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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 99
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Article 99 – Opposition

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 99103, 104
Opposition

Part V – Opposition and limitation procedure

(1) Within nine months of the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent in the European Patent Bulletin, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to that patent, in accordance with the Implementing Regulations. Notice of opposition shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. 

(2) The opposition shall apply to the European patent in all the Contracting States in which that patent has effect. 

(3) Opponents shall be parties to the opposition proceedings as well as the proprietor of the patent. 

(4) Where a person provides evidence that in a Contracting State, following a final decision, he has been entered in the patent register of such State instead of the previous proprietor, such person shall, at his request, replace the previous proprietor in respect of such State. Notwithstanding Article 118, the previous proprietor and the person making the request shall not be regarded as joint proprietors unless both so request.


103Amended by the Act revising the European Patent Convention of 29.11.2000.

104See decisions/opinions of the Enlarged Board of Appeal G 4/88, G 5/88, G 7/88, G 8/88, G 10/91, G 9/93, G 1/95, G 7/95, G 3/97, G 4/97, G 3/99, G 1/02, G 2/04, G 3/04, G 1/13 (Annex I).

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EPC - Reference
  • Art. 105
    R. 3, 6, 14, 73, 76-78, 84-86, 89, 112, 142, 143
Cross-reference list
  • EPC EPC 1973
    Art. 99(3)Art. 99(4), (5)
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