T 0355/97 (Hydrogenation/NORAMCO) of 5.7.2000

European Case Law Identifier: ECLI:EP:BA:2000:T035597.20000705
Date of decision: 05 July 2000
Case number: T 0355/97
Application number: 88303825.9
IPC class: C07C 213/08
Language of proceedings: EN
Distribution: B
Download and more information:
Decision text in EN (PDF, 620 KB)
Documentation of the appeal procedure can be found in the Register
Bibliographic information is available in: EN
Versions: Unpublished
Title of application: Improved hydrogenation process for preparing 4-aminophenol
Applicant name: NORAMCO, INC.
Opponent name: Mallinckrodt Speciality Chemicals Company
Board: 3.3.01
Headnote: -
Relevant legal provisions:
European Patent Convention 1973 Art 56
Keywords: Inventive step (no) - alleged improvement of technical effect - burden of proof on proprietor - not discharged by unverifiable statement in description - reformulation of problem - obvious solution
Catchwords:

Each of the parties to the opposition-appeal proceedings carries the burden of proof for the facts it alleges (following T 270/90, OJ EPO 1993, 725). If the Proprietor of the patent alleges the fact that the claimed invention improves a technical effect, then the burden of proof for that fact rests upon him. The unverifiable statement in the specification of the patent in suit that the tecnical effect is improved which is devoid of any corroborating evidence, does not discharge the Proprietor from his burden of proof with the consequence that the unsubstantiated allegation is not to be taken into annount (point 2.5.1 of the reasons).

Cited decisions:
T 0020/81
T 0270/90
Citing decisions:
T 0691/95
T 0805/95
T 0261/97
T 0763/97
T 0277/98
T 0097/00
T 0278/00
T 0808/00
T 0025/01
T 0356/01
T 0075/02
T 0440/02
T 0836/02
T 0924/02
T 1161/02
T 1213/03
T 0235/04
T 1057/04
T 0006/05
T 0009/05
T 0540/05
T 1368/05
T 0096/06
T 0107/06
T 0276/06
T 1114/06
T 1753/06
T 0611/07
T 0653/07
T 0192/08
T 0295/08
T 0527/08
T 0592/08
T 0879/08
T 1397/08
T 1469/08
T 2215/08
T 0398/09
T 0443/09
T 1097/09
T 0220/10
T 1694/10
T 2418/10
T 1168/11
T 0917/13
T 1837/13
T 0473/15
T 0827/15
T 1487/16
T 1036/18

Source: http://www.epo.org/law-practice/case-law-appeals/recent/t970355eu1.html

Date retrieved: 17 May 2021

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