T 0081/03 (Semiconductor memory device/RAMBUS) of 12.2.2004

European Case Law Identifier: ECLI:EP:BA:2004:T008103.20040212
Date of decision: 12 February 2004
Case number: T 0081/03
Application number: 91908374.1
IPC class: G06F 13/16
G06F 12/02
G06F 12/06
G06F 13/376
Language of proceedings: EN
Distribution: B
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Versions: Unpublished
Title of application: Semiconductor memory device
Applicant name: Rambus Inc.
Opponent name: MICRON EUROPE Ltd et al
Infineon Technologies AG
Hynix Semiconductor Deutschland GmbH
MICRON Semiconductor Deutschland GmbH
Board: 3.5.01
Headnote: -
Relevant legal provisions:
European Patent Convention 1973 Art 56
European Patent Convention 1973 Art 59
European Patent Convention 1973 Art 114(2)
European Patent Convention 1973 Art 123(2)
European Patent Convention 1973 Art 123(3)
European Patent Convention 1973 Art 125
European Patent Convention 1973 R 27(1)(c)
Rules of procedure of the Boards of Appeal Art 11(6)
Keywords: Amendments - extension of scope of protection (no)
Late filed requests - admissibility (auxiliary requests 3 to 5: no)
Decision re appeals - remittal (no)
Inventive step - (main request and auxiliary request 1: no
Catchwords:

1. Amendments to a European patent may be based on the whole reservoir of features originally disclosed in the corresponding application provided that Article 123(3) EPC is not infringed by such amendments, due account being taken of the stipulations of Article 69(1) EPC (point 3.9 of the reasons).

2. The general, abstract concern that the addition of a feature to a claim after grant leads to an extended scope of protection as the resulting combination of features might give rise to a different evaluation of equivalents in infringement proceedings is not in itself a sufficient reason for not allowing the addition of limiting features under Article 123(3) EPC (point 3.7 of the reasons).

3. Requests raising new issues which would require a further written phase in order to be properly dealt with are to be regarded as belated even if filed at a point in time just before the minimum period set by the Board in a summons to oral proceedings (point 2.4 of the reasons).

Cited decisions:
G 0002/88
G 0001/93
T 0249/93
T 0633/97
T 1126/97
T 1149/97
Citing decisions:
T 0650/01
T 0047/03
T 0975/03
T 0261/05
T 1443/05
T 0518/08
T 0162/09
T 1643/10
T 1147/11
T 0100/13

18 references found.

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Case Law Book: II Conditions to be met by an Application

Case Law Book: V Priority

Case Law of the Enlarged Board

General Case Law