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Board of Appeals
Decisions of the Boards of Appeal

Selected decisionsOverview

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Selected decisions 

The list of “Selected decisions” alerts users to all newly published decisions for which a headnote or a catchword has been provided by the board. Usually, a board will add a headnote or catchword if it wishes to provide a brief summary of a particular point of law or to draw attention to an important part of the reasons for the decision. The list contains all decisions with a headnote or catchword published in the last three years and can be viewed by year by selecting the year from the menu on the left.

The list below contains all decisions with a headnote or catchword that have been released for publication in the last six months (newest first). 

August 2025

T 0095/23 05-06-2025
Online on
04-08-2025
Board
3.4.03
Date of decision
05-06-2025
Language of proceedings
DE
IPC class
G07C 9/10
G07C 9/25
G07C 9/37
G07C 9/00
Application number
09775828.8
Catchword
Bei der Prüfung der erfinderischen Tätigkeit sollte vorzugsweise von einem konkreten Ausführungsbeispiel ausgegangen werden, da die Fachperson bei einem generischen und unspezifischen Ausführungsbeispiel noch zusätzlichen technischen Aufwand für eine spezifische Ausarbeitung des unspezifischen Ausführungsbeispiels aufwenden müsste. Bei dieser Ausarbeitung würde der Fachmann letztendlich doch wieder auf die konkrete Lehre bezüglich der detaillierten Ausführungsbeispiele im selben Dokument zurückgreifen. Die Fachperson würde sich also in der Regel für ein detailliertes Ausführungsbeispiel als Ausgangspunkt für die Prüfung der erfinderischen Tätigkeit entscheiden. (Gründe 3.11.4)
Keywords

Neuheit - (ja)

Ausreichende Offenbarung - Ausführbarkeit (ja)

Erfinderische Tätigkeit - (ja)

Spät eingereichtes Dokument - zugelassen (nein)

Spät eingereichtes Dokument - Rechtfertigung für späte Vorlage (nein)

Application title

VORRICHTUNG ZUR PERSONENDURCHGANGSKONTROLLE

European Case Law Identifier
ECLI:EP:BA:2025:T009523.20250605
Distribution
NICHT VERTEILT (D)
Decision in DE 922.26 KB
View decision

July 2025

T 1465/23 (Isolated islands of cryptography/GN HEARING) 24-06-2025
Online on
30-07-2025
Board
3.5.05
Date of decision
24-06-2025
Language of proceedings
EN
IPC class
H04R 25/00
H04L 29/06
G06F 21/33
G06F 21/62
H04W 12/06
H04W 12/08
G06F 21/44
Application number
15175138.5
Catchword

If there is no technical effect that is credibly derivable from the wording of a claim on the basis of its distinguishing features, it is usually unnecessary to - artificially - formulate an (unsolved) objective technical problem, such as finding an "alternative way to achieve a (non-existent) technical effect".

In such cases, the distinguishing features simply constitute arbitrary or non-functional modifications of the available prior art which cannot involve an inventive step within the meaning of Article 56 EPC (see points 2.7 and 3.3.3 of the Reasons).

Keywords

Claim construction - description and drawings "consulted" and "referred to" for defining the skilled reader of a claim

Inventive step - main and auxiliary requests (no): no credible technical effect over the whole scope claimed; concept of "substantially over the whole scope claimed" not followed; distinguishing features relate to arbitrary and non-functional modifications; reference made to UPC_CFI_1/2023, Central Division Munich

Remittal - (no): no "special reasons"

Referral to the Enlarged Board of Appeal - (no): questions on the problem-solution approach and the general applicability of G 1/19 and G 2/21 can be answered on the basis of the EPC and the existing jurisprudence

Application title

Hearing device and method of hearing device communication

European Case Law Identifier
ECLI:EP:BA:2025:T146523.20250624
Distribution
DISTRIBUTED TO BOARD CHAIRMEN (C)
Decision in EN 582.35 KB
View decision
T 0697/22 29-07-2025
Online on
29-07-2025
Board
3.3.02
Date of decision
29-07-2025
Language of proceedings
EN
IPC class
A01G 24/00
A01G 24/18
Application number
07704142.4
Catchword

The following questions are referred to the Enlarged Board of Appeal for decision.

1. If the claims of a European patent are amended during opposition proceedings or opposition-appeal proceedings, and the amendment introduces an inconsistency between the amended claims and the description of the patent, is it necessary, to comply with the requirements of the EPC, to adapt the description to the amended claims so as to remove the inconsistency?

2. If the first question is answered in the affirmative, which requirement(s) of the EPC necessitate(s) such an adaptation?

3. Would the answer to questions 1 and 2 be different if the claims of a European patent application are amended during examination proceedings or examination-appeal proceedings, and the amendment introduces an inconsistency between the amended claims and the description of the patent application?

Keywords

Amendments - added subject-matter

Novelty

Inventive step

Sufficiency of disclosure

Late-filed request

Amendment to appeal case

Claims - adaptation of the description

Referral to the Enlarged Board of Appeal

Application title

HYDROPONICS GROWING MEDIUM

European Case Law Identifier
ECLI:EP:BA:2025:T069722.20250729
Distribution
PUBLISHED IN THE EPO'S OFFICIAL JOURNAL (A)
Decision in EN 882.53 KB
View decision
T 1065/23 (Pea Protein Extracts/COSUCRA) 22-05-2025
Online on
16-07-2025
Board
3.3.09
Date of decision
22-05-2025
Language of proceedings
EN
IPC class
A23J 1/14
A23J 3/14
Application number
14809775.1
Catchword

The fact that a granted product-by-process claim defines a product which could be satisfactorily defined by reference to its composition, structure or other testable parameter is not, as such, a ground for opposition set out in Article 100 EPC. Thus, an objection cannot be raised on this sole ground against that granted claim (reasons 4.35 to 4.38).

When assessing inventive step, the fact that the cut-off values of a range defining a claimed parameter exclude some lower or higher values suitable to achieve a relevant technical effect is not, as such, a reason to consider the selection of those cut-off values "arbitrary" and the claimed subject-matter obvious over the prior art. What counts is that the effect obtained operating within the claimed range goes beyond that achieved following the teaching of the prior art (reasons 5.12 to 5.25).

Keywords

Auxiliary request 1: added subject-matter - (no); sufficiency of disclosure, novelty and inventive step - (yes)

Admission of new submissions filed with the statement setting out the grounds of appeal - (no)

Admission of submissions filed after issuance of the board's communication under Article 15(1) RPBA: - (no)

Application title

METHOD FOR EXTRACTING PEA PROTEINS

European Case Law Identifier
ECLI:EP:BA:2025:T106523.20250522
Distribution
NO DISTRIBUTION (D)
Decision in EN 617.41 KB
View decision
T 1535/23 02-06-2025
Online on
02-07-2025
Board
3.3.02
Date of decision
02-06-2025
Language of proceedings
EN
IPC class
C07D 471/04
A61K 31/519
A61P 35/00
Application number
18186675.7
Catchword
Omission of a feature from a claim in the context of added matter: same legal approach taken by the UPC Court of Appeal and the EPO Boards of Appeal (see point 1.7 of the Reasons).
Keywords
Divisional application - added subject-matter
Application title

SOLID FORMS OF A SELECTIVE CDK4/6 INHIBITOR

European Case Law Identifier
ECLI:EP:BA:2025:T153523.20250602
Distribution
NO DISTRIBUTION (D)
Decision in EN 381.84 KB
View decision
G 0001/23 (Interpretation of G 1/92 (enablement requirement for products put on the market for forming part of the state of the art within the meaning of Articles 54(2) and 56 EPC)) 02-07-2025
Online on
02-07-2025
Date of decision
02-07-2025
Language of proceedings
EN
IPC class
H01L31/042
C08F210/02
C08K5/541
C08L23/08
C09K3/10
C09D123/08
Application number
11830390.8
Headnote

I. A product put on the market before the date of filing of a European patent application cannot be excluded from the state of the art within the meaning of Article 54(2) EPC for the sole reason that its composition or internal structure could not be analysed and reproduced by the skilled person before that date.

II. Technical information about such a product which was made available to the public before the filing date forms part of the state of the art within the meaning of Article 54(2) EPC, irrespective of whether the skilled person could analyse and reproduce the product and its composition or internal structure before that date.

Keywords

Admissibility of referral (yes)

Product put on the market - requirement of reproducibility for prior art status under Article 54(2) and 56 EPC (no)

Not reproducible properties taken into account for novelty and inventive step (yes)

Application title

SOLAR CELL SEALING MATERIAL, AND SOLAR CELL MODULE

European Case Law Identifier
ECLI:EP:BA:2025:G000123.20250702
Distribution
PUBLISHED IN THE EPO'S OFFICIAL JOURNAL (A)
Decision in EN 558.83 KB
View decision

June 2025

T 2328/22 28-05-2025
Online on
24-06-2025
Board
3.2.01
Date of decision
28-05-2025
Language of proceedings
DE
IPC class
B62K 3/00
B62J 1/00
B62K 9/02
Application number
11009298.8
Catchword

Umfang des Beitritts (Gründe 1.5.7)

Anpassung der Beschreibung (insbesondere Gründe 6.5.5)

Keywords

Beitritt des vermeintlichen Patentverletzers - Zeitpunkt des Beitritts nach Beschwerdekammerentscheidung mit Zurückverweisung zur Anpassung der Beschreibung

Rechtskraftbindung - res judicata (ja)

Vorlage an die Große Beschwerdekammer - Rechtsfrage von grundsätzlicher Bedeutung

Vorlage an die Große Beschwerdekammer - (nein)

Patentansprüche - mangelnde Klarheit kein Einspruchsgrund

Patentansprüche - Stützung durch die Beschreibung (ja)

Änderungen in Beschreibung

Änderungen - zulässig (ja)

Änderungen - Erweiterung über den Inhalt der Anmeldung in der eingereichten Fassung hinaus (nein)

Änderungen - unzulässige Erweiterung (nein)

Änderung veranlasst durch Einspruchsgrund - (ja)

Application title

Kleinkind-Roller

European Case Law Identifier
ECLI:EP:BA:2025:T232822.20250528
Distribution
AN DIE KAMMERVORSITZENDEN VERTEILT (C)
Decision in DE 536.67 KB
View decision
R 0007/22 (Antrag auf Überprüfung) 18-02-2025
Online on
18-06-2025
Date of decision
18-02-2025
Language of proceedings
DE
IPC class
A61K9/00
A61K31/00
A61K31/164
A61K31/4174
A61K31/505
A61K31/728
A61P11/02
Application number
13727040.1
Catchword

Der Orientierungssatz von R 10/20 wird bestätigt und wie folgt ergänzt:

[Teilweise Wiederholung dieses Orientierungssatzes:]

Es wird vermutet, dass eine Kammer das Vorbringen eines Beteiligten in der Sache berücksichtigt hat, welches sie in den Entscheidungsgründen nicht behandelt hat. Denn dann ist anzunehmen, dass es aus ihrer Sicht nicht relevant war. Diese Vermutung kann widerlegt sein, wenn Anzeichen für eine Nicht- Berücksichtigung vorliegen, z.B. wenn eine Kammer in den Entscheidungsgründen das Vorbringen eines Beteiligten nicht behandelt, welches objektiv betrachtet entscheidend für den Ausgang des Falles ist, oder derartiges Vorbringen von der Hand weist, ohne es zuvor auf seine Richtigkeit zu überprüfen.

Der Charakter eines Vorbringens als objektiv betrachtet entscheidend für den Ausgang des Falles muss sich aufdrängen. Das folgt daraus, dass das Überprüfungsverfahren nach Artikel 112a EPÜ grundsätzlich nicht der Überprüfung des materiellen Rechts dient, weswegen Ausnahmen von diesem Grundsatz nur unter strengen Voraussetzungen zuzulassen sind.]

[Ergänzung:]

Daraus folgt auch, dass die Person, der sich das Vorbringen als objektiv entscheidend aufdrängen muss, der Durchschnittsleser und nicht der Fachmann ist (Entscheidungsgründe, Nr. II.2.2.2e).

Keywords

Videokonferenz grundsätzlich mit Recht auf rechtliches Gehör vereinbar (ja, wie in G 1/21 und R 12/22)

Verletzung des rechtlichen Gehörs durch geltend gemachte Begründungsmängel (nein)

Application title

KOMBINATIONSTHERAPEUTIKUM FÜR DIE BEHANDLUNG VON RHINITIS

European Case Law Identifier
ECLI:EP:BA:2025:R000722.20250218
Distribution
NICHT VERTEILT (D)
Decision in DE 420.18 KB
View decision
G 0001/24 (The description and any drawings are always referred to when interpreting the claims, and not just in the case of unclarity or ambiguity.) 18-06-2025
Online on
18-06-2025
Date of decision
18-06-2025
Language of proceedings
EN
IPC class
A24D1/00
A24F47/00
Application number
14806330.8
Headnote
The claims are the starting point and the basis for assessing the patentability of an invention under Articles 52 to 57 EPC. The description and drawings shall always be consulted to interpret the claims when assessing the patentability of an invention under Articles 52 to 57 EPC, and not only if the person skilled in the art finds a claim to be unclear or ambiguous when read in isolation.
Keywords

referral is admissible (yes)

diverging lines of case law (yes)

The description and any drawings are always referred to when interpreting the claims (yes)

Application title

HEATED AEROSOL GENERATING ARTICLE WITH THERMAL SPREADING WRAP

European Case Law Identifier
ECLI:EP:BA:2025:G000124.20250618
Distribution
PUBLISHED IN THE EPO'S OFFICIAL JOURNAL (A)
Decision in EN 388.26 KB
View decision
T 1468/21 01-04-2025
Online on
05-06-2025
Board
3.4.03
Date of decision
01-04-2025
Language of proceedings
EN
IPC class
G07F 17/12
Application number
17382543.1
Catchword
Inputting a single piece of information, which represents feedback on a factual, objective situation from a user within a technical process and does not require any mental activity on the part of the user, i.e. no specific reaction by the user to information, does not immediately lead to a "broken technical chain fallacy" (Reasons 3.4.9 to 3.4.13).
Keywords

Inventive step - (yes)

Inventive step - non-obvious solution

Amendment after summons - exceptional circumstances (yes)

Application title

AUTONOMOUS LOCKER WITH SYNCHRONIZED LOCK, SYSTEM AND PROCEDURE FOR THE DELIVERY AND COLLECTION OF GOODS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID LOCKER

European Case Law Identifier
ECLI:EP:BA:2025:T146821.20250401
Distribution
NO DISTRIBUTION (D)
Decision in EN 565.86 KB
View decision

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