Managing IP is part of the Delinian Group, Delinian Limited, 8 Bouverie Street, London, EC4Y 8AX, Registered in England & Wales, Company number 00954730
Copyright © Delinian Limited and its affiliated companies 2023

Accessibility | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Modern Slavery Statement

How are oral proceedings affected by COVID-19?

Sponsored by

inspicos-400px.png
Computer on desktop with social network theme icon. Multi exposure. Concept of international connections.

Under the exceptional circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the EPO has postponed all oral proceedings in opposition scheduled for the rest of the year. Only oral proceedings already scheduled to take place by videoconference or to be held by videoconference with the parties' consent will take place this year. Oral proceedings in examination are still being held by videoconference whilst oral proceedings in appeal in principle still take place as scheduled.

At least in opposition cases, parties summoned to oral proceedings which are being rescheduled after the issuance of the Opposition Division's preliminary opinion, may hope for an updated version of the preliminary opinion to come out when divisions send out summons for the new date. In particular, where a provisional opinion communicated with the initial summons concludes that the opposed patent may not be upheld, and where the proprietor has subsequently furnished one or more auxiliary claim sets in preparation for the originally planned oral proceedings, the summons for the hearing may include the division's preliminary findings with regard to such auxiliary claim sets. Proprietors of patents likely not to be maintained as granted may greatly benefit from checking their auxiliary claims in preparation for oral proceedings.

In appeal, oral proceedings are in principle still being held as scheduled, with some cases being heard at the EPO's Isar building in Munich, and the starting times of oral proceedings possibly being staggered. Attendance is generally restricted to a maximum of two persons per party, and parties wishing to enter the buildings must complete a self-declaration form, confirming that they have not been to a high-risk area in the past 14 days (as published by the German Robert-Koch-Institute on its website). The use of a face mask on the way to the oral proceedings room is mandatory, and the boards may require the use of face masks inside the oral proceedings room too.

As regards requests for postponement of oral proceedings, a recent decision T 437/17 of July 8 2020 concluded that a mere general reference to the COVID-19 pandemic and health risks regarding travel in Germany was not a serious reason justifying the fixing of a new date.

more from across site and ros bottom lb

More from across our site

Lawyers wish the latest manual had more details on Federal Circuit cases and that training materials for design patent examiners were online
Counsel are eying domestic industry, concurrent PTAB proceedings and heightened scrutiny of cases before institution
Jack Daniel’s has a good chance of winning its dispute over dog toys, but SCOTUS will still want to protect free speech, predict sources
AI users and lawyers discuss why the rulebook for registering AI-generated content may create problems and needs further work
We provide a rundown of Managing IP’s news and analysis coverage from the week, and review what’s been happening elsewhere in IP
A technical effect must still be evident in the original patent filing, the EBoA said in its G2/21 decision today, March 23
Brands should not be deterred from pursuing lookalike producers, and an unfair advantage claim could be the key, say Emma Teichmann and Geoff Steward at Stobbs
Justice Mellor’s highly anticipated ruling surprised SEP owners and reassured implementers that the UK may not be so hostile after all
The England and Wales High Court's judgment comes ahead of a separate hearing concerning one of the patents-in-suit at the EPO
While the rules allow foreign firms to open local offices and offer IP services, a ban on litigation and practising Indian law could mean little will change