IP Law News

European patent registration - Right to be heard and basis of decisions

According to article 113 of the European Patent Convention (EPC),

 

The decisions of the European Patent Office (EPO) may only be based on grounds or evidence on which the parties concerned have had an opportunity to present their comments. 

 

The European Patent Office (EPO) shall examine, and decide upon, the European patent application or the European patent only in the text submitted to it, or agreed, by the applicant or the proprietor of the patent. 

 

Prepared by European Patent Registration and Consulting Services GmbH

European patent registration - Decision or opinion of the Enlarged Board of Appeal

According to Article 112 of the European Patent Convention (EPC),
 

 (1)

In order to ensure uniform application of the law, or if a point of law of fundamental importance arises: 

 

(a)

European patent registration - Decision in respect of appeals

According to Article 111 of the European Patent Convention (EPC),

 (1)

Following the examination as to the allowability of the appeal, the European Patent Office (EPO) Board of Appeal shall decide on the appeal. The Board of Appeal may either exercise any power within the competence of the department which was responsible for the decision appealed or remit the case to that department for further prosecution. 

 

(2)

European patent registration - Examination of appeals

According to Article 110 of the European Patent Convention (EPC) , in case when the appeal is admissible, the European Patent Office (EPO) Board of Appeal shall examine whether the appeal is allowable. The examination of the appeal shall be conducted in accordance with the EPC Implementing Regulations. 

Prepared by European Patent Registration and Consulting Services GmbH

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European patent registration - Interlocutory revision

According to Article 109 of the European Patent Convention (EPC),

(1)

If the department whose decision is contested considers the appeal to be admissible and well founded, it shall rectify its decision. This shall not apply where the appellant is opposed by another party to the proceedings. 

(2)

If the appeal is not allowed within three months of receipt of the statement of grounds, it shall be remitted to the Board of Appeal without delay, and without comment as to its merit. 

 

European patent registration - Time limit and form of Appeal

 

According to Article 108 of the European Patent Convention (EPC) ,

Notice of appeal shall be filed, in accordance with the Implementing Regulations, at the European Patent Office within two months of notification of the decision. Notice of appeal shall not be deemed to have been filed until the fee for appeal has been paid. Within four months of notification of the decision, a statement setting out the grounds of appeal shall be filed in accordance with the Implementing Regulations. 

 

Prepared by European Patent Registration and Consulting Services GmbH

How to reduce or avoid payment of some EPO Official fees for registration of European patent Search fee , Part 1

According to the regulations related to European Patent Convention (EPC) , the search fee is to be paid for patent applications  filed to European Patent Office (EPO)   In this regard for  a patent application is to be paid one search fee in amount of EUR 1.285,-.

In case of entering one international (PCT) application into European National phase it can be avoided payment of the search fee when EPO has acted as International Search Authority (ISA) or Supplementary International Search Authority (SISA) for the application in the international phase.

How to reduce or avoid payment of some EPO Official fees for registration of European patent Search fee , Part 2

According to the regulations related to European Patent Convention (EPC) , when EPO did not act as International Search Authority (ISA) or Supplementary International Search Authority (SISA) for an international application than in the European National Phase one  supplementary European search report is to be established,  for which one Search fee in amount of EUR 1.285,- is to be paid.

In some of such cases the search fee may be reduced. The reductions of the search fee may be summarized as follows:

European patent registration - Persons entitled to appeal and to be parties to appeal proceedings

According to Article 107 of the European Patent Convention (EPC),

Any party to proceedings adversely affected by a decision may appeal. Any other parties to the proceedings shall be parties to the appeal proceedings as of right. 

 

Prepared by European Patent Registration and Consulting Services GmbH

www.european-patent-registration.com

European patent registration - Decisions subject to appeal

According to Article 106 of the European Patent Convention (EPC) ,

(1)

An appeal shall lie from decisions of the Receiving Section, Examining Divisions, Opposition Divisions and the Legal Division. It shall have suspensive effect. 

(2)

A decision which does not terminate proceedings as regards one of the parties can only be appealed together with the final decision, unless the decision allows a separate appeal. 

(3)

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