G 0001/99 (Reformatio in peius / 3M) of 2.4.2001

European Case Law Identifier: ECLI:EP:BA:2001:G000199.20010402
Date of decision: 02 April 2001
Case number: G 0001/99
Referral: T 0315/97
Application number: 86308961.1
IPC class: G02B 5/128
Language of proceedings: EN
Distribution: A
Download and more information:
Decision text in EN (PDF, 1 MB)
Documentation of the appeal procedure can be found in the Register
Bibliographic information is available in: EN
Versions: OJ | Published
Title of application: Encapsulated-lens retroreflective sheeting and method of making
Applicant name: MINNESOTA MINING AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY
Opponent name: Nippon Carbide Industries Co., Ltd.
Board: EBA
Headnote: In principle, an amended claim, which would put the opponent and sole appellant in a worse situation than if it had not appealed, must be rejected. However, an exception to this principle may be made in order to meet an objection put forward by the opponent/appellant or the Board during the appeal proceedings, in circumstances where the patent as maintained in amended form would otherwise have to be revoked as a direct consequence of an inadmissible amendment held allowable by the Opposition Division in its interlocutory decision.
In such circumstances, in order to overcome the deficiency, the patent proprietor/respondent may be allowed to file requests, as follows:
- in the first place, for an amendment introducing one or more originally disclosed features which limit the scope of the patent as maintained;
- if such a limitation is not possible, for an amendment introducing one or more originally disclosed features which extend the scope of the patent as maintained, but within the limits of Article 123(3) EPC;
- finally, if such amendments are not possible, for deletion of the inadmissible amendment, but within the limits of Article 123(3) EPC.
Relevant legal provisions:
European Patent Convention 1973 Art 100
European Patent Convention 1973 Art 101(1)
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 Art 106(1)
European Patent Convention 1973 Art 107
European Patent Convention 1973 Art 108
European Patent Convention 1973 Art 112(1)(a)
European Patent Convention 1973 Art 114(1)
European Patent Convention 1973 Art 123(2)
European Patent Convention 1973 Art 123(3)
European Patent Convention 1973 Art 125
European Patent Convention 1973 R 57a
European Patent Convention 1973 R 58(2)
European Patent Convention 1973 R 64(b)
European Patent Convention 1973 R 66(1)
European Patent Convention 1973 R 87
Keywords: Reformatio in peius - exception to the prohibition
Status of appellant/opponent
Status of appellant/patent proprietor
Catchwords:

-

Cited decisions:
G 0002/91
G 0008/91
G 0009/91
G 0010/91
G 0009/92
G 0004/93
G 0001/95
T 0406/86
T 0295/87
T 0060/91
T 0488/91
T 0096/92
T 0923/92
T 0752/93
T 0579/94
T 1002/95
Citing decisions:
G 0002/08
J 0018/98
R 0004/09
T 0682/95
T 0315/97
T 0470/97
T 0594/97
T 0994/97
T 0590/98
T 0670/98
T 0714/98
T 0492/99
T 0510/99
T 0636/99
T 0695/99
T 0724/99
T 0727/99
T 0809/99
T 1070/99
T 0057/00
T 0468/00
T 0785/00
T 0886/00
T 0982/00
T 0987/00
T 1120/00
T 1143/00
T 0079/01
T 0092/01
T 0120/01
T 0281/01
T 0389/01
T 0822/01
T 1036/01
T 1076/01
T 0068/02
T 0420/02
T 0573/02
T 0701/02
T 0735/02
T 0794/02
T 0842/02
T 0931/02
T 0971/02
T 1018/02
T 1042/02
T 1104/02
T 0070/03
T 0178/03
T 0239/03
T 0420/03
T 0724/03
T 0794/03
T 0099/04
T 0240/04
T 0290/04
T 0496/04
T 0676/04
T 0822/04
T 1018/04
T 1086/04
T 1178/04
T 1225/04
T 1316/04
T 1317/04
T 1323/04
T 1380/04
T 0001/05
T 0127/05
T 0183/05
T 0223/05
T 0234/05
T 0319/05
T 0405/05
T 0436/05
T 0555/05
T 0609/05
T 0817/05
T 1258/05
T 1511/05
T 0224/06
T 0332/06
T 0339/06
T 1006/06
T 1194/06
T 1268/06
T 1278/06
T 1555/06
T 0141/07
T 0416/07
T 0659/07
T 0662/07
T 0982/07
T 1212/07
T 1477/07
T 1544/07
T 1556/07
T 1659/07
T 1667/07
T 1705/07
T 0115/08
T 0358/08
T 0618/08
T 1033/08
T 1398/08
T 1457/08
T 1713/08
T 1810/08
T 2102/08
T 2111/08
T 0150/09
T 0209/09
T 0226/09
T 0337/09
T 0350/09
T 0491/09
T 0689/09
T 0727/09
T 0936/09
T 1100/09
T 1327/09
T 1395/09
T 1843/09
T 0045/10
T 0061/10
T 0111/10
T 0281/10
T 0369/10
T 0391/10
T 0722/10
T 0974/10
T 1760/10
T 0074/11
T 0425/11
T 0463/11
T 0560/11
T 0887/11
T 1017/11
T 1400/11
T 1979/11
T 2532/11
T 0057/12
T 0247/12
T 0438/12
T 0502/12
T 0618/12
T 0789/12
T 0935/12
T 0936/12
T 1436/12
T 1689/12
T 1894/12
T 2044/12
T 2314/12
T 0359/13
T 0399/13
T 0450/13
T 0460/13
T 0713/13
T 1086/13
T 1366/13
T 1388/13
T 2226/13
T 2279/13
T 0216/14
T 2129/14
T 0304/15
T 0315/15
T 0648/15
T 1908/15
T 2069/15
T 2344/15
T 0687/16
T 0796/16
T 1375/16
T 1845/16
T 1875/16
T 2472/16
T 0180/17
T 0347/17
T 0998/17
T 1399/17
T 1600/17
T 1653/17
T 1051/18
T 2277/18

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