| European Case Law Identifier: | ECLI:EP:BA:2009:T201707.20091126 | ||||||||
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| Date of decision: | 26 November 2009 | ||||||||
| Case number: | T 2017/07 | ||||||||
| Application number: | 99119962.1 | ||||||||
| IPC class: | A61K 7/13 | ||||||||
| Language of proceedings: | EN | ||||||||
| Distribution: | B | ||||||||
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| Title of application: | Hair dye composition | ||||||||
| Applicant name: | KAO CORPORATION | ||||||||
| Opponent name: | Henkel AG & Co. KGaA | ||||||||
| Board: | 3.3.10 | ||||||||
| Headnote: | A composition which is specified in a claim to comprise a component in an amount which is defined by a numerical range of values is subject to an implicit proviso excluding the presence of that component in an amount outside of that range. An amendment restricting the breadth of that component, for instance by narrowing down a generic class or a list of chemical compounds defining that component, has the consequence of limiting the scope of this implicit proviso. A composition which is defined as comprising the components indicated in the claim is open to the presence of any further components, unless otherwise specified. In a claim directed to such an openly defined composition, the restriction of the breadth of a component present therein may have the effect of broadening the scope of protection of that claim, with the consequence that in opposition/appeal proceedings such amended claim may extend the protection conferred by the granted patent (Article 123(3) EPC). |
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| Keywords: | Main request: extension of protection conferred (yes) Auxiliary requests 1 to 3: added subject-matter (yes) |
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Source: http://www.epo.org/law-practice/case-law-appeals/recent/t072017eu1.html
Date retrieved: 17 May 2021
18 references found.
Click X to load a reference inside the current page, click on the title to open in a new page.EPC Articles
EPO Guidelines - H Amendments and Corrections
Offical Journal of the EPO
Case Law Book: II Conditions to be met by an Application
XCLR II E 2.4.14 Narrowing down a generic class or list of chemical compounds; open claims ("comprising"); sequential drafting ("cascade")