European Case Law Identifier: | ECLI:EP:BA:2018:J001617.20180712 | ||||||||
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Date of decision: | 12 July 2018 | ||||||||
Case number: | J 0016/17 | ||||||||
Application number: | 12740277.4 | ||||||||
IPC class: | A47J 43/28 A47G 21/02 |
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Language of proceedings: | EN | ||||||||
Distribution: | C | ||||||||
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Title of application: | DOUBLE SERRATED FORK | ||||||||
Applicant name: | Elezi, Dashamir | ||||||||
Opponent name: | - | ||||||||
Board: | 3.1.01 | ||||||||
Headnote: | - | ||||||||
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Keywords: | Incorrect form of decision under appeal - missing name of responsible employee Re-establishment of rights - request admissible (no) Remittal to the department of first instance - special reasons for not remitting the case |
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Catchwords: |
The requirement laid down in Rule 113(1) EPC, according to which decisions from the European Patent Office must be signed by and state the name of the employee responsible, is not just a mere formality but an essential procedural step in the decision-taking process. The name and the signature serve to identify the decision's authors and express that they unconditionally assume responsibility for its content. This requirement is aimed at preventing arbitrariness and abuse and ensuring that it can be verified that the competent body has taken the decision. It therefore constitutes an embodiment of the rule of law. As a consequence, a violation of the requirement pursuant to Rule 113(1) EPC amounts to a substantial procedural violation and renders the decision erroneous (Reasons, point 2.3). |
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Source: http://www.epo.org/law-practice/case-law-appeals/recent/j170016eu1.html
Date retrieved: 17 May 2021