G 0003/14 () of 24.3.2015

European Case Law Identifier:

ECLI:EP:BA:2015:G000314.20150324

Date of decision:

24 March 2015

Case number:

G 0003/14

Referral:

Application number:

IPC class:

A61F 2/78
B29C 33/40
B28B 1/00

Language of proceedings:

EN

Distribution:

A

Download and more information:

Decision text in EN (PDF, 166Â KB)
Documentation of the appeal procedure can be found in the Register
Bibliographic information is available in:	EN
Versions:	OJ \| Published

Title of application:

NOVEL ENHANCED COATING FOR PROSTHETIC LINERS PROCESSES, PRODUCTS AND IMPROVED UMBRELLAS

Applicant name:

Freedom Innovations, LLC

Opponent name:

Otto Bock HealthCare GmbH

Board:

EBA

Headnote:

-

Relevant legal provisions:

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 Art 100
European Patent Convention Art 101(1)
European Patent Convention Art 101(2)
European Patent Convention Art 101(3)
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 R 43(1)
European Patent Convention R 43(3)
European Patent Convention R 43(4)
European Patent Convention R 80
European Patent Convention R 86
European Patent Convention R 95(2)
European Patent Convention R 100(1)
Rules relating to fees Art 2, item 15
European Patent Convention 1973 Art 101(1)
European Patent Convention 1973 Art 101(2)
European Patent Convention 1973 Art 102(1)
European Patent Convention 1973 Art 102(2)
European Patent Convention 1973 Art 102(3)
European Patent Convention 1973 R 29(4)
European Patent Convention 1973 R 61a
Vienna 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 ArticleÂ 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 ArticleÂ 84 EPC in the case of amended claims encompassing insertion of complete dependent claims as granted into an independent claim as granted

Catchwords:

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 decisions:

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 4093/09
T 0059/10
T 0409/10
T 0493/10
T 1577/10

Citing decisions:

G 0002/19
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 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 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 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 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 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 0441/16
T 0445/16
T 0463/16
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 1156/16
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 1583/16
T 1666/16
T 1711/16
T 1756/16
T 1796/16
T 1797/16
T 1894/16
T 2045/16
T 2098/16
T 2104/16
T 2123/16
T 2132/16
T 2243/16
T 2244/16
T 2415/16
T 2492/16
T 2545/16
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 0720/17
T 0799/17
T 0831/17
T 0853/17
T 1014/17
T 1049/17
T 1051/17
T 1055/17
T 1173/17
T 1451/17
T 1455/17
T 1602/17
T 1627/17
T 1647/17
T 1768/17
T 1822/17
T 1833/17
T 1964/17
T 2215/17
T 2348/17
T 2455/17
T 2508/17
T 2781/17
T 0083/18
T 0111/18
T 0122/18
T 0185/18
T 0247/18
T 0297/18
T 0469/18
T 0508/18
T 0517/18
T 0552/18
T 0623/18
T 0632/18
T 0684/18
T 0839/18
T 0949/18
T 0996/18
T 1355/18
T 1718/18
T 1843/18
T 2067/18
T 0571/19
T 3272/19
T 0028/20

Source: http://www.epo.org/law-practice/case-law-appeals/recent/g140003ex1.html

Date retrieved: 17 May 2021

148 references found.

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EPC Articles

X A.54 EPC Novelty

X A.56 EPC Inventive step

X A.64 EPC Rights conferred by a European patent

X A.69 EPC Extent of protection

X A.82 EPC Unity of invention

X A.83 EPC Disclosure of the invention

X A.84 EPC Claims

X A.94 EPC Examination of the European patent application

X A.97 EPC Grant or refusal

X A.99 EPC Opposition

X A.100 EPC Grounds for opposition

X A.101 EPC Examination of the opposition – Revocation or maintenance of the European patent

X A.105a EPC Article 105a Request for limitation or revocation

X A.111 EPC Decision in respect of appeals

X A.112 EPC Decision or opinion of the Enlarged Board of Appeal

X A.114 EPC Examination by the European Patent Office of its own motion

X A.123 EPC Amendments

X A.138 EPC Revocation of European patents

EPC Implementing Rules

X R.43 EPC Form and content of claims

X R.80 EPC Amendment of the European patent

X R.86 EPC Documents in opposition proceedings

X R.95 EPC Decision on the request

X R.100 EPC Examination of appeals

EPO Guidelines - D Opposition and Limitation/Revocation Procedures

X GL D V 5 Clarity of claims

EPO Guidelines - H Amendments and Corrections

X GL H IV 4.3 In opposition proceedings

Offical Journal of the EPO

X OJ EPO SE 1/2021, p179 - Annex 1 - Index of published decisions of the boards of appeal and the Enlarged Board of Appeal - (as at 31 December 2020)

X OJ EPO SE 1/2020, p174 - Annex 1 - Index of published decisions of the boards of appeal and the Enlarged Board of Appeal - (as at 31 December 2019)

X OJ EPO 2020, A87 - Decision of the Enlarged Board of Appeal of 16 July 2019 - G 2/19

X OJ EPO SE 1/2019, p158 - XVI. - Index of published decisions of the boards of appeal and the Enlarged Board of Appeal - (as at 31 December 2018)

X OJ EPO 2019, A76 - Interlocutory decision of Technical Board 3.5.03 of 25 February 2019 – T 831/17

X OJ EPO SE 3/2018, p91 - ANNEX 2

X OJ EPO SE 3/2018, p2 - BOARDS OF APPEAL AND ENLARGED BOARD OF APPEAL CASE LAW 2017

X OJ EPO SE 6/2017, p79 - E. Claims

X OJ EPO SE 4/2017, p129 - ANNEX 1

X OJ EPO SE 4/2017, p0 - CONTENTS

X OJ EPO SE 3/2016, p1 - ANNUAL REPORT OF THE BOARDS OF APPEAL OF THE EPO 2015

X OJ EPO 2016, A42 - Notice from the EPO concerning the opposition procedure as from 1 July 2016

Case Law Book: II Conditions to be met by an Application

X CLR II A 1.4 The examination of clarity in opposition proceedings

X CLR II C 1 Introduction

X CLR II C 8.1 ‍‍Article 83 EPC and support from the description

X CLR II C 8.2 ‍‍Article 83 EPC and clarity of claims

Case Law Book: III Amendments

X CLR III H 1.1 Principles of interpretation of the Vienna Convention

X CLR III W 3 The boards' application of the Guidelines in specific cases

Case Law Book: IV Divisional Applications

X CLR IV C 2.2.7 Statement of grounds for opposition

X CLR IV C 5.1.1 Principles

X CLR IV C 5.1.8 Amendments intended to remedy a lack of clarity

X CLR IV C 5.2.2 Extent of power to examine amended claims for compliance with Article 84 EPC

X CLR IV D 1 Limitation/revocation – Article 105a EPC- Article 105c EPC

Case Law Book: V Priority

X CLR V B 2.3.1 General

X CLR V B 2.5.3 Stay of first instance proceedings following a referral

Case Law of the Enlarged Board

X G 0001/84 (Opposition by proprietor) of 24.7.1985

X G 0002/88 (Friction reducing additive) of 11.12.1989

X G 0006/88 (Plant growth regulating agent/BAYER) of 11.12.1989

X G 0001/91 (Unity) of 9.12.1991

X G 0009/91 (Power to examine) of 31.3.1993

X G 0010/91 (Examination of opposition/appeals) of 31.3.1993

X G 0001/12 () of 30.4.2014

X G 0002/19 (Rechtliches GehÃ¶r und richtiger Verhandlungsort) of 16.7.2019

General Case Law

X J 0009/84 (Claims fees) of 30.4.1985

X J 0006/12 (Antrag auf RÃ¼ckzahlung von AnspruchsgebÃ¼hren/SALAMA) of 29.1.2013

X T 0127/85 (Blasting compositions) of 1.2.1988

X T 0009/87 (Zeolites) of 18.8.1988

X T 0301/87 (Alpha-interferons) of 16.2.1989

X T 0227/88 (Detergent compositions) of 15.12.1988

X T 0472/88 () of 10.10.1990

X T 0525/90 (Pigments/TIOXIDE) of 17.6.1992

X T 0126/91 () of 12.5.1992

X T 0522/91 () of 18.11.1993

X T 0759/91 () of 18.11.1993

X T 0367/96 (Request of correction/L'AIR LIQUIDE) of 21.6.2001

X T 0005/99 () of 26.4.2001

X T 0681/00 (Siloxanes/GIVAUDAN) of 26.3.2003

X T 0326/02 () of 11.5.2004

X T 0381/02 () of 26.8.2004

X T 1459/05 () of 21.2.2008

X T 0656/07 () of 6.5.2009

X T 1484/07 (Carbonylation of olefins/SHELL) of 13.4.2010

X T 1659/07 (TFO-Betrieb/IPCOM) of 21.1.2010

X T 1855/07 () of 7.9.2010

X T 2049/07 () of 8.9.2009

X T 1440/08 () of 5.8.2010

X T 0022/09 (Fischer-Tropsch Catalysts/ Sasol) of 5.2.2016

X T 0459/09 () of 13.12.2012

X T 1033/09 () of 20.9.2011

X T 1577/10 () of 26.3.2014

X T 0565/11 () of 4.3.2016

X T 2054/11 () of 9.10.2015

X T 2397/11 (Erlotinib hydrochloride polymorph/HOFFMANN-LA ROCHE) of 15.10.2015

X T 2552/11 (Anticorrosive metallic coatings/NOF) of 14.4.2015

X T 0047/12 (Protein complex formation/FRAUNHOFER GESELLSCHAFT) of 4.5.2017

X T 0373/12 (Examination of clarity of amended claims by opposition divisions and … of 2.4.2014

X T 0412/12 () of 4.3.2016

X T 0442/12 () of 12.4.2016

X T 1112/12 () of 17.6.2015

X T 1278/12 () of 28.4.2015

X T 1297/12 () of 11.10.2016

X T 1440/12 () of 27.6.2017

X T 1587/12 () of 8.11.2016

X T 1848/12 () of 16.12.2016

X T 1954/12 (Recombinant vitamin K epoxide reductase/UNIVERSITY NORTH CAROLINA) of 27.10.2016

X T 1994/12 () of 19.4.2016

X T 2290/12 () of 13.10.2016

X T 2301/12 () of 22.11.2017

X T 2398/12 (Computer input device/GYLLING INVEST) of 2.5.2018

X T 2564/12 (Communication system/ERICSSON) of 14.2.2017

X T 0239/13 (Dye storage stability / UNILEVER) of 5.7.2017

X T 0248/13 () of 12.7.2016

X T 0260/13 () of 29.9.2015

X T 0355/13 () of 18.11.2015

X T 0360/13 () of 20.3.2018

X T 0488/13 () of 9.6.2016

X T 0548/13 () of 8.12.2017

X T 0793/13 () of 21.3.2017

X T 0837/13 () of 13.5.2015

X T 1811/13 () of 8.11.2016

X T 1905/13 () of 18.2.2016

X T 1977/13 () of 12.11.2015

X T 2226/13 () of 9.3.2018

X T 0047/14 () of 25.10.2017

X T 0066/14 (Behandlung von biologischen AbfÃ¤llen/FRAUNHOFER-GESELLSCHAFT) of 15.11.2016

X T 0306/14 () of 14.10.2016

X T 0355/14 (KatalysatorformkÃ¶rper/BASF) of 14.7.2016

X T 0472/14 () of 21.3.2017

X T 0568/14 () of 1.3.2017

X T 0764/14 (Silver catalyst / SD) of 11.11.2015

X T 0828/14 () of 10.6.2015

X T 0842/14 (PCR anti-foam reagents/QIAGEN) of 23.1.2019

X T 1005/14 (Setting up a medical device/LUNDIA) of 11.8.2016

X T 1222/14 () of 9.11.2017

X T 1287/14 (Gas treatment article/BASF) of 27.7.2017

X T 1397/14 (NACK sequence numbers/INNOVATIVE) of 5.10.2017

X T 1551/14 () of 27.11.2018

X T 1605/14 (Ceramic material/Oerlikon Metco) of 15.2.2017

X T 1845/14 () of 8.11.2018

X T 2193/14 () of 14.3.2017

X T 0025/15 () of 27.7.2018

X T 0203/15 () of 25.1.2016

X T 0250/15 () of 20.7.2018

X T 0346/15 () of 13.9.2018

X T 0647/15 () of 8.9.2016

X T 0763/15 () of 28.9.2017

X T 2311/15 (Batteriepack/BOSCH) of 23.1.2018

X T 2321/15 (REHYDRATABLE PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCT/Biocompatibles UK Limited) of 14.6.2018

X T 0445/16 (Efficiency optimisation of electrolysis cells/Recherche 2000) of 20.4.2018

X T 1065/16 () of 26.6.2018

X T 2132/16 (Fetal chromosomal aneuploidy/CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG) of 12.9.2017

X T 0831/17 (Haar oder MÃ¼nchen als Ort der mÃ¼ndlichen Verhandlung) of 25.2.2019

X T 0623/18 (Admissibility of the opposition/ABB) of 7.1.2019