11.6. Substantial procedural violation

One of the preconditions for reimbursement of the appeal fee under R. 103 EPC is that a substantial procedural violation has taken place. A "substantial procedural violation" is an objective deficiency affecting the entire proceedings (J 7/83, OJ 1984, 211). Whether or not there has been a substantial procedural violation is to be determined on an objective basis (J 32/95, OJ 1999, 733; T 160/09).

11.6.1 Violation must be of a procedural nature

11.6.2 Violation must be substantial and affect the entire proceedings

11.6.3 Procedural violation must be committed by the department whose decision is under appeal

11.6.4 Search

11.6.5 Guidelines

11.6.6 Request for interview

11.6.7 Oral proceedings

11.6.8 Right to be heard

11.6.9 Inadequate reasons given in the decision at first instance

11.6.10 Error of judgment by a department of first instance

11.6.11 Cases concerning the decision-making process and the decision

11.6.12 Partiality

11.6.13 Suspensive effect of appeal

11.6.14 Non-compliance with order of the board

11.6.15 Referral pending before Enlarged Board

11.6.16 Refusal of application on one ground only

11.6.17 Cases concerning documentation and communications passing between the EPO and the parties

New decisions

T 641/20

Orientierungssatz:

Die Frage, ob ein Ermessen fehlerfrei, zum Beispiel unter Berücksichtigung der richtigen Kriterien ausgeübt wurde, ist eine inhaltliche Frage materiell-rechtlicher Natur, und keine verfahrensrechtliche. Daher liegt in einer inhaltlich unrichtigen Ermessensentscheidung, die unter korrekter Anwendung der Verfahrensvorschriften des EPÜ ergangen ist, kein Verfahrensmangel im Sinne der Regel 103 (1) a) EPÜ (Entscheidungsgründe Punkt 1.4).

Patent knowledge

Applying for a patent

Law & practice

News & events

Learning

About us

11.6. Substantial procedural violation

11.6. Substantial procedural violation