| European Case Law Identifier: | ECLI:EP:BA:2018:T000212.20180618 | ||||||||
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| Date of decision: | 18 June 2018 | ||||||||
| Case number: | T 0002/12 | ||||||||
| Application number: | 01996610.0 | ||||||||
| IPC class: | C12N 15/29 | ||||||||
| Language of proceedings: | EN | ||||||||
| Distribution: | D | ||||||||
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| Title of application: | MUTANT ALLERGENS | ||||||||
| Applicant name: | Alk-Abelló A/S | ||||||||
| Opponent name: | Merck Patent GmbH | ||||||||
| Board: | 3.3.08 | ||||||||
| Headnote: | - | ||||||||
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| Keywords: | Lapse of patent in all designated states - termination of appeal proceedings | ||||||||
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Summary of Facts and Submissions
I. The appeals lie from an interlocutory decision of an opposition division under Article 101(3)(a) and 106(2) EPC posted on 4 November 2011, in which it was found that, account being taken of the amendments introduced into the claims according to the auxiliary request 2 and the description adapted thereto, the European patent No. 1 373 510 with the title "Novel mutant allergens" and the invention to which it relates meet the requirements of the EPC.
II. By a communication pursuant to Rule 84(1) EPC dated 24 November 2017, the Registrar of the Board of Appeal informed appellant II (opponent) that the European patent had lapsed with effect for all the designated Contracting States. Further, appellant II was informed that the appeal proceedings could be continued at its request, provided that the request was filed within two months from notification of the communication.
III. No request for continuation of the proceedings was received from appellant II.
IV. By a further communication dated 26 February 2018, appellant I (patent proprietor) was informed that, by analogy to Rule 84(1) EPC in connection with Rule 100(1) EPC the appeal proceedings may be continued also upon its request, provided that the request was filed within two months from notification of the communication.
V. No request for continuation of the proceedings was received from appellant I.
Reasons for the Decision
1. Pursuant to Rule 84(1) EPC in conjunction with Rule 100(1) EPC, appeal proceedings may be continued after the European patent has lapsed, if the opponent files a request to this effect within two months of a communication informing him of the lapse (see, inter alia, decisions T 329/88 of 22 June 1993; T 949/09 of 17 October 2012; and T 480/13 of 5 November 2014).
2. According to the jurisprudence of the Boards of Appeal (see, e.g., decision T 520/10 of 11 June 2013), when the patent proprietor has filed an appeal, by analogy to Rule 84(1) in connection with Rule 100(1) EPC the appeal proceedings may be continued also upon request of the patent proprietor.
3. Since no request for continuation of the appeal proceedings was received from either party in due time, the board decides to terminate the appeal proceedings.
Order
For these reasons it is decided that:
The appeal proceedings are terminated.
