G 0004/19 (Double patenting) of 22.06.2021
- European Case Law Identifier
- ECLI:EP:BA:2021:G000419.20210622
- Date of decision
- 22 June 2021
- Case number
- G 0004/19
- Petition for review of
- -
- Application number
- 10718590.2
- Language of proceedings
- English
- Distribution
- Published in the EPO's Official Journal (A)
- Download
- Decision in English
- Other decisions for this case
- -
- Abstracts for this decision
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- Application title
- PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF ALLERGIC DIARRHOEA
- Applicant name
- Société des Produits Nestlé S.A.
- Opponent name
- -
- Board
- -
- Headnote
1. A European patent application can be refused under Articles 97(2) and 125 EPC if it claims the same subject-matter as a European patent which has been granted to the same applicant and does not form part of the state of the art pursuant to Article 54(2) and (3) EPC.
2. The application can be refused on that legal basis, irrespective of whether it
a) was filed on the same date as, or
b) is an earlier application or a divisional application (Article 76(1) EPC) in respect of, or
c) claims the same priority (Article 88 EPC) as the European patent application leading to the European patent already granted.
- Relevant legal provisions
- European Patent Convention Art 112European Patent Convention Art 112(1)European Patent Convention Art 123(2)European Patent Convention Art 123(3)European Patent Convention Art 125European Patent Convention Art 139(3)European Patent Convention Art 165(1) 1973European Patent Convention Art 165(2) 1973European Patent Convention Art 166 1973European Patent Convention Art 167 1973European Patent Convention Art 177European Patent Convention Art 52(3)European Patent Convention Art 54(2)European Patent Convention Art 54(3)European Patent Convention Art 60(1)European Patent Convention Art 63(1)European Patent Convention Art 64(1)European Patent Convention Art 64(1) 1973European Patent Convention Art 66European Patent Convention Art 67(1)European Patent Convention Art 67(1) 1973European Patent Convention Art 76(1)European Patent Convention Art 79European Patent Convention Art 79(3)European Patent Convention Art 87European Patent Convention Art 87 1973European Patent Convention Art 88European Patent Convention Art 90(5)European Patent Convention Art 94European Patent Convention Art 97(2)Rules of procedure of the Enlarged Board of Appeal Art 10Rules of procedure of the Enlarged Board of Appeal Art 9Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (1969) Art 11, 12, 14, 15, 31, 31(1), 31(2), 31(2)(a), 31(2)(b), 32, 32(a), 32(b), 33
- Keywords
- Admissibility of referral - (yes)
Interpretation of Article 125 EPC
Procedural provision absent from the Convention
Supplementary means of interpretation under the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties
Legal basis for a refusal under Article 97(2) EPC for double patenting - Catchword
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Order
For these reasons, it is decided that the questions referred to the Enlarged Board of Appeal are answered as follows:
1. A European patent application can be refused under Articles 97(2) and 125 EPC if it claims the same subject-matter as a European patent which has been granted to the same applicant and does not form part of the state of the art pursuant to Article 54(2) and (3) EPC.
2.1 The application can be refused on that legal basis, irrespective of whether it
a) was filed on the same date as, or
b) is an earlier application or a divisional application (Article 76(1) EPC) in respect of, or
c) claims the same priority (Article 88 EPC) as the European patent application leading to the European patent already granted.
2.2 In view of the answer to Question 2.1 a separate answer is not required.