T 1028/96 (Suspected partiality/DU PONT DE NEMOURS) of 15.9.1999

European Case Law Identifier: ECLI:EP:BA:1999:T102896.19990915
Date of decision: 15 September 1999
Case number: T 1028/96
Application number: 86106603.3
IPC class: B68G 1/00
D04H 1/00
Language of proceedings: EN
Distribution: A
Download and more information:
Decision text in EN (PDF, 46 KB)
Documentation of the appeal procedure can be found in the Register
Bibliographic information is available in: EN
Versions: OJ | Unpublished v2 | Published
Title of application: Improved polyester fiberfill and process
Applicant name: E. I. Du Pont De Nemours and Company
Opponent name: Fa. Karl Thiel
Fabromont AG
Fa. Christian Heinrich Sandler GmbH & Co. KG.
Board: 3.2.01
Headnote: I. In certain special circumstances members of a Board of Appeal in opposition proceedings may be "suspected of partiality" as set out in Article 24(3) EPC if they participated as such in the decision to grant the patent in suit (cf. point 6.5 of the reasons).
II. The Board in its original composition, i.e. with the member(s) objected to, is competent to examine the admissibility of an objection under Article 24(1) or Article 24(3) for the purpose of opening the procedure under Article 24(4) EPC (cf. point 1 of the reasons).
Relevant legal provisions:
European Patent Convention 1973 Art 19(2)
European Patent Convention 1973 Art 24
European Patent Convention 1973 R 10(1)
Rules of procedure of the Boards of Appeal Art 1(2)
Rules of procedure of the Boards of Appeal Art 2(1)
Rules of procedure of the Boards of Appeal Art 3(2)
Keywords: Allegation of suspected partiality against chairman of the Board of Appeal
Competence of the Board in its original composition, i.e. with the member objected to, to examine the admissibility of the objection of suspected partiality for the purpose of opening the Article 24(4) procedure (yes)
Applicability of Article 24(1) where a member of the Board in opposition proceedings participated as such in the decision to grant the patent (no)
Applicability in such case of the ground of suspected partiality set out in Article 24(3) (yes, in certain circumstances)
Catchwords:

-

Cited decisions:
G 0005/91
G 0004/97
T 0261/88
T 0289/91
T 0519/91
T 0167/93
Citing decisions:
J 0015/04
R 0012/09
R 0021/11
R 0002/14
R 0003/16
T 0349/00
T 0985/01
T 1021/01
T 1193/02
T 0190/03
T 0281/03
T 0283/03
T 0572/03
T 1020/06
T 0049/11
T 1677/11
T 1760/11
T 0355/13
T 1889/13
T 0049/15
T 1647/15

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