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European Case Law Identifier: ECLI:EP:BA:2007:G000106.20070628
Date of decision: 28 June 2007
Case number: G 0001/06
Referral: T 1409/05
Application number: 01128824.8
IPC class: G09G 3/36
Language of proceedings: EN
Distribution: A
Download and more information:
Decision text in EN (PDF, 18.374K)
Documentation of the appeal procedure can be found in the Register
Bibliographic information is available in: DE | EN | FR
Versions: OJ | Published
Title of application:
Applicant name: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
Opponent name:
Board: EBA
Headnote: In the case of a sequence of applications consisting of a root (originating) application followed by divisional applications, each divided from its predecessor, it is a necessary and sufficient condition for a divisional application of that sequence to comply with Article 76(1), second sentence, EPC that anything disclosed in that divisional application be directly and unambiguously derivable from what is disclosed in each of the preceding applications as filed.
The Summary of facts and submissions and Reasons for the decision are identical in their wording to the corresponding section of decision G 1/05, OJ EPO 2008, 271 (in this issue). The proceedings were consolidated. Therefore this is an abridged version of the decision. A copy of the full text in the language of proceedings may be obtained from the EPO Information Desk in Munich on payment of a photocopying fee of EUR 0.70 per page.
Relevant legal provisions:
European Patent Convention 1973 Art 54(3)
European Patent Convention 1973 Art 75(2)
European Patent Convention 1973 Art 76(1)
European Patent Convention 1973 Art 76(2)
European Patent Convention 1973 Art 76(3)
European Patent Convention 1973 Art 77(5)
European Patent Convention 1973 Art 82
European Patent Convention 1973 Art 96(2)
European Patent Convention 1973 Art 97(1)
European Patent Convention 1973 Art 100(c)
European Patent Convention 1973 Art 102(3)
European Patent Convention 1973 Art 112(1)(a)
European Patent Convention 1973 Art 113(1)
European Patent Convention 1973 Art 123(1)
European Patent Convention 1973 Art 123(2)
European Patent Convention 1973 Art 138(1)(c)
European Patent Convention 1973 Art 138(2)
European Patent Convention 1973 R 25(1)
European Patent Convention 1973 R 25(2)
European Patent Convention 1973 R 51(2)
European Patent Convention 1973 R 86(3)
European Patent Convention 1973 R 86(4)
Rules of procedure of the Enlarged Board of Appeal Art 8
UK Patents Act 1977: Sections 76(1), 130(7)
Hydroacoustics Incorporated’s Applications [1981] FSR 538
Keywords: Invalidity as a result of non-compliance with Article 76(1) EPC on filing a divisional application – no
Amendment to conform with Article 76(1) EPC – allowable, even if at time of amendment earlier application no longer pendin
Content of a member of a sequence of divisional applications must be disclosed in each of the preceding applications in the sequence as filed
Claims of a member of a sequence of divisional applications need not be directed to subject-matter within the scope of the claims of the preceding applications in the sequence as filed
Catchwords:

Cited decisions:
G 0001/93
G 0004/98
J 0015/85
J 0002/01
T 0514/88
T 0527/88
T 0122/90
T 0860/90
T 1004/90
T 0441/92
T 0873/94
T 0276/97
T 0904/97
T 1074/97
T 0555/00
T 0561/00
T 0743/00
T 1158/01
T 0720/02
T 0797/02
T 0039/03
T 0090/03
T 0873/04
T 1040/04
T 1092/04
Citing decisions:
G 0002/10
J 0002/08
J 0019/13
T 0307/03
T 1026/03
T 0936/04
T 1207/04
T 0047/05
T 0175/05
T 0687/05
T 0840/05
T 1208/05
T 1387/05
T 1409/05
T 0314/06
T 0341/06
T 1018/06
T 1491/06
T 1497/06
T 1688/06
T 1033/07
T 1391/07
T 1423/07
T 1500/07
T 1501/07
T 1502/07
T 0463/08
T 0464/08
T 0465/08
T 1653/08
T 1714/08
T 2082/08
T 0549/09
T 0925/09
T 0961/09
T 0962/09
T 1418/09
T 2175/09
T 1972/10
T 2402/10
T 2426/10
T 2461/10
T 0649/11
T 1036/11
T 1155/11
T 1483/11
T 2347/11
T 0879/12
T 1780/12
T 1808/12
T 2511/12
T 0558/13
T 0560/13
T 1765/13
T 1766/13
T 1871/13
T 2041/13
T 0470/14
T 1089/16