| European Case Law Identifier: | ECLI:EP:BA:2011:T170709.20111025 | ||||||||
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| Date of decision: | 25 October 2011 | ||||||||
| Case number: | T 1707/09 | ||||||||
| Application number: | 01984770.6 | ||||||||
| IPC class: | A23D 7/00 | ||||||||
| Language of proceedings: | EN | ||||||||
| Distribution: | D | ||||||||
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| Title of application: | Fat continuous food product | ||||||||
| Applicant name: | Unilever N.V., et al | ||||||||
| Opponent name: | Raisio Nutrition Ltd. | ||||||||
| Board: | 3.3.09 | ||||||||
| Headnote: | - | ||||||||
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| Keywords: | No text agreed by the patentee - revocation of the patent | ||||||||
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Summary of Facts and Submissions
I. In its interlocutory decision posted on 5 June 2009, the opposition division decided that the European patent No. 1 343 384 as amended met the requirements of the EPC.
II. Two appeals were filed against this decision:
On 5 August 2009, by the joint patent proprietors (appellants 01), Unilever N.V. and Unilever PLC; and
On 14 August 2009, by the opponent (appellant 02), Raisio Nutrition Ltd.
The respective appeal fees and statements of grounds of appeal were filed in due time.
III. In a letter dated 21 July 2011 the proprietors informed the board that they would not be represented at the oral proceedings scheduled to take place on 14 October 2011 and stated:
"The request for oral proceedings is withdrawn and the text is no longer approved."
IV. Having regard to the proprietors' non-approval of the text, the board informed the parties in a communication dated 1 August 2011 that it intended to terminate the appeal proceedings by a decision ordering the setting aside of the decision and revocation of the patent, without going into the substantive issues.
The parties were also informed that, subject to any further requests, the oral proceedings would be cancelled and a decision revoking the patent would be issued.
V. No further submissions and/or requests were filed within the set time limit. Consequently the oral proceedings were cancelled on 12 October 2011.
Reasons for the Decision
1. The appeals are admissible.
2. Article 113(2) EPC requires that the EPO may decide upon the European patent only in the text submitted to it, or agreed by the proprietor of the patent. Agreement cannot be deemed to be given if the proprietor, without submitting an amended text, expressly states that he no longer approves the text of the patent as granted or previously amended. In such a situation a substantive requirement for maintaining the patent is lacking and the proceedings are to be terminated by a decision ordering revocation, without going into the substantive issues (see, for instance T 601/98).
ORDER
For these reasons it is decided that:
1. The decision under appeal is set aside.
2. The patent is revoked.
