T 1091/02 (Methods for detection/HOFFMANN-LA ROCHE) of 23.7.2004

European Case Law Identifier: ECLI:EP:BA:2004:T109102.20040723
Date of decision: 23 July 2004
Case number: T 1091/02
Decision of the Enlarged Board of Appeal: G 0002/04
Application number: 92305862.2
IPC class: C12Q 1/68
Language of proceedings: EN
Distribution: A
Download and more information:
Decision text in EN (PDF, 65 KB)
Documentation of the appeal procedure can be found in the Register
Bibliographic information is available in: EN
Versions: OJ | Unpublished | Published
Title of application: Methods for detection of carcinoma metastases by nucleic acid amplification
Applicant name: F. HOFFMANN-LA ROCHE AG, et al
Opponent name: (1) Akzo Novel N.V.
(2) Vysis Inc.
Board: 3.3.04
Headnote: The following questions are referred to the Enlarged Board of Appeal:
1. (a) Can opponent status be freely transferred?
(b) If question 1(a) is answered in the negative: Can a legal person who was a 100%-owned subsidiary of the opponent when the opposition was filed and who carries on the business to which the opposed patent relates acquire opponent status if all its shares are assigned by the opponent to another company and if the persons involved in the transaction agree to the transfer of the opposition?
2. If question 1(a) or (b) is answered in the affirmative:
(a) Which formal requirements have to be fulfilled before the transfer of opponent status can be accepted? In particular, is it necessary to submit full documentary evidence proving the alleged facts?
(b) Is an appeal filed by an alleged new opponent inadmissible if the above formal requirements are not complied with before expiry of the time limit for filing the notice of appeal?
3. If question 1(a) and (b) is answered in the negative: Is an appeal admissible if, although filed on behalf of a person not entitled to appeal, the notice of appeal contains an auxiliary request that the appeal be considered filed on behalf of a person entitled to appeal?
Relevant legal provisions:
European Patent Convention 1973 Art 99(1)
European Patent Convention 1973 Art 104(1)
European Patent Convention 1973 Art 105
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 117(1)
European Patent Convention 1973 Art 122
European Patent Convention 1973 Art 133(3)
European Patent Convention 1973 R 20(1)
European Patent Convention 1973 R 20(2)
European Patent Convention 1973 R 20(3)
European Patent Convention 1973 R 21
European Patent Convention 1973 R 60(2)
European Patent Convention 1973 R 61
European Patent Convention 1973 R 64(a)
European Patent Convention 1973 R 65(1)
European Patent Convention 1973 R 65(2)
European Patent Convention 1973 R 88
European Patent Convention 1973 R 92(1)
European Patent Convention 1973 R 92(2)
Keywords: Transfer of opponent status - substantive requirements - formal requirements - appeal filed by alleged transferee of opponent status - auxiliary request to consider appeal filed by original opponent - referral to Enlarged Board of Appeal
Catchwords:

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Cited decisions:
G 0001/86
G 0004/88
G 0009/91
G 0009/93
G 0001/94
G 0003/97
J 0010/87
J 0016/94
T 0234/86
T 0349/86
T 0475/88
T 0005/89
T 0482/89
T 0563/89
T 0789/89
T 0553/90
T 0340/92
T 0649/92
T 0659/92
T 0870/92
T 0590/93
T 0670/95
T 0001/97
T 0298/97
T 0799/97
T 1137/97
T 1204/97
T 0097/98
T 0656/98
T 0814/98
T 0460/99
T 0602/99
T 0711/99
T 0854/99
T 0009/00
T 0824/00
T 0715/01
T 0788/01
T 0854/02
Citing decisions:
G 0001/12
G 0001/13
T 0261/03
T 0293/03
T 0956/03
T 2357/12

49 references found.

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Offical Journal of the EPO

Case Law Book: III Amendments

Case Law of the Enlarged Board

General Case Law