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Part V – Opposition and limitation procedure

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  1. Home
  2. The European Patent Convention – Contents
  3. European Patent Convention
  4. Part V
  5. Article 101
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Article 101 – Examination of the opposition – Revocation or maintenance of the European patent

Article 99 – Opposition
Article 100 – Grounds for opposition
Article 101 – Examination of the opposition – Revocation or maintenance of the European patent
Article 102 – (deleted)
Article 103 – Publication of a new specification of the European patent
Article 104 – Costs
Article 105 – Intervention of the assumed infringer
Article 105a – Request for limitation or revocation
Article 105b – Limitation or revocation of the European patent
Article 105c – Publication of the amended specification of the European patent

Article 101106, 107
Examination of the opposition – Revocation or maintenance of the European patent

Part V – Opposition and limitation procedure

(1) If the opposition is admissible, the Opposition Division shall examine, in accordance with the Implementing Regulations, whether at least one ground for opposition under Article 100 prejudices the maintenance of the European patent. During this examination, the Opposition Division shall invite the parties, as often as necessary, to file observations on communications from another party or issued by itself.

(2) If the Opposition Division is of the opinion that at least one ground for opposition prejudices the maintenance of the European patent, it shall revoke the patent. Otherwise, it shall reject the opposition. 

(3)108 If the Opposition Division is of the opinion that, taking into consideration the amendments made by the proprietor of the European patent during the opposition proceedings, the patent and the invention to which it relates 

(a) meet the requirements of this Convention, it shall decide to maintain the patent as amended, provided that the conditions laid down in the Implementing Regulations are fulfilled; 

(b) do not meet the requirements of this Convention, it shall revoke the patent. 


106Amended by the Act revising the European Patent Convention of 29.11.2000.

107See decisions/opinions of the Enlarged Board of Appeal G 1/88, G 1/90, G 1/91, G 9/91, G 10/91, G 9/92, G 4/93, G 1/99, G 1/02 (Annex I).

108See decision of the Enlarged Board of Appeal G 3/14 (Annex I).

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EPC - Reference
  • Art. 65, 68, 103
    R. 18, 77-86, 111, 113, 138, 140, 143
Cross-reference list
  • EPC EPC 1973
    Art. 101(2)Art. 102(1), (2)
    Art. 101(3)(a)Art. 102(3)
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