| European Case Law Identifier: | ECLI:EP:BA:2012:T025312.20121030 | ||||||||
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| Date of decision: | 30 October 2012 | ||||||||
| Case number: | T 0253/12 | ||||||||
| Application number: | 04258082.9 | ||||||||
| IPC class: | A61B 17/072 | ||||||||
| Language of proceedings: | EN | ||||||||
| Distribution: | D | ||||||||
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| Title of application: | Replaceable cartridge module for a surgical stapling and cutting instrument | ||||||||
| Applicant name: | ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY, INC. | ||||||||
| Opponent name: | Covidien | ||||||||
| Board: | 3.2.02 | ||||||||
| Headnote: | - | ||||||||
| Relevant legal provisions: |
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| Keywords: | Missing statement of grounds | ||||||||
| Catchwords: |
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Summary of Facts and Submissions
I. The appellant (opponent) contests the interlocutory decision of the Opposition Division posted on 13 December 2011 concerning maintenance of the European Patent No. 1 550 409 in amended form.
II. The notice of appeal was received on 7 February 2012 and the appeal fee was paid on the same day.
No statement of grounds of appeal has been filed.
III. By a communication dated 9 May 2012 sent by registered letter with advice of delivery, the Registry of the Board informed the appellant that no statement of grounds of appeal had been filed and that, as a consequence, it was to be expected that the appeal would be rejected as inadmissible. The appellant was also given a time limit of two months for filing observations.
IV. No answer has been given to this communication.
Reasons for the Decision
1. According to Article 108 EPC, a statement setting out the grounds of appeal shall be filed within four months of notification of the decision.
2. If the appeal does not comply with Article 108 EPC, the appeal must be rejected as inadmissible (Rule 101(1) EPC). In the present case, no written statement setting out the grounds of appeal has been filed and the notice of appeal contains nothing that could be regarded as such.
Consequently the appeal has to be rejected as inadmissible.
ORDER
For these reasons it is decided that:
The appeal is rejected as inadmissible.
