T 0278/00 (Naphthyl compounds/ELI LILLY) of 11.2.2003

European Case Law Identifier: ECLI:EP:BA:2003:T027800.20030211
Date of decision: 11 February 2003
Case number: T 0278/00
Application number: 96301542.5
IPC class: C07D 211/14
Language of proceedings: EN
Distribution: A
Download and more information:
Decision text in EN (PDF, 29 KB)
Documentation of the appeal procedure can be found in the Register
Bibliographic information is available in: EN
Versions: OJ | Published
Title of application: Naphthyl pharmaceutical compounds
Applicant name: ELI LILLY AND COMPANY
Opponent name: -
Board: 3.3.01
Headnote: 1. The reasoning of a decision under appeal must be taken as it stands. The requirements of Rule 68(2) EPC cannot be construed in such a way that in spite of the presence of unintelligible and therefore deficient reasoning, it is up to the Board or the Appellant to speculate as to what might be the intended meaning of it.
2. The Board must be in a position to assess on the basis of the reasoning given in the decision under appeal whether the conclusion drawn by the first instance was justified or not. This requirement is not satisfied when the Board is unable to decide which of the various inconsistent findings indicated in and justifying the decision under appeal is correct and which is false.
3. A decision of the European Patent Office open to appeal which is based on such a deficient reasoning is not 'reasoned' in the sense of Rule 68(2) EPC, which failure amounts to a substantial procedural violation.
Relevant legal provisions:
European Patent Convention 1973 R 67
European Patent Convention 1973 R 68(2)
Keywords: Decision reasoned in the sense of Rule 68(2) EPC (no) - unintelligible findings - missing identification of prior art in assessment of inventive step - reference to oral proceedings in parallel case
Substantial procedural violation (yes) - reimbursement of appeal fee
Catchwords:

-

Cited decisions:
T 0103/86
T 0292/90
T 0939/92
T 0355/97
T 0165/98
Citing decisions:
J 0025/10
R 0006/11
T 0963/02
T 0897/03
T 0188/04
T 0276/04
T 0482/04
T 0583/04
T 0020/05
T 0316/05
T 0689/05
T 1182/05
T 1356/05
T 1360/05
T 1366/05
T 0599/06
T 1302/06
T 1479/06
T 1698/06
T 1936/06
T 0571/07
T 0831/07
T 0952/07
T 1411/07
T 1553/07
T 1612/07
T 0087/08
T 0421/08
T 0534/08
T 0868/08
T 1053/08
T 1079/08
T 0152/09
T 0306/09
T 2105/09
T 2467/09
T 1693/10
T 2323/10
T 2375/10
T 2474/10
T 0353/11
T 0823/11
T 2366/11
T 2509/11
T 0034/12
T 0374/12
T 0405/12
T 1205/12
T 1206/12
T 1511/12
T 2460/12
T 0071/14
T 0177/15
T 0184/15
T 1232/16
T 0591/17
T 0899/17
T 2187/17

51 references found.

Click X to load a reference inside the current page, click on the title to open in a new page.

Offical Journal of the EPO

Case Law Book: III Amendments

Case Law Book: V Priority

General Case Law