 T 2547/11 T 2552/11 T 0042/12 T 0047/12 T 0171/12 T 0223/12 T 0314/12 T 0343/12 T 0373/12 T 0384/12 T 0412/12 T 0442/12 T 0443/12 T 0493/12 T 0495/12 T 0547/12 T 0562/12 T 0698/12 T 0699/12 T 0756/12 T 0800/12 T 0837/12 T 0845/12 T 0999/12 T 1047/12 T 1112/12 T 1276/12 T 1278/12 T 1297/12 T 1318/12 T 1401/12 T 1440/12 T 1587/12 T 1651/12 T 1848/12 T 1951/12 T 1954/12 T 1994/12 T 2007/12 T 2021/12 T 2043/12 T 2064/12 T 2216/12 T 2233/12 T 2290/12 T 2301/12 T 2306/12 T 2398/12 T 2533/12 T 2553/12 T 2564/12 T 2566/12 T 2600/12 T 0007/13 T 0056/13 T 0097/13 T 0128/13 T 0239/13 T 0248/13 T 0260/13 T 0273/13 T 0343/13 T 0355/13 T 0360/13 T 0424/13 T 0446/13 T 0458/13 T 0478/13 T 0488/13 T 0494/13 T 0499/13 T 0548/13 T 0601/13 T 0665/13 T 0681/13 T 0791/13 T 0793/13 T 0805/13 T 0837/13 T 0891/13 T 0906/13 T 0946/13 T 1001/13 T 1138/13 T 1166/13 T 1179/13 T 1227/13 T 1300/13 T 1419/13 T 1526/13 T 1530/13 T 1607/13 T 1642/13 T 1665/13 T 1686/13 T 1751/13 T 1771/13 T 1811/13 T 1868/13 T 1905/13 T 1977/13 T 2005/13 T 2098/13 T 2204/13 T 2216/13 T 2226/13 T 2321/13 T 2356/13 T 0047/14 T 0066/14 T 0082/14 T 0174/14 T 0216/14 T 0226/14 T 0283/14 T 0306/14 T 0328/14 T 0343/14 T 0355/14 T 0359/14 T 0402/14 T 0415/14 T 0427/14 T 0430/14 T 0434/14 T 0472/14 T 0520/14 T 0549/14 T 0568/14 T 0635/14 T 0644/14 T 0654/14 T 0686/14 T 0723/14 T 0764/14 T 0773/14 T 0828/14 T 0842/14 T 0882/14 T 0894/14 T 1002/14 T 1005/14 T 1082/14 T 1123/14 T 1169/14 T 1222/14 T 1287/14 T 1297/14 T 1318/14 T 1360/14 T 1369/14 T 1376/14 T 1397/14 T 1448/14 T 1455/14 T 1474/14 T 1491/14 T 1551/14 T 1592/14 T 1605/14 T 1733/14 T 1790/14 T 1845/14 T 1860/14 T 1872/14 T 1886/14 T 1909/14 T 1930/14 T 1956/14 T 1969/14 T 2010/14 T 2012/14 T 2151/14 T 2183/14 T 2193/14 T 2215/14 T 2227/14 T 2262/14 T 2265/14 T 2277/14 T 2334/14 T 2342/14 T 0018/15 T 0019/15 T 0020/15 T 0025/15 T 0063/15 T 0065/15 T 0066/15 T 0186/15 T 0189/15 T 0203/15 T 0250/15 T 0286/15 T 0315/15 T 0342/15 T 0346/15 T 0349/15 T 0387/15 T 0411/15 T 0452/15 T 0477/15 T 0513/15 T 0554/15 T 0563/15 T 0647/15 T 0656/15 T 0673/15 T 0696/15 T 0707/15 T 0763/15 T 0774/15 T 0861/15 T 0880/15 T 0892/15 T 0919/15 T 1090/15 T 1135/15 T 1146/15 T 1181/15 T 1285/15 T 1326/15 T 1396/15 T 1501/15 T 1593/15 T 1655/15 T 1717/15 T 1720/15 T 1748/15 T 1757/15 T 1797/15 T 1821/15 T 1970/15 T 2003/15 T 2099/15 T 2145/15 T 2177/15 T 2198/15 T 2199/15 T 2233/15 T 2269/15 T 2287/15 T 2311/15 T 2321/15 T 2345/15 T 0002/16 T 0021/16 T 0027/16 T 0032/16 T 0059/16 T 0082/16 T 0137/16 T 0184/16 T 0189/16 T 0234/16 T 0312/16 T 0345/16 T 0346/16 T 0375/16 T 0384/16 T 0404/16 T 0435/16 T 0441/16 T 0445/16 T 0463/16 T 0500/16 T 0509/16 T 0560/16 T 0605/16 T 0645/16 T 0762/16 T 0798/16 T 0821/16 T 0833/16 T 0852/16 T 0956/16 T 0992/16 T 1065/16 T 1117/16 T 1156/16 T 1162/16 T 1203/16 T 1239/16 T 1260/16 T 1312/16 T 1372/16 T 1460/16 T 1477/16 T 1532/16 T 1544/16 T 1583/16 T 1661/16 T 1666/16 T 1711/16 T 1756/16 T 1766/16 T 1779/16 T 1794/16 T 1796/16 T 1797/16 T 1838/16 T 1858/16 T 1860/16 T 1894/16 T 2045/16 T 2098/16 T 2104/16 T 2123/16 T 2132/16 T 2197/16 T 2218/16 T 2243/16 T 2244/16 T 2384/16 T 2415/16 T 2492/16 T 2545/16 T 2597/16 T 2696/16 T 2697/16 T 0016/17 T 0032/17 T 0075/17 T 0097/17 T 0109/17 T 0205/17 T 0266/17 T 0272/17 T 0344/17 T 0435/17 T 0443/17 T 0474/17 T 0487/17 T 0533/17 T 0578/17 T 0720/17 T 0752/17 T 0799/17 T 0831/17 T 0850/17 T 0853/17 T 1014/17 T 1049/17 T 1051/17 T 1055/17 T 1136/17 T 1173/17 T 1451/17 T 1455/17 T 1502/17 T 1602/17 T 1617/17 T 1627/17 T 1647/17 T 1759/17 T 1768/17 T 1783/17 T 1796/17 T 1822/17 T 1833/17 T 1911/17 T 1938/17 T 1964/17 T 2037/17 T 2113/17 T 2178/17 T 2212/17 T 2215/17 T 2348/17 T 2361/17 T 2403/17 T 2455/17 T 2508/17 T 2557/17 T 2563/17 T 2683/17 T 2758/17 T 2781/17 T 0072/18 T 0083/18 T 0111/18 T 0122/18 T 0183/18 T 0185/18 T 0234/18 T 0247/18 T 0257/18 T 0297/18 T 0399/18 T 0469/18 T 0494/18 T 0508/18 T 0517/18 T 0521/18 T 0552/18 T 0623/18 T 0632/18 T 0657/18 T 0682/18 T 0684/18 T 0719/18 T 0839/18 T 0883/18 T 0918/18 T 0919/18 T 0949/18 T 0996/18 T 1044/18 T 1065/18 T 1138/18 T 1168/18 T 1174/18 T 1236/18 T 1287/18 T 1355/18 T 1394/18 T 1472/18 T 1473/18 T 1478/18 T 1487/18 T 1498/18 T 1588/18 T 1673/18 T 1683/18 T 1718/18 T 1767/18 T 1776/18 T 1807/18 T 1824/18 T 1843/18 T 1857/18 T 1920/18 T 1969/18 T 2038/18 T 2067/18 T 2080/18 T 2091/18 T 2161/18 T 2220/18 T 2293/18 T 2350/18 T 2353/18 T 2391/18 T 2502/18 T 2555/18 T 2606/18 T 2695/18 T 2825/18 T 2943/18 T 3014/18 T 3018/18 T 0070/19 T 0130/19 T 0158/19 T 0184/19 T 0262/19 T 0289/19 T 0335/19 T 0339/19 T 0409/19 T 0438/19 T 0481/19 T 0496/19 T 0571/19 T 0613/19 T 0699/19 T 0730/19 T 0753/19 T 0755/19 T 0810/19 T 0876/19 T 1011/19 T 1038/19 T 1083/19 T 1109/19 T 1147/19 T 1163/19 T 1165/19 T 1203/19 T 1221/19 T 1243/19 T 1244/19 T 1269/19 T 1292/19 T 1293/19 T 1300/19 T 1321/19 T 1352/19 T 1391/19 T 1395/19 T 1406/19 T 1428/19 T 1473/19 T 1570/19 T 1589/19 T 1614/19 T 1654/19 T 1664/19 T 1698/19 T 1739/19 T 1750/19 T 1761/19 T 1806/19 T 1884/19 T 1976/19 T 2076/19 T 2121/19 T 2185/19 T 2244/19 T 2311/19 T 2395/19 T 2424/19 T 2464/19 T 2504/19 T 2582/19 T 2586/19 T 2601/19 T 2610/19 T 2669/19 T 2685/19 T 2735/19 T 2741/19 T 2759/19 T 2775/19 T 2817/19 T 2900/19 T 2955/19 T 3178/19 T 3212/19 T 3214/19 T 3272/19 T 3273/19 T 0028/20 T 0044/20 T 0051/20 T 0169/20 T 0250/20 T 0266/20 T 0298/20 T 0342/20 T 0367/20 T 0427/20 T 0454/20 T 0491/20 T 0504/20 T 0532/20 T 0594/20 T 0637/20 T 0641/20 T 0742/20 T 0765/20 T 0776/20 T 0846/20 T 0905/20 T 0927/20 T 1064/20 T 1131/20 T 1182/20 T 1244/20 T 1404/20 T 1516/20 T 1520/20 T 1656/20 T 1905/20 T 1927/20 T 2030/20 T 0045/21 T 0056/21 T 0291/21 T 0369/21 T 0424/21 T 0476/21 T 0485/21 T 0543/21 T 0552/21 T 0558/21 T 0605/21 T 0636/21 T 0762/21 T 0900/21 T 0935/21 T 1007/21 T 1018/21 T 1114/21 T 1123/21 T 1152/21 T 1186/21 T 1207/21 T 1336/21 T 1362/21 T 1386/21 T 1405/21 T 1420/21 T 1438/21 T 1476/21 T 1614/21 T 1670/21 T 1716/21 T 1719/21 T 1728/21 T 1748/21 T 1749/21 T 1756/21 T 1784/21 T 1800/21 T 1823/21 T 1826/21 T 1886/21 T 1919/21 T 1944/21 T 1957/21 T 1991/21 T 2011/21 T 2074/21 T 2132/21 T 2147/21 T 2148/21 T 2252/21 T 0021/22 T 0170/22 T 0177/22 T 0201/22 T 0238/22 T 0241/22 T 0252/22 T 0355/22 T 0376/22 T 0438/22 T 0445/22 T 0447/22 T 0455/22 T 0461/22 T 0463/22 T 0507/22 T 0518/22 T 0553/22 T 0571/22 T 0615/22 T 0666/22 T 0697/22 T 0736/22 T 0957/22 T 0967/22 T 0975/22 T 1108/22 T 1167/22 T 1199/22 T 1239/22 T 1283/22 T 1322/22 T 1405/22 T 1409/22 T 1445/22 T 1459/22 T 1463/22 T 1521/22 T 1597/22 T 1708/22 T 1758/22 T 1772/22 T 1773/22 T 1786/22 T 1817/22 T 1845/22 T 1862/22 T 1914/22 T 1917/22 T 2080/22 T 2081/22 T 2135/22 T 2139/22 T 2215/22 T 2246/22 T 2279/22 T 2294/22 T 2313/22 T 2328/22 T 2377/22 T 2395/22 T 2464/22 T 2495/22 T 2534/22 T 2564/22 T 0084/23 T 0126/23 T 0169/23 T 0179/23 T 0347/23 T 0379/23 T 0404/23 T 0469/23 T 0514/23 T 0531/23 T 0633/23 T 0688/23 T 0780/23 T 0784/23 T 0824/23 T 0863/23 T 0878/23 T 0896/23 T 0937/23 T 0939/23 T 0981/23 T 0989/23 T 0990/23 T 1021/23 T 1032/23 T 1065/23 T 1096/23 T 1126/23 T 1185/23 T 1260/23 T 1301/23 T 1324/23 T 1406/23 T 1440/23 T 1456/23 T 1475/23 T 1492/23 T 1536/23 T 1554/23 T 1577/23 T 1584/23 T 1596/23 T 1704/23 T 1786/23 T 1820/23 T 1865/23 T 1945/23 T 0111/24 T 0203/24 T 0204/24 T 0304/24 T 0341/24 T 0479/24 T 0501/24 T 0539/24 T 0566/24 T 0602/24 T 0608/24 T 0639/24 T 0668/24 T 0866/24

Order

For these reasons it is decided that:

The questions referred to the Enlarged Board of Appeal are answered as follows:

In considering whether, for the purposes of Article 101(3) EPC, a patent as amended meets the requirements of the EPC, the claims of the patent may be examined for compliance with the requirements of Article 84 EPC only when, and then only to the extent that the amendment introduces non-compliance with Article 84 EPC.