| European Case Law Identifier: | ECLI:EP:BA:2004:T018404.20040601 | ||||||||
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| Date of decision: | 01 June 2004 | ||||||||
| Case number: | T 0184/04 | ||||||||
| Application number: | 99942514.3 | ||||||||
| IPC class: | B01J 23/20 | ||||||||
| Language of proceedings: | EN | ||||||||
| Distribution: | D | ||||||||
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| Title of application: | High surface area sol-gel route prepared oxidation catalysts | ||||||||
| Applicant name: | E.I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company | ||||||||
| Opponent name: | - | ||||||||
| Board: | 3.3.07 | ||||||||
| Headnote: | - | ||||||||
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| Keywords: | Missing statement of grounds Reimbursement of the appeal fee - (no) |
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Summary of Facts and Submissions
I. The appeal contests the decision of the Examining Division of the European Patent Office posted on 16 July 2003 refusing European patent application No. 99 942 514.3, published as WO 00/12208, pursuant to Article 97(1) EPC.
The applicants (appellants) filed a notice of appeal on 16. September 2003 and paid the fee for appeal on the same day.
No statement of grounds was filed. The notice of appeal contains nothing that could be regarded as a statement of grounds pursuant to Article 108 EPC.
By letter dated 18 September 2003 the appellants requested reimbursement of the appeal fee in effect relying upon the fact that the appeal had been filed inadvertently.
II. By a communication dated 5 March 2004, sent by registered letter with advice of delivery, the Registry of the Board informed the appellants that no statement of grounds had been filed and that the appeal could be expected to be rejected as inadmissible.
The appellants were informed about the possibility of filing a request for re-establishment of rights under Article 122 EPC and were invited to file observations within two months.
III. No answer has been received within the given time limit to the Registry's communication.
Reasons for the Decision
As no written statement setting out the grounds of appeal has been filed, the appeal has to be rejected as inadmissible (Article 108 EPC in conjunction with Rule 65(1) EPC).
The request for reimbursement of the appeal fee made in the applicant's letter dated 18 September 2003 has to be refused.
As already indicated in the communication of 5. March 2004, no facts establishing that a valid notice of appeal was not filed have been submitted. On the contrary, the appellants' declaration that they reserve the right to continue with the appeal shows that they considered their notice of appeal as valid.
Therefore, the appeal fee has become due (Article 4(1) RFees). Paid fees which have fallen due cannot be refunded, unless otherwise provided for (J 33/86, OJ EPO 1988, 84 - Headnote). The Convention makes provision for refunding the appeal fee only if the requirements of Rule 67 EPC are fulfilled.
ORDER
For these reasons it is decided that:
1. The appeal is rejected as inadmissible.
2. The request for reimbursement of the appeal fee is refused.
