Source: http://www.epo.org/law-practice/case-law-appeals/recent/g910010ex1.html
Timestamp: 2014-07-25 22:17:18
Document Index: 773027681

Matched Legal Cases: ['Art 99', 'Art 100', 'Art 101', 'Art 102', 'Art 110', 'Art 114']

EPO - G 0010/91 (Examination of opposition/appeals) of 31.3.1993
G 0010/91 (Examination of opposition/appeals) of 31.3.1993
Headnote1. An Opposition Division or a Board of Appeal is not obliged to consider all the grounds for opposition referred to in Article 100 EPC, going beyond the grounds covered by the statement under Rule 55(c) EPC.2. In principle, the Opposition Division shall examine only such grounds for opposition, which have been properly submitted and substantiated in accordance with Article 99(1) in conjunction with Rule 55(c) EPC. Exceptionally, the Opposition Division may in application of Article 114(1) EPC consider other grounds for opposition, which, prima facie, in whole or in part would seem to prejudice the maintenance of the European patent.3. Fresh grounds for opposition may be considered in appeal proceedings only with the approval of the patentee.
European Patent Convention 1973 Art 99European Patent Convention 1973 Art 100European Patent Convention 1973 Art 101European Patent Convention 1973 Art 102European Patent Convention 1973 Art 110European Patent Convention 1973 Art 114European Patent Convention 1973 R 55European Patent Convention 1973 R 56European Patent Convention 1973 R 66
T 0381/97T 0806/95T 0060/94T 1045/05T 0145/00T 0105/09T 0623/93T 0596/02T 0807/98T 0463/06T 0356/94T 0293/11T 1138/98T 0151/95T 0295/10T 0867/96T 0200/07T 1131/03T 0860/91T 1799/08T 0917/07T 0935/12T 0533/98T 0657/10T 0253/10T 0206/93T 0027/95T 1058/09T 0097/98T 1226/01T 0832/07T 0637/05T 0571/92T 2233/09T 1523/08T 0340/00T 0671/03T 0061/07G 0010/93T 1148/10T 0272/98T 1346/10T 0165/11G 0009/93T 0149/98T 1421/05T 1108/02T 0431/03T 0360/00T 0324/95T 0105/94T 0268/09T 0982/02T 0898/99T 1424/05T 0936/09T 0232/07T 1225/04T 1122/01T 0413/99T 0208/01T 0841/08T 0326/93T 0232/02T 0514/92T 0317/98T 0953/02T 0104/94G 0002/08T 0101/00T 0764/06T 0174/01T 0597/07T 1110/97T 0761/97T 1242/06T 0236/00T 0693/98T 1049/08T 0086/94T 2097/10T 0333/03T 0703/94T 0695/99T 0913/05T 0330/98T 0172/93T 0650/01T 0643/03T 0487/95T 0562/94T 0988/99T 0843/05T 1026/98T 0609/99T 0937/91T 0152/04T 1042/01T 1067/08G 0001/99T 1044/08T 2351/08T 0684/95T 1387/08T 1054/98T 0069/09T 0095/10T 1070/96T 0623/02T 0933/99T 0395/12T 0576/11T 0727/09T 1681/09T 0556/06T 0422/96T 0989/95T 0032/97T 0048/99T 0179/07T 0774/05T 0878/06T 0829/03T 0004/04T 0443/93T 0618/95T 1143/05T 1900/07T 1077/99T 0365/95T 0274/95T 2276/10T 0153/93T 1668/07T 0809/99T 0368/96T 0520/01T 0204/04T 1093/03T 0806/04T 0439/98T 2362/08T 1388/09T 1139/98T 0382/97T 0736/95T 0269/09T 1127/00T 0526/02T 0309/04T 0771/92T 0038/97T 1066/00T 0831/99T 0786/96T 0541/95T 0465/04T 1635/09T 0223/95T 0500/01T 1344/11T 0840/98T 0487/97T 1259/09T 0165/99T 0455/02T 0929/01T 0736/05T 2150/11T 1125/08T 0877/01T 0496/10T 0373/02T 0936/12T 0135/01T 0349/09T 2158/09T 0150/98T 0299/01T 1061/05T 0125/93T 0343/02T 0385/98T 1083/02T 1419/06T 0078/08T 1076/01T 0694/92T 2532/11T 1100/01T 0303/94T 1592/09T 1208/03T 0097/04T 0267/03T 0326/08T 0435/04T 1291/09T 0031/93T 0256/09T 0724/08T 0481/95T 0138/04T 0926/12T 0659/99T 0154/12T 0409/97T 1513/06T 1511/06T 1152/03T 0819/00T 0843/06T 0267/92T 0701/03T 0649/92T 0496/02T 0781/93T 0169/93T 0806/02T 0131/01T 1715/07T 1194/00T 0080/95T 0481/00T 0008/01G 0009/92T 1037/01T 0340/01T 0357/99T 0443/95T 0754/03T 0953/98T 0208/92T 0919/93T 0085/98T 0702/02T 0340/10T 0371/99T 1052/99T 0817/93T 0113/07T 0002/09T 0416/07T 0737/92T 0106/02T 1035/06T 1300/06T 0584/97T 0318/01T 0453/02T 0090/02T 0083/93T 0769/05T 0130/06T 2354/12T 1729/09T 1164/00T 0027/13T 0297/01T 0166/01T 0594/00T 0391/05T 0727/99T 0034/02T 1501/08T 0656/07T 0306/93T 0975/03T 1685/07T 1088/02T 1828/08T 0574/91T 0898/91T 1029/98T 1659/07T 1392/05T 0326/02T 0095/07T 0376/04T 0162/09T 0592/97R 0020/10T 0250/09T 0461/97T 0518/03T 1258/06T 0463/96T 0746/99T 0158/92T 0520/03T 1107/06T 0608/97T 1510/06T 0788/90T 0464/96T 0472/92T 0574/04T 0503/94T 0014/02T 0966/04T 0289/99T 1587/06T 0314/00T 1553/06T 0620/08T 0212/91T 0840/96T 1007/95T 0993/96T 0074/99T 0062/93T 0714/97T 1620/09T 1519/08T 0318/95T 1024/98T 1033/09T 0408/07T 2001/09T 0342/98T 0115/01T 0086/92T 0564/02T 0931/91T 0447/06T 0056/07T 0441/02G 0008/93J 0005/06T 0962/05T 1086/99T 0797/98T 0012/00T 0407/90T 0928/93T 0986/93T 0099/05T 0935/91T 0793/00T 1235/01G 0001/94T 0386/04T 0707/04T 0443/96T 1124/02T 0065/00T 0424/04T 0971/08T 1579/05T 0733/11T 1297/11T 0420/02T 0495/10T 1782/08T 0798/05T 0108/00T 0659/97T 0566/93T 1024/01T 0275/05T 0301/00T 0750/91T 1080/10T 0448/03T 0994/97T 0008/08T 0908/97T 0216/05T 0023/10T 0247/12T 0985/98T 0283/02T 0121/93T 0102/98T 0585/92T 0594/97T 0630/09T 1075/96T 0985/06T 0158/02T 0855/95T 0991/03T 1028/02T 0085/93T 0066/03T 0681/97T 0894/02T 0895/93T 2308/09T 0191/03T 0922/94T 0425/98T 0275/96T 0042/98T 0253/95T 0494/93T 1052/01T 0528/93T 0034/94T 0595/97T 0402/01T 0433/93T 0811/05T 0933/92T 0850/97T 0860/95T 0069/05T 0046/05T 0589/98T 1478/07T 0840/93T 1214/12T 1000/10T 2599/11T 0885/93T 0481/99T 0381/02T 0464/99T 0576/96T 0843/07T 0466/93T 0085/96T 1142/09T 0173/93T 1959/09G 0004/93R 0002/08T 1049/98T 0136/95G 0002/04T 0664/00T 0144/98T 2102/08T 0353/06T 1146/06T 0395/99T 0962/04G 0007/95T 0215/98T 1913/06T 0958/01T 1002/92T 0027/10T 1345/06T 0411/97T 0183/05T 0769/09T 1194/07T 1499/10T 1616/10T 0893/96T 0658/03T 2335/10T 0212/12T 0503/96T 0252/95T 1008/96T 1060/07T 0913/04T 1512/06T 0333/06T 0586/06T 0972/00T 0950/99T 0507/99T 0869/95T 0389/95T 0502/00T 1269/01T 1855/07T 0701/97T 1119/05T 0342/08T 0233/94T 0839/96T 0058/00T 0288/93T 0615/96T 0487/92T 0961/99T 0417/94T 0309/90T 1292/08T 2075/12T 0952/01T 0281/99T 0521/00T 1549/07T 1491/07T 0103/09T 0478/09T 0032/99T 0922/01T 0995/05T 2291/08T 0417/04T 0193/94T 0561/02T 0033/94T 0190/04T 0030/07T 0151/04T 0128/04T 0753/02T 0031/08T 0079/07T 0855/96T 0039/93T 0741/95T 0257/03T 1188/00T 0387/05T 0243/95G 0001/95T 0402/09T 0285/07T 1108/92T 0781/97T 1206/06T 0583/93T 1845/07T 0546/98T 0571/04T 1125/03T 0008/13T 0385/97T 1744/06T 0064/03T 0371/07T 0729/03T 0852/99T 0952/99T 0667/92T 0016/95T 0212/98T 0591/00T 1098/01T 0432/97T 0961/00T 0501/09T 0663/08T 0295/03T 0750/90T 1249/03T 1071/97T 0472/94T 0036/02T 0902/10T 1395/06T 0219/94T 0496/98T 0344/99T 0328/94T 0100/01T 0514/04T 0690/00T 0018/93T 1667/07T 1725/08T 0381/91T 0571/98T 0968/92T 0270/94T 0109/99T 0573/95T 0598/98T 0274/98T 0799/95T 0952/00
Summary of Facts and SubmissionsI. European patent number 76 691, concerning certain anhydride polymers and imide polymers and processes for preparing them, was granted to Rohm and Haas Company in 1986. Within the period of nine months laid down in Article 99(1) EPC, notice of opposition to the patent was filed by BASF AG. In the statement pursuant to Rule 55(c) EPC the opponent requested that the patent be revoked to the extent it concerned polymers containing anhydride units on the ground that this subject-matter was not patentable within the terms of Articles 52 - 57 EPC (i.e. the ground referred to in Article 100(a) EPC). The subject-matter relating to polymers containing imide units was not attacked by the opponent in the course of the opposition proceedings. By an interlocutory decision of 28 August 1989, the Opposition Division maintained the patent in amended form on the basis of a set of 11 claims, of which Claims 1-8 were directed to a polymer with imide groups and the preparation thereof and Claims 9-11 were related to a polymer with anhydride units and the preparation thereof.II. The opponent appealed against the decision of the Opposition Division; the appeal (T 580/89) was allocated to the Board of Appeal 3.3.3. The opponent requested that the appealed decision be set aside and the (entire) patent be revoked, arguing, for the first time, that not only the subject-matters relating to anhydride polymers but also those relating to imide polymers (including the respective preparation thereof) were not patentable.III. Furthermore, in the course of the appeal proceedings a third party presented observations under Article 115 EPC, submitting that the subject-matters relating to both of the above types of polymers were not patentable due to lack of novelty and inventive step (in fact, such observations had been filed even during the proceedings before the Opposition Division but had not reached the file until after the decision of the Opposition Division was given and were therefore not considered by the Opposition Division).IV. The patentee then offered to dispose of the appeal by deleting Claims 9-11 relating to anhydride polymers arguing that the Board should not express any opinion as to the alleged invalidity of unopposed Claims 1-8 relating to imide polymers (cf. paragraph I above); to do so would entail an examination contrary to Article 114(1) EPC as interpreted by the Board of Appeal 3.3.1 in case T 9/87 (OJ EPO 1989, 438).V. In response to this, the above third party submitted further observations, wherein the obligation of the EPO vis-à-vis the public to examine the facts of its own motion pursuant to Article 114(1) EPC was emphasised; reference was in this context made in particular to the decision of the Board of Appeal 3.4.1 in case T 156/84 (OJ EPO 1988, 372). The patentee, in maintaining his position, submitted that Article 99(1) EPC carries a mandatory time limit which would be rendered meaningless if Article 114 EPC were applicable in the present circumstances as suggested by the opponent.VI. The Board of Appeal 3.3.3, considering that the above issue concerned an important point of law within the meaning of Article 112(1)(a) EPC, decided on 29 August 1991 to refer the following questions to the Enlarged Board of Appeal (reference number G 9/91):1. Is the power of an Opposition Division or, by reason of Rule 66(1) EPC, of a Board of Appeal to examine and decide on the maintenance of a European patent under Articles 101 and 102 EPC dependent upon the extent to which the patent is opposed in the Notice of Opposition pursuant to Rule 55(c) EPC?2. If the answer to the first question should be affirmative, are there any exceptions to such dependence?VII. On 4 October 1991, the President of the EPO, making use of his power under Article 112(1)(b) EPC, referred the following question to the Enlarged Board of Appeal (reference number G 10/91):Is the Opposition Division in the examination of the opposition obliged to consider all the grounds for opposition referred to in Article 100 EPC or is this examination restricted to the grounds referred to by the opponent in his statement of grounds of opposition?VIII. In the reasons for his referral, the President referred in particular to conflicting decisions on the above point of law given by the Board of Appeal 3.3.1 in cases T 320/88 (unpublished) and T 182/89 (OJ EPO 1991, 391) on the one hand, and the Board of Appeal 3.4.1 in case T 493/88 (OJ EPO 1991, 380) on the other. In the President's view, this divergency had created a considerable legal uncertainty as how to carry out the opposition procedure under the EPC. He further submitted that neither a general obligation to consider all grounds for opposition referred to in Article 100 EPC, nor a general restriction to consider only such grounds relied upon by the opponent would provide an appropriate solution. One should rather try to find a way of combining the purpose of the opposition procedure, which is to enable the EPO to decide on the validity of European patents on a broader basis than during the procedure up to grant, with a practicable possibility for the Opposition Division to achieve this purpose.IX. In his referral, the President also drew attention to the close relationship between the point of law, which he was referring to the Enlarged Board of Appeal and the one which is the subject of case G 9/91 (cf. paragraph VI above), by pointing out that the total basis for the opposition according to Rule 55(c) EPC is determined by the extent to which the European patent is opposed as well as by the grounds on which the opposition is based.X. On 15 April 1992, the Enlarged Board, considering that the points of law which had been referred to the Board in case G 9/91 and case G 10/91 concerned similar subject-matters, decided to consider these points of law in consolidated proceedings in accordance with Article 8 of the Rules of Procedure of the Enlarged Board of Appeal.XI. In a communication dated 27 April 1992, the parties to the proceedings in case G 9/91 (T 580/89) were informed about the referral of the President of the EPO in case G 10/91 and invited to file any observations they might wish to make on the matters before the Enlarged Board. The opponent (appellant) in case G 9/91 filed such observations by letter dated 25 August 1992, while the patentee (respondent) declared that he did not intend to file any observations.XII. On 30 November 1992, oral proceedings took place before the Enlarged Board in the presence of representatives of the opponent (appellant) in case G 9/91 and a representative of the President of the EPO in case G 10/91; the patentee (respondent) in case G 9/91 had informed the Board that he did not wish to attend the hearing.Reasons for the Decision1. The questions referred to the Enlarged Board in the present cases concern some fundamental aspects of opposition and appeals procedure under the EPC.2. As to the general scope of opposition under the EPC, it is of importance that it takes place only after grant of the European patent, i.e. at a point in time when its proprietor is enjoying in each designated Contracting State the same rights as would be conferred by a national patent granted in that State (Articles 64 and 99 EPC). Thus, the relief sought by the opponent is not, as in traditional pre-grant opposition, refusal of the patent application but revocation of the patent as granted (in its entirety or in part) with effect ex tunc in all designated Contracting States (Article 68 EPC). Furthermore, the grounds for opposition (Article 100 EPC) being limited to and essentially the same as the grounds for revocation under national law (Article 138 EPC), it appears that the concept of post-grant opposition under the EPC differs considerably from that of classical pre- grant opposition and in fact has several important features more in common with the concept of traditional revocation procedure (cf. Haertel in GRUR INT, April 1970, p. 9: "Das nachträgliche Einspruchsverfahren kommt in seiner Wirkung einer europäischen Nichtigkeitsverfahren nahe"). This characteristic was further emphasised by the addition at a late stage in the preparation of the EPC of the possibility to oppose a European patent even if it has been surrendered or has lapsed for all Contracting States (Article 99(3) EPC; cf. the report by Braendli in the minutes of the Munich Diplomatic Conference published by the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany, p. 186: "... this amendment has raised the opposition proceedings another step towards the level of actual revocation proceedings"). In these circumstances, it may be questioned whether the statement made by the Enlarged Board of Appeal in case G 1/84 (OJ EPO 1985, 299, point 4 of the reasons) that "it would be wrong to regard such (opposition) proceedings (under the EPC) as essentially contentious proceedings between warring parties, where the deciding body takes a neutral position, as would be the case in revocation proceedings before a national Court" is quite accurate, at least as a generalisation. This statement, sometimes referred to in the discussion on the issues at stake in the present cases in support of a wide investigative approach to be taken by the EPO, has to be seen in the special context of case G 1/84. In any case, it seems to the Enlarged Board in its present composition that post-grant opposition proceedings under the EPC are in principle to be considered as contentious proceedings between parties normally representing opposite interests, who should be given equally fair treatment.3. It is inherent in any post-grant opposition procedure that the patent office cannot take any action in respect of a granted patent, however clear it may have become after grant that the patent is invalid, unless initiated by an admissible opposition. If no opposition is filed, the patent can only be attacked in revocation proceedings before a national court. In other words: the competence of the patent office to deal with the patent depends on the action taken by the opponent.4. A post-grant opposition system may be constructed in different ways. It would, for example, be possible to allow the opponent to confine his action to making a simple request for a general re-examination of the patent application as filed on the basis of some general observations. The post-grant opposition procedure under the EPC, however, is not constructed in this way. As appears from Article 99 in conjunction with Rule 55(c) EPC, the notice of opposition must, inter alia, contain a statement of the extent to which the European patent is opposed and of the grounds on which the opposition is based as well as an indication of the facts, evidence and arguments presented in support of these grounds. The importance of this requirement is underlined by the fact that the non-observance of it within the period of nine months prescribed by Article 99(1) EPC renders the opposition inadmissible according to Rule 56(1) EPC, with the result that the EPO loses competence to deal with the patent altogether.5. The core of the matter in the present cases before the Enlarged Board is, therefore, whether or not - or to what extent - an Opposition Division or a Board of Appeal in its examination of an opposition or an appeal is bound by the statement of the opponent under Rule 55(c) EPC of the extent to which the patent is opposed and of the grounds for opposition. In other words: does that statement limit the power and the obligation of the EPO in its examination of the case or may or even should such examination go beyond the opposition as filed and be extended to other parts of the patent and to other grounds for opposition than those covered by such statement? A further question to be considered in this context is whether or not the same principles are to be applied to proceedings before an Opposition Division and to appeal proceedings, having regard to the different legal character of such proceedings.6. According to Article 101(2) EPC, the examination of the opposition shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Implementing Regulations (i.e. the Rules). Read in conjunction only with Rule 56(1) EPC, Rule 55(c) EPC may give the impression that the content of the statement of Rule 55(c) EPC only implies a formal requirement for admissibility of the opposition without any further legal effect on the examination of the opposition. This would seem to be the position of the opponent (appellant) in case G 9/91. In the Enlarged Board's opinion, this is a too narrow view on the function of Rule 55(c) EPC. This provision must be considered in the context of the EPC as a whole, having regard to the particular character of its post-grant opposition system as outlined above. Being so considered, Rule 55(c) EPC only makes sense interpreted as having the double function of governing (together with other provisions) the admissibility of the opposition and of establishing at the same time the legal and factual framework, within which the substantive examination of the opposition in principle shall be conducted. The latter function is of particular importance in that it gives the patentee a fair chance to consider his position at an early stage of the proceedings.7. This having been said, the question arises whether the above principal framework for the substantive examination of the opposition is subject to any exceptions. In the Board's view, a distinction has here to be made between the two main requirements of the statement under Rule 55(c) EPC, i.e. the indication of the extent to which the European patent is opposed and the grounds for opposition, respectively.8. As to the former requirement, which is the subject of the referral in case G 9/91, it has to be noted that in practice it is rather unusual that the opposition is limited to only a certain part (subject-matter) of the patent. Normally, the whole of the patent is opposed. Sometimes, this is not explicitly explained in the notice of opposition but it appears by implication that the opposition is directed to the whole of the patent. There may be cases when the notice of opposition has to be interpreted in this respect, in particular when only certain claims are explicitly dealt with in the notice (cf. the decision of 20 July 1989 in case T 192/88). However, the Enlarged Board sees no reason in the present context to go further into this problem, but will confine its considerations mainly to the situation, where it is clear from the statement under Rule 55(c) EPC that the patent is opposed only to a certain extent, as illustrated e.g. by the case before the referring Board of Appeal 3.3.3 (see paragraph I above; cf. also paragraph 11 below).9. It has also to be noted that the jurisprudence of the Boards of Appeal on this issue so far is very limited. In fact, there would seem to be only one decision analysing in some depth the legal implication of the statement under Rule 55(c) EPC containing a limitation of the extent to which the European patent is opposed, namely the decision in case T 9/87 referred to in paragraph IV above. In this decision it was held that the examination of an opposition under Article 101 EPC is limited by the statement in the notice of opposition of the extent to which the patent is opposed. Article 114(1) EPC should be interpreted as subject to Article 101 EPC in this respect. It was further stated in the decision that neither the Opposition Division nor a Board of Appeal has the obligation or the power to examine and decide on the maintenance of a European patent except to the extent to which it is opposed. It appears from the decision that it is mainly based on the consideration that opposition proceedings constitute an exception to the general rule under the EPC, that a European patent after grant is no longer within the competence of the EPO but becomes a bundle of patents within the jurisdiction of the designated Contracting States. In his submissions before the Enlarged Board, the opponent (appellant) in case G 9/91 has challenged this decision, in particular for not taking duly into account the overriding importance of Article 114 EPC.10. The conclusion of the Enlarged Board on this matter comes close to that of the above decision in case T 9/87. The requirement of Rule 55(c) EPC to specify the extent to which the patent is opposed within the time limit prescribed by Article 99(1) EPC would obviously be pointless, if later on other parts of the patent than those so opposed could freely be drawn into the proceedings. This would also be contrary to the basic concept of post-grant opposition under the EPC as outlined above. By limiting the extent to which the patent is opposed to only certain subject-matters, the opponent deliberately refrains from making use of his right under the EPC to oppose remaining subject-matters covered by the patent. Such subject-matters are therefore, strictly speaking, not subject to any "opposition" in the sense of Articles 101 and 102 EPC, nor are there any "proceedings" in the sense of Articles 114 and 115 EPC in existence concerning such non-opposed subject-matters. Consequently, the EPO has no competence to deal with them at all.11. It follows that the answer to the first question put to the Enlarged Board in case G 9/91 has to be affirmative. However, even if the opposition is explicitly directed only to the subject-matter of an independent claim of a European patent, subject-matters covered by claims which are depending on such an independent claim may also be examined as to patentability, if the independent claim falls in opposition or appeal proceedings, provided their validity is prima facie in doubt on the basis of already available information (cf. T 293/88, OJ EPO 1992, 220). Such dependent subject-matters have to be considered as being implicitly covered by the statement under Rule 55(c) EPC (cf. paragraph 8 above).12. Turning to the second main requirement of the statement under Rule 55(c) EPC, i.e. the indication of the grounds on which the opposition is based, which is the subject of the referral in case G 10/91, the problems involved differ from those related to the first main requirement as dealt with above in the following sense: While in the case of the extent to which the patent is opposed, it is a matter of the formal competence of an Opposition Division or a Board of Appeal to deal with a timely non-opposed part of a European patent, the problems connected with the grounds for opposition rather concern the procedural principles to be applied in opposition proceedings where the European patent (or a part of it) has been correctly opposed in accordance with Rule 55(c) EPC on at least one of the grounds listed in Article 100 EPC. The patent (or the relevant part of it) is, so to speak, already under fire in the latter case.13. As submitted by the President of the EPO, very conflicting views have been taken on this point of law in the jurisprudence of the Boards of Appeal. In particular, the decisions in the cases T 493/88 and T 182/89 represent quite irreconcilable approaches. In case T 493/88 it was held that Articles 101(1) and 102(2) EPC clearly refer to all the grounds for opposition set out in Article 100(a)- (c) EPC and do not limit the scope of the examination to be carried out by the Opposition Division merely to the grounds for opposition mentioned by the opponent in the notice of opposition pursuant to Rule 55(c) EPC; an opposite view on this would also be in conflict with the principle of examination by the EPO of its own motion as laid down in Article 114(1) EPC. In other words: the Opposition Division has not only the right but even the duty to examine all grounds for opposition set out in Article 100 EPC, irrespective of whether the opponent in the statement pursuant to Rule 55(c) EPC has based the opposition only on one or two of these three grounds. In contrast to this, in case T 182/89 it was held that in principle Article 114(1) EPC should not be interpreted as requiring the Opposition Division or a Board of Appeal to investigate whether support exists for grounds for opposition which have not been properly supported by the opponent, but should be interpreted as enabling the EPO to investigate fully the grounds for opposition which have been both alleged and properly supported as required by Rule 55(c) EPC. In his submissions before the Enlarged Board, the opponent (appellant) in case G 9/91 strongly supported the approach taken in case T 493/88; the other approach would entail the risk of the maintenance of invalid European patents, thereby rendering the EPC less attractive.14. Obviously, the approach taken in case T 493/88 is not compatible with the principle established by the Enlarged Board in paragraph 6 above, based on the concept of post- grant opposition under the EPC. Furthermore, the fact that in Articles 101(1) and 102(2) EPC references are made to "the grounds" for opposition laid down in Article 100 EPC, i.e. all such grounds, cannot be considered as implying that all such grounds always have to be examined irrespective of the opponent's submissions. A corresponding purely literal interpretation of Article 102(1) EPC would e.g. make it impossible to revoke a patent, if not all the grounds for opposition mentioned in Article 100 EPC prejudiced the maintenance of the patent, which would be clearly absurd. The plural form "grounds" has to be considered only as a legal-technical means of covering the total possible framework of the examination. It also goes without saying that the approach taken in case T 493/88 is contrary to the general interest of procedural expediency.15. The approach taken in case T 182/89 is clearly more in line with the concept of post-grant opposition under the EPC as outlined above. The Enlarged Board agrees that Article 114(1) EPC is no legal basis for an obligatory review of grounds for opposition not covered by the statement pursuant to Rule 55(c) EPC. The crucial point is, however, whether Article 114(1) EPC empowers the Opposition Division or a Board of Appeal to investigate such grounds at all.16. Although the wording of Article 114 EPC is not formally covering the concept of grounds for opposition, there would seem to be support in the travaux préparatoires to the EPC for the opinion that the principle of examination by the EPO of its own motion as laid down in Article 114 EPC was intended to be applied even to that concept at least in proceedings before the Opposition Division (cf. BR/87/71, point 9). This has also been accepted in the practice of the EPO (cf. Guidelines for substantive examination of opposition, Part D, Chapter V). The Enlarged Board does not consider that there is sufficient justification for changing this practice insofar as it concerns the proceedings before the Opposition Division. It is obviously aimed at avoiding the maintenance of European patents which are invalid. Thus, an Opposition Division may, in application of Article 114(1) EPC, of its own motion raise a ground for opposition not covered by the statement pursuant to Rule 55(c) EPC or consider such a ground raised by the opponent (or referred to by a third party under Article 115 EPC) after the expiry of the time limit laid down in Article 99(1) EPC. At the same time, the Enlarged Board would like to emphasise that the consideration of grounds not properly covered by the statement pursuant to Rule 55(c) EPC, as an exception to the principle established by the Board in paragraph 6 above, should only take place before the Opposition Division in cases where, prima facie, there are clear reasons to believe that such grounds are relevant and would in whole or in part prejudice the maintenance of the European patent. The possibility of disregarding facts and evidence in support of fresh grounds not submitted in due time under Article 114(2) EPC should of course also be kept in mind.17. Although the question put to the Enlarged Board in case G 10/91 is formally restricted to the proceedings before the Opposition Division, it is appropriate in this context to clarify the situation also in respect of the appeal procedure (cf. Rule 66(1) EPC).18. The purpose of the appeal procedure inter partes is mainly to give the losing party a possibility to challenge the decision of the Opposition Division on its merits. It is not in conformity with this purpose to consider grounds for opposition on which the decision of the Opposition Division have not been based. Furthermore, in contrast to the merely administrative character of the opposition procedure, the appeal procedure is to be considered as a judicial procedure, as explained by the Enlarged Board in its recently issued decisions in the cases G 7/91 and G 8/91 (see point 7 of the reasons). Such procedure is by its very nature less investigative than an administrative procedure. Although Article 114(1) EPC formally covers also the appeal procedure, it is therefore justified to apply this provision generally in a more restrictive manner in such procedure than in opposition procedure. In particular with regard to fresh grounds for opposition, for the above reasons the Enlarged Board considers that such grounds may in principle not be introduced at the appeal stage. This approach also reduces the procedural uncertainty for patentees having otherwise to face unforeseeable complications at a very late stage of the proceedings, putting at risk the revocation of the patent, which means an irrevocable loss of rights. Opponents are in this respect in a better position, having always the possibility to initiate revocation proceedings before national courts, if they do not succeed before the EPO.However, an exception to the above principle is justified in case the patentee agrees that a fresh ground for opposition may be considered: volenti non fit injuria. It may in some cases be in his own interest that such a ground is not excluded from consideration in the centralised procedure before the EPO. However, it goes without saying that such a ground should only be raised by a Board of Appeal or, if raised by an opponent, be admitted into the proceedings, if it is considered by the Board to be already prima facie highly relevant. If a fresh ground is admitted, the case should, having regard to the purpose of the appeal procedure as stated above, be remitted to the first instance for further prosecution, unless special reasons present themselves for doing otherwise. It may be added that if the patentee does not agree to the introduction of a fresh ground for opposition, such a ground may not be dealt with in substance in the decision of the Board of Appeal at all. Only the fact, that the question has been raised may be mentioned.19. In order to avoid any misunderstanding, it should finally be confirmed that in case of amendments of the claims or other parts of a patent in the course of opposition or appeal proceedings, such amendments are to be fully examined as to their compatibility with the requirements of the EPC (e.g. with regard to the provisions of Article 123(2) and (3) EPC).OpinionFor these reasons, it is decided that:The question of law referred to the Enlarged Board by the President of the EPO is to be answered as follows:1. An Opposition Division or a Board of Appeal is not obliged to consider all the grounds for opposition referred to in Article 100 EPC, going beyond the grounds covered by the statement under Rule 55(c) EPC.2. In principle, the Opposition Division shall examine only such grounds for opposition, which have been properly submitted and substantiated in accordance with Article 99(1) in conjunction with Rule 55(c) EPC. Exceptionally, the Opposition Division may in application of Article 114(1) EPC consider other grounds for opposition, which, prima facie, in whole or in part would seem to prejudice the maintenance of the European patent.3. Fresh grounds for opposition may be considered in appeal proceedings only with the approval of the patentee.