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Extract from the Register of European Patents

EP About this file: EP3941250

EP3941250 - SMOKING SUBSTITUTE SYSTEM [Right-click to bookmark this link]
StatusThe patent has been granted
Status updated on  31.01.2025
Database last updated on 11.04.2026
FormerGrant of patent is intended
Status updated on  30.10.2024
FormerRequest for examination was made
Status updated on  24.12.2021
FormerThe international publication has been made
Status updated on  02.10.2020
Formerunknown
Status updated on  11.04.2020
Most recent event   Tooltip23.01.2026Lapse of the patent in a contracting state
New state(s): BE, IE		published on 25.02.2026  [2026/09]
Applicant(s)For all designated states
Imperial Tobacco Limited
121 Winterstoke Road
Bristol, BS3 2LL / GB
[2023/39]
Former [2022/04]For all designated states
NERUDIA LIMITED
Wellington House
Physics Road
Speke
Liverpool Merseyside L24 9HP / GB
Inventor(s)01 / FERRIE, Kate
c/o Nerudia Limited Wellington House Physics Road
Speke
Liverpool Merseyside L24 9HP / GB
02 / SHENTON, Ross
c/o Nerudia Limited Wellington House Physics Road
Speke
Liverpool Merseyside L24 9HP / GB
03 / BENYEZZAR, Med
c/o Nerudia Limited Wellington House Physics Road
Speke
Liverpool Merseyside L24 9HP / GB
04 / LORD, Chris
c/o Nerudia Limited Wellington House Physics Road
Speke
Liverpool Merseyside L24 9HP / GB
05 / ZITZKE, Roland
c/o Nerudia Limited Wellington House Physics Road
Speke
Liverpool Merseyside L24 9HP / GB
 [2025/10]
Former [2022/04]01 / FERRIE, Kate
Liverpool Merseyside L24 9HP / GB
02 / SHENTON, Ross
Liverpool Merseyside L24 9HP / GB
03 / BENYEZZAR, Med
Liverpool Merseyside L24 9HP / GB
04 / LORD, Chris
Liverpool Merseyside L24 9HP / GB
05 / ZITZKE, Roland
Liverpool Merseyside L24 9HP / GB
Representative(s)Mewburn Ellis LLP
Aurora Building
Counterslip
Bristol BS1 6BX / GB
[2022/04]
Application number, filing date20715690.213.03.2020
[2022/04]
WO2020EP56763
Priority number, dateEP2019002014322.03.2019         Original published format: EP 19020143
[2022/04]
Filing languageEN
Procedural languageEN
PublicationType: A2 Application without search report
No.:WO2020193170
Date:01.10.2020
Language:EN
[2020/40]
Type: A2 Application without search report 
No.:EP3941250
Date:26.01.2022
Language:EN
The application published by WIPO in one of the EPO official languages on 01.10.2020 takes the place of the publication of the European patent application.
[2022/04]
Type: B1 Patent specification 
No.:EP3941250
Date:05.03.2025
Language:EN
[2025/10]
Search report(s)International search report - published on:EP05.11.2020
ClassificationIPC:A24F40/50, A24F40/57
[2024/48]
CPC:
A24F40/50 (EP); A24F40/57 (EP)
Former IPC [2022/04]A24F47/00, A24F40/50, A24F40/57
Designated contracting statesAL,   AT,   BE,   BG,   CH,   CY,   CZ,   DE,   DK,   EE,   ES,   FI,   FR,   GB,   GR,   HR,   HU,   IE,   IS,   IT,   LI,   LT,   LU,   LV,   MC,   MK,   MT,   NL,   NO,   PL,   PT,   RO,   RS,   SE,   SI,   SK,   SM,   TR [2022/04]
Extension statesBANot yet paid
MENot yet paid
Validation statesKHNot yet paid
MANot yet paid
MDNot yet paid
TNNot yet paid
TitleGerman:RAUCHERSATZSYSTEM[2022/04]
English:SMOKING SUBSTITUTE SYSTEM[2022/04]
French:SYSTÈME DE SUBSTITUTION DU TABAC[2024/46]
Former [2022/04]SYSTÈME DE SUBSTITUTION POUR FUMEUR
Entry into regional phase23.09.2021National basic fee paid 
23.09.2021Designation fee(s) paid 
23.09.2021Examination fee paid 
Examination procedure23.09.2021Examination requested  [2022/04]
23.09.2021Date on which the examining division has become responsible
29.04.2022Amendment by applicant (claims and/or description)
30.10.2024Communication of intention to grant the patent
29.01.2025Fee for grant paid
29.01.2025Fee for publishing/printing paid
29.01.2025Receipt of the translation of the claim(s)
Divisional application(s)EP25151008.7  / EP4512265
Opposition(s)Opponent(s)01  04.12.2025  05.12.2025  ADMISSIBLE
Nicoventures Trading Limited
Globe House
1 Water Street
London WC2R 3LA / GB
Opponent's representative
D Young & Co LLP
3 Noble Street
London EC2V 7BQ / GB
 [2026/03]
Former [2026/02]
Opponent(s)01  04.12.2025   
Nicoventures Trading Limited
Globe House
1 Water Street
London WC2R 3LA / GB
Opponent's representative
D Young & Co LLP
3 Noble Street
London EC2V 7BQ / GB
17.12.2025Invitation to proprietor to file observations on the notice of opposition
Fees paidRenewal fee
16.03.2022Renewal fee patent year 03
21.03.2023Renewal fee patent year 04
15.03.2024Renewal fee patent year 05
Opt-out from the exclusive  Tooltip
competence of the Unified
Patent Court		 See the Register of the Unified Patent Court for opt-out data
Responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or quality of the data displayed under the link provided lies entirely with the Unified Patent Court.
Lapses during opposition  TooltipAT05.03.2025
BG05.03.2025
DK05.03.2025
EE05.03.2025
ES05.03.2025
FI05.03.2025
HR05.03.2025
LV05.03.2025
MC05.03.2025
SE05.03.2025
SK05.03.2025
SM05.03.2025
IE13.03.2025
LU13.03.2025
BE31.03.2025
NO05.06.2025
RS05.06.2025
IS05.07.2025
PT07.07.2025
[2026/09]
Former [2026/08]AT05.03.2025
BG05.03.2025
DK05.03.2025
EE05.03.2025
ES05.03.2025
FI05.03.2025
HR05.03.2025
LV05.03.2025
MC05.03.2025
SE05.03.2025
SK05.03.2025
SM05.03.2025
LU13.03.2025
NO05.06.2025
RS05.06.2025
IS05.07.2025
PT07.07.2025
Former [2026/05]AT05.03.2025
BG05.03.2025
EE05.03.2025
ES05.03.2025
FI05.03.2025
HR05.03.2025
LV05.03.2025
MC05.03.2025
SE05.03.2025
SK05.03.2025
SM05.03.2025
LU13.03.2025
NO05.06.2025
RS05.06.2025
IS05.07.2025
PT07.07.2025
Former [2025/52]AT05.03.2025
BG05.03.2025
EE05.03.2025
ES05.03.2025
FI05.03.2025
HR05.03.2025
LV05.03.2025
SE05.03.2025
SK05.03.2025
SM05.03.2025
LU13.03.2025
NO05.06.2025
RS05.06.2025
IS05.07.2025
PT07.07.2025
Former [2025/49]AT05.03.2025
BG05.03.2025
EE05.03.2025
ES05.03.2025
FI05.03.2025
HR05.03.2025
LV05.03.2025
SE05.03.2025
SK05.03.2025
SM05.03.2025
NO05.06.2025
RS05.06.2025
IS05.07.2025
PT07.07.2025
Former [2025/48]AT05.03.2025
BG05.03.2025
EE05.03.2025
ES05.03.2025
FI05.03.2025
HR05.03.2025
LV05.03.2025
SE05.03.2025
SM05.03.2025
NO05.06.2025
RS05.06.2025
PT07.07.2025
Former [2025/46]BG05.03.2025
ES05.03.2025
FI05.03.2025
HR05.03.2025
LV05.03.2025
SE05.03.2025
SM05.03.2025
NO05.06.2025
RS05.06.2025
PT07.07.2025
Former [2025/42]BG05.03.2025
ES05.03.2025
FI05.03.2025
HR05.03.2025
LV05.03.2025
SE05.03.2025
NO05.06.2025
RS05.06.2025
Former [2025/35]BG05.03.2025
ES05.03.2025
FI05.03.2025
HR05.03.2025
LV05.03.2025
NO05.06.2025
RS05.06.2025
Former [2025/34]ES05.03.2025
FI05.03.2025
HR05.03.2025
LV05.03.2025
NO05.06.2025
RS05.06.2025
Former [2025/33]ES05.03.2025
FI05.03.2025
RS05.06.2025
Cited inInternational search[XA] WO2016091658  (PHILIP MORRIS PRODUCTS SA et al.) [X] 1-3,6-16 * page 1, line 2 - page 10, line 2 * * figures 2-7 *[A] 4,5
 [XA] WO2015140012  (PHILIP MORRIS PRODUCTS SA et al.) [X] 1,10 * page 1, line 4 - page 6, line 28 *[A] 2-9,11-16
 [A] WO2015107552  (GODFREY PHILLIPS INDIA LTD et al.) [A] 1-16 * page 1, line 9 - page 2, line 3 * * page 3, line 8 - page 10, line 3 * * figures 1-12 *
 [A] WO2014066730  (LBS IMP S LLC et al.) [A] 1-16 * page 1, line 18 - page 3, line 21 * * page 11, line 3 - page 47, line 19 * * figures 1-15 *
OppositionWO2016091658
 WO2012027350
 US2011036346
 US2016206005
 US2017079329
 EP3777578
 US2019000145
 WO2013098397
 US2018042306
 US2016331038
 US2016057811
The EPO accepts no responsibility for the accuracy of data originating from other authorities; in particular, it does not guarantee that it is complete, up to date or fit for specific purposes.