Extract from the Register of European Patents

EP Legal status: EP0359153

Designated contracting states Tooltip DE 
 FR 
 GB 
 IT 
 NL 
Examination procedure10.02.1995Fee for publishing/printing paid
Fees paidRenewal fee
20.09.1991Renewal fee patent year 03
06.08.1992Renewal fee patent year 04
21.09.1993Renewal fee patent year 05
23.09.1994Renewal fee patent year 06
European patent granted24.05.1995
Opposition procedure12.02.2003Fee for printing new specification paid 
Appeal following opposition28.03.2000APPEAL FILED
29.05.2000APPEAL STATEMENT OF GROUNDS FILED
27.06.2002APPEAL RESULT
INPADOC data   TooltipThe EPO does not accept any responsibility for the accuracy of legal status data relating to the post-grant phase, including but not limited to their completeness and fitness for specific purposes, nor can it guarantee that such data are up to date. For authoritative information, please refer to the relevant national patent authority.
Event date:30.06.1995 
Event description:FR: TRANSLATION FILED
 
Event date:21.03.1990 
Event description:DESIGNATED CONTRACTING STATES
Kind Code of Ref Document:A2
Designated State(s):DE FR GB IT NL
 
Event date:06.02.1991 
Event description:DESIGNATED CONTRACTING STATES
Kind Code of Ref Document:A3
Designated State(s):DE FR GB IT NL
 
Event date:24.05.1995 
Event description:DESIGNATED CONTRACTING STATES
Kind Code of Ref Document:B1
Designated State(s):DE FR GB IT NL
 
Event date:11.09.1991 
Event description:REQUEST FOR EXAMINATION FILED
Effective DATE:19910716
 
Event date:15.09.1993 
Event description:FIRST EXAMINATION REPORT DESPATCHED
Effective DATE:19930805
 
Event date:29.06.1995 
Event description:CORRESPONDS TO:
Ref Document Number:68922807
Country of Ref Document:DE
DATE OF REF DOCUMENT:19950629
Format of Ref Document F/P:P
 
Event date:14.07.1995 
Event description:IT: TRANSLATION FOR A EP PATENT FILED
 
Event date:01.01.2002 
Event description:REFERENCE TO A NATIONAL CODE
Event code:REG GB IF02
Code Expl.:+EUROPEAN PATENT IN FORCE AS OF 2002-01-01
 
Event date:24.04.1996 
Event description:OPPOSITION FILED
OPPONENT:INSTITUTE OF TECHNICAL INFORMATION, INC.
Effective DATE:19960226
 
Event date:01.07.1996 
Event description:NL: OPPOSITION HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE EPO
OPPONENT:INSTITUTE OF TECHNICAL INFORMATION, INC.
 
Event date:04.06.2003 
Event description:PATENT MAINTAINED IN AMENDED FORM
Effective DATE:20030604
 
Event date:04.06.2003 
Event description:DESIGNATED CONTRACTING STATES
Designated State(s):DE FR GB IT NL
 
Event date:01.08.2003 
Event description:NL: DECISION OF OPPOSITION
Effective DATE:20030604
 
Event date:01.09.2003 
Event description:NL: RECEIPT OF MODIFIED TRANSLATIONS IN THE NETHERLANDS LANGUAGE AFTER AN OPPOSITION PROCEDURE
 
Event date:09.04.2004 
Event description:FR: TRANSLATION FILED ** DECISION CONCERNING OPPOSITION
 
Event date:28.11.2008 
Event description:ANNUAL FEE PAID TO NATIONAL OFFICE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]
Ref Country Code:FR
Payment DATE:20080917
Year of Fee Payment:20
 
Event date:28.11.2008 
Event description:ANNUAL FEE PAID TO NATIONAL OFFICE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]
Ref Country Code:NL
Payment DATE:20080924
Year of Fee Payment:20
 
Event date:31.12.2008 
Event description:ANNUAL FEE PAID TO NATIONAL OFFICE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]
Ref Country Code:GB
Payment DATE:20080929
Year of Fee Payment:20
 
Event date:30.01.2009 
Event description:ANNUAL FEE PAID TO NATIONAL OFFICE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]
Ref Country Code:DE
Payment DATE:20081031
Year of Fee Payment:20
 
Event date:31.03.2009 
Event description:ANNUAL FEE PAID TO NATIONAL OFFICE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]
Ref Country Code:IT
Payment DATE:20080929
Year of Fee Payment:20
 
Event date:30.09.2009 
Event description:REFERENCE TO A NATIONAL CODE
Event code:REG GB PE20
Code Expl.:-PATENT EXPIRED AFTER TERMINATION OF 20 YEARS
Expiry DATE:20090908
 
Event date:02.11.2009 
Event description:NL: CEASED DUE TO REACHING THE MAXIMUM LIFETIME OF A PATENT
Effective DATE:20090909
 
Event date:30.11.2009 
Event description:LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]
Ref Country Code:GB
Free Format Text:LAPSE BECAUSE OF EXPIRATION OF PROTECTION
Effective DATE:20090908
 
Event date:30.11.2009 
Event description:LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]
Ref Country Code:NL
Free Format Text:LAPSE BECAUSE OF EXPIRATION OF PROTECTION
Effective DATE:20090909
 
Event date:05.10.2005 
Event description:APPEAL REFERENCE MODIFIED
Free Format Text:ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSCREFNO
 
Event date:18.04.2003 
Event description:PATENT MAINTAINED IN AMENDED FORM
Free Format Text:ORIGINAL CODE: 0009272
 
Event date:29.07.2002 
Event description:APPEAL DOSSIER MODIFIED
Free Format Text:ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS NOAPO
 
Event date:11.01.2001 
Event description:APPEAL REFERENCE MODIFIED
Free Format Text:ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS REFNO
 
Event date:31.05.2000 
Event description:APPEAL DOSSIER MODIFIED
Free Format Text:ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS NOAPO
 
Event date:12.04.2000 
Event description:APPEAL REFERENCE MODIFIED
Free Format Text:ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS REFNO
 
Event date:04.04.2000 
Event description:APPEAL DOSSIER MODIFIED
Free Format Text:ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS NOAPO
 
Event date:07.04.1995 
Event description:(EXPECTED) GRANT
Free Format Text:ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210
 
Event date:19.12.1990 
Event description:SEARCH REPORT DESPATCHED
Free Format Text:ORIGINAL CODE: 0009013
 
Event date:03.02.1990 
Event description:PUBLIC REFERENCE MADE UNDER ARTICLE 153(3) EPC TO A PUBLISHED INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION THAT HAS ENTERED THE EUROPEAN PHASE
Free Format Text:ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012
 
Event date:18.04.2003 
Event description:INFORMATION ON THE STATUS OF AN EP PATENT APPLICATION OR GRANTED EP PATENT
Free Format Text:STATUS: PATENT MAINTAINED AS AMENDED
 
Event date:24.01.2003 
Event description:INTERLOCUTORY DECISION IN OPPOSITION
Free Format Text:ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IDOP
 
Event date:25.01.2000 
Event description:INTERLOCUTORY DECISION IN OPPOSITION
Free Format Text:ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IDOP
 
Event date:02.10.1996 
Event description:REPLY OF PATENT PROPRIETOR TO NOTICE(S) OF OPPOSITION
Free Format Text:ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS OBSO
 
Event date:03.08.1996 
Event description:REPLY OF PATENT PROPRIETOR TO NOTICE(S) OF OPPOSITION
Free Format Text:ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS OBSO
 
Event date:30.03.1996 
Event description:REPLY OF PATENT PROPRIETOR TO NOTICE(S) OF OPPOSITION
Free Format Text:ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS OBSO
 
Event date:08.03.1996 
Event description:OPPOSITION FILED
Free Format Text:ORIGINAL CODE: 0009260
 
Event date:07.03.1996 
Event description:UNPUBLISHED CHANGE TO OPPONENT DATA
Free Format Text:ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS OPPO