T 0172/99 () of 7.3.2002

European Case Law Identifier: ECLI:EP:BA:2002:T017299.20020307
Date of decision: 07 March 2002
Case number: T 0172/99
Application number: 90303267.0
IPC class: C08F 279/02
Language of proceedings: EN
Distribution: B
Download and more information:
Decision text in EN (PDF, 1 MB)
Documentation of the appeal procedure can be found in the Register
Bibliographic information is available in: EN
Versions: Unpublished
Title of application: Styrene-based resin composition
Applicant name: IDEMITSU PETROCHEMICAL COMPANY LIMITED
Opponent name: Bayer AG, Leverkusen Konzernverwaltung RP Patente Konzern
THE DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY
BASF Aktiengesellschaft, Ludwigshafen
Board: 3.3.03
Headnote: -
Relevant legal provisions:
European Patent Convention 1973 Art 83
European Patent Convention 1973 Art 100(b)
Keywords: Disclosure - sufficiency (no)
Catchwords:

In the case of claimed subject-matter relying on a newly formulated and, hence, unfamiliar parameter to define the solution of a technical problem by which a relevant effect is achieved, the applicant or patentee, who has the duty of making a full and fair disclosure of his invention to the public (Article 83 EPC), is under a particular obligation to disclose all the information necessary reliably to define the new parameter not only (i) in a formally correct and complete manner such that its values can be obtained by a person skilled in the art without undue burden, but also (ii) in a manner which reliably retains the validity of the parameter for the solution of the technical problem for the application or patent in suit as a whole in the sense that the values routinely obtained will not be such that the claimed subject-matter covers variants incapable of providing the relevant effect or, therefore, of solving the associated technical problem (see points 4.5.6 and 4.5.8 of the Reasons; T 435/91 followed).

Cited decisions:
T 0123/85
T 0010/86
T 0435/91
Citing decisions:
T 0684/99
T 0782/01
T 0914/01
T 1288/01
T 0599/02
T 0343/03
T 0757/03
T 0895/04
T 0179/05
T 0186/06
T 1140/06
T 1389/06
T 1548/06
T 0066/07
T 0323/07
T 0465/07
T 1252/08
T 0075/09
T 2331/11
T 2332/11
T 0463/12
T 0909/12
T 0574/13
T 1845/14
T 1287/15
T 2242/16
T 2306/16
T 0054/17
T 0291/17
T 0524/17

12 references found.

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Offical Journal of the EPO

Case Law Book: II Conditions to be met by an Application

General Case Law