2.2.8 Indication of facts, evidence and arguments – substantiation of grounds for opposition
The third requirement of R. 76(2)(c) EPC for the admissibility of the opposition is the substantiation of the specified ground, i.e. an indication of the facts, evidence and arguments presented in support of it. The fulfilment of this latter requirement in respect of one of the grounds for opposition is enough to render admissible the opposition as a whole. Nowhere in the EPC is there any basis for the concept of partial admissibility of oppositions. The concept of "inadmissibility" is only applicable to the notice of opposition as a whole (T 653/99; see also T 212/97, T 65/00, T 414/17 and T 2659/17).
According to T 114/95, if an opponent requests revocation of the patent in its entirety, it is sufficient to substantiate the ground(s) of opposition in respect of at least one claim of the patent for the requirements of R. 76(2)(c) EPC (R. 55(c) EPC 1973) to be met (T 926/93, OJ 1997, 447; T 1180/97, T 1900/07; see also in this chapter IV.C.3.2.).