T 0263/93 (Opportunity to present comments/AKZO) of 12.1.1994

European Case Law Identifier: ECLI:EP:BA:1994:T026393.19940112
Date of decision: 12 January 1994
Case number: T 0263/93
Application number: 86103844.6
IPC class: C09D 3/48
Language of proceedings: EN
Distribution: B
Download and more information:
Decision text in EN (PDF, 378 KB)
Documentation of the appeal procedure can be found in the Register
Bibliographic information is available in: EN
Versions: Unpublished
Title of application: A liquid coating composition and a process for coating a substrate with such coating composition
Applicant name: Akzo N.V.
Opponent name: BASF Lacke + Farben Aktiengesellschaft, Münster
Board: 3.3.01
Headnote: -
Relevant legal provisions:
European Patent Convention 1973 Art 101(2)
European Patent Convention 1973 Art 113(1)
European Patent Convention 1973 R 67
Keywords: Basis of decision - opportunity to comment (no)
Fair procedure (no)
Reimbursement of the appeal fee (yes) - Substantial procedural violation
Catchwords:

The right to be heard laid down in Article 113(1) EPC requires that the party concerned be given sufficient time to submit an adequate response, if the EPO decides to communicate to a party to proceedings before it an objection raised by another party without an express invitation to reply within a specified time limit. Although the length of the period of time necessary to comply with that requirement depends on the particular circumstances of the case, a party to opposition proceedings before the EPO can fairly expect that it would normally have at least two months to present its comments to such objections, before a decision based on them is taken (point 2.2.2 of the reasons).

Cited decisions:
T 0275/89
T 0669/90
T 0439/91
T 0892/92
Citing decisions:
T 0494/95
T 1079/96
T 0914/98
T 0836/04
T 0571/09
T 1152/14
T 2243/18

9 references found.

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EPO Guidelines - E General Procedural Matters

Case Law Book: IV Divisional Applications

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