Extract from the Register of European Patents

EP About this file: EP0512997

EP0512997 - PROCESS FOR THE HETEROTROPHIC PRODUCTION OF PRODUCTS WITH HIGH CONCENTRATIONS OF OMEGA-3 HIGHLY UNSATURATED FATTY ACIDS [Right-click to bookmark this link]
StatusPatent revoked
Status updated on  14.11.2014
Database last updated on 11.04.2026
Most recent event   Tooltip14.11.2014Revocation of patentpublished on 17.12.2014  [2014/51]
Applicant(s)For all designated states
MARTEK BIOSCIENCES CORPORATION
6480 Dobbin Road
Columbia, MD 21045 / US
[N/P]
Former [2004/14]For all designated states
Martek Biosciences Corporation
6480 Dobbin Road
Columbia, MD 21045 / US
Former [1994/10]For all designated states
OmegaTech Inc.
P.O. Box 17145
Boulder, CO 80308 / US
Former [1992/47]For all designated states
PHYCOTECH, INC.
P.O. Box 17145
Boulder, CO 80308 / US
Inventor(s)01 / BARCLAY, William, R.
6395 Bruntwood Court
Boulder, CO 80303 / US
[1992/47]
Representative(s)Mallalieu, Catherine Louise, et al
D Young & Co LLP
120 Holborn
London EC1N 2DY / GB
[N/P]
Former [1994/10]Mallalieu, Catherine Louise, et al
D. Young & Co., 21 New Fetter Lane
London EC4A 1DA / GB
Former [1992/47]Mallalieu, Catherine Louise
D. Young & Co., 21 New Fetter Lane
London EC4A 1DA / GB
Application number, filing date90916891.605.11.1990
[1992/47]
WO1990US06375
Priority number, dateUS1989043909317.11.1989         Original published format: US 439093
US1990058077811.09.1990         Original published format: US 580778
[1992/47]
Filing languageEN
Procedural languageEN
PublicationType: A1 Application with search report
No.:WO9107498
Date:30.05.1991
Language:EN
[1991/12]
Type: A1 Application with search report 
No.:EP0512997
Date:19.11.1992
Language:EN
The application published by WIPO in one of the EPO official languages on 30.05.1991 takes the place of the publication of the European patent application.
[1992/47]
Type: B1 Patent specification 
No.:EP0512997
Date:06.08.1997
Language:EN
[1997/32]
Search report(s)International search report - published on:US30.05.1991
(Supplementary) European search report - dispatched on:EP10.06.1993
ClassificationIPC:C12P7/64, C12N1/14, C12N1/12, A61K31/20, A61K35/78, A01K61/00
[1992/47]
CPC:
C12P7/6432 (EP,US); A23K10/16 (EP,US); A23K20/158 (EP,US);
A23K50/00 (EP,US); A23K50/10 (EP,US); A23K50/75 (EP,US);
A23K50/80 (EP,US); A23L11/07 (EP,US); A23L13/00 (EP,US);
A23L13/43 (EP,US); A23L13/50 (EP,US); A23L15/20 (EP,US);
A23L17/00 (EP,US); A23L17/40 (EP,US); A23L19/09 (EP,US);
A23L25/30 (EP,US); A23L29/065 (EP,US); A23L33/12 (EP,US);
A61K31/20 (EP,US); A61K31/202 (EP,US); C11B1/10 (EP,US);
C12N1/14 (EP,US); C12P7/6434 (EP,US); C12P7/6445 (EP,US);
C12P7/6472 (EP,US); Y02A40/818 (EP,US); Y10S435/946 (EP,US) (-)
Designated contracting statesAT,   BE,   CH,   DE,   DK,   ES,   FR,   GB,   GR,   IT,   LI,   LU,   NL,   SE [1992/47]
TitleGerman:VERFAHREN ZUR HETEROTROPHEN HERSTELLUNG VON PRODUKTEN MIT HOHEN KONZENTRATIONEN AN STARK UNGESÄTTIGTEN FETTSÄUREN IN POSITION OMEGA-3[1992/47]
English:PROCESS FOR THE HETEROTROPHIC PRODUCTION OF PRODUCTS WITH HIGH CONCENTRATIONS OF OMEGA-3 HIGHLY UNSATURATED FATTY ACIDS[1992/47]
French:PROCEDE DE PRODUCTION HETEROTROPHIQUE DE PRODUITS MICROBIENS A CONCENTRATION ELEVEE EN ACIDES GRAS OMEGA-3 FORTEMENT INSATURES[1992/47]
Entry into regional phase04.06.1992National basic fee paid 
04.06.1992Search fee paid 
04.06.1992Designation fee(s) paid 
04.06.1992Examination fee paid 
Examination procedure14.06.1991Request for preliminary examination filed
International Preliminary Examining Authority: DE
04.06.1992Examination requested  [1992/47]
14.10.1994Despatch of a communication from the examining division (Time limit: M06)
21.04.1995Reply to a communication from the examining division
19.05.1995Despatch of a communication from the examining division (Time limit: M06)
18.11.1995Reply to a communication from the examining division
21.05.1996Date of oral proceedings
10.06.1996Minutes of oral proceedings despatched
23.07.1996Despatch of communication of intention to grant (Approval: No)
18.12.1996Despatch of communication of intention to grant (Approval: later approval)
21.01.1997Communication of intention to grant the patent
03.04.1997Fee for grant paid
03.04.1997Fee for publishing/printing paid
Opposition(s)Opponent(s)01  06.05.1998  15.06.1998  ADMISSIBLE
Nagase Biochemicals, Ltd
1-17 Shinmachi 1-chome Nishi-ku
Osaka 550-0013 / JP
Opponent's representative
MacLean, Martin Robert
Mathys & Squire The Shard
32 London Bridge Street
London SE1 9SG / GB
 02  06.05.1998  22.07.1998  ADMISSIBLE
SANOFI-AVENTIS DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
Patentabteilung
Industriepark Höchst, Geb. K 801
65926 Frankfurt / DE
Opponent's representative
Ahrens, Gabriele
Patentanwälte Einsel & Kollegen
Jasperallee 1A
38102 Braunschweig / DE
 [N/P]
Former [2010/43]
Opponent(s)01  06.05.1998  15.06.1998  ADMISSIBLE
Nagase Biochemicals, Ltd
1-17 Shinmachi 1-chome Nishi-ku
Osaka 550-0013 / JP
Opponent's representative
MacLean, Martin Robert
Mathys & Squire 100 Gray's Inn Road
London WC1X 8AL / GB
 02  06.05.1998  22.07.1998  ADMISSIBLE
SANOFI-AVENTIS DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
Patentabteilung Industriepark Höchst, Geb. K 801
65926 Frankfurt / DE
Opponent's representative
Ahrens, Gabriele
Jasperallee 1A
38102 Braunschweig / DE
Former [2004/42]
Opponent(s)01  06.05.1998  15.06.1998  ADMISSIBLE
Nagase Biochemicals, Ltd
1-17 Shinmachi 1-chome Nishi-ku
Osaka 550-0013 / JP
Opponent's representative
MacLean, Martin Robert
Mathys & Squire 100 Gray's Inn Road
London WC1X 8AL / GB
 02  06.05.1998  22.07.1998  ADMISSIBLE
Aventis Research & Technologies GmbH
Industriepark Höchst K 801
65926 Frankfurt am Main / DE
Opponent's representative
Ahrens, Gabriele, Dr.
Jasperallee 1A
38102 Braunschweig / DE
Former [2000/44]
Opponent(s)01  06.05.1998  15.06.1998  ADMISSIBLE
Nagase Biochemicals, Ltd
1-17 Shinmachi 1-chome Nishi-ku
Osaka 550-0013 / JP
Opponent's representative
Schlich, George William
Mathys & Squire 100 Grays Inn Road
London WC1X 8AL / GB
 02  06.05.1998  22.07.1998  ADMISSIBLE
Aventis Research & Technologies GmbH
Industriepark Höchst K 801
65926 Frankfurt am Main / DE
Opponent's representative
Ahrens, Gabriele, Dr.
Jasperallee 1A
38102 Braunschweig / DE
Former [2000/10]
Opponent(s)01  06.05.1998  15.06.1998  ADMISSIBLE
Nagase Biochemicals, Ltd
1-17 Shinmachi 1-chome Nishi-ku
Osaka 550-0013 / JP
Opponent's representative
Schlich, George William
Mathys & Squire 100 Grays Inn Road
London WC1X 8AL / GB
 02  06.05.1998  22.07.1998  ADMISSIBLE
Aventis Research & Technologies GmbH
Industriepark Höchst K 801
65926 Frankfurt am Main / DE
Former [1999/32]
Opponent(s)01  06.05.1998  15.06.1998  ADMISSIBLE
Nagase Biochemicals, Ltd
1-17 Shinmachi 1-chome Nishi-ku
Osaka 550-0013 / JP
Opponent's representative
Schlich, George William
Mathys & Squire 100 Grays Inn Road
London WC1X 8AL / GB
 02  06.05.1998  22.07.1998  ADMISSIBLE
Aventis Research & Technologies GmbH
Industriepark Höchst K 801
65926 Frankfurt am Main / DE
Opponent's representative
Ahrens, Gabriele
Jasperallee 1A
38102 Braunschweig / DE
Former [1999/05]
Opponent(s)01  06.05.1998  15.06.1998  ADMISSIBLE
Nagase Biochemicals, Ltd
1-17 Shinmachi 1-chome Nishi-ku
Osaka 550-0013 / JP
Opponent's representative
Schlich, George William
Mathys & Squire 100 Grays Inn Road
London WC1X 8AL / GB
 02  06.05.1998  22.07.1998  ADMISSIBLE
Hoechst Research & Technology Deutschland GmbH & Co.KG
65926 Frankfurt / DE
Former [1998/29]
Opponent(s)01  06.05.1998  15.06.1998  ADMISSIBLE
Nagase Biochemicals, Ltd
1-17 Shinmachi 1-chome Nishi-ku
Osaka 550-0013 / JP
Opponent's representative
Vossius & Partner
Siebertstrasse 4
81675 München / DE
 02  06.05.1998  22.07.1998  ADMISSIBLE
Hoechst Research & Technology Deutschland GmbH & Co.KG
65926 Frankfurt / DE
27.07.1998Invitation to proprietor to file observations on the notice of opposition
27.01.1999Reply of patent proprietor to notice(s) of opposition
09.02.1999Communication of observations of patent proprietor (Time limit: M08)
18.10.1999Reply of parties involved to observations of patent proprietor
12.12.2000Date of oral proceedings
22.01.2001Despatch of minutes of oral proceedings
14.11.2007Date of oral proceedings
13.12.2007Despatch of interlocutory decision in opposition
19.12.2007Despatch of minutes of oral proceedings
22.09.2010Legal effect of interlocutory decision in opposition
18.12.2013Despatch of communication that the patent will be maintained as amended
04.08.2014Despatch of communication that the patent will be revoked
14.08.2014Legal effect of revocation of patent [2014/51]
Appeal following opposition04.02.2008Appeal received No.  T0261/08
22.04.2008Statement of grounds filed
22.09.2010Result of appeal procedure: appeal of the opponent was rejected
12.02.2008Appeal received No.  T0261/08
11.04.2008Statement of grounds filed
22.09.2010Result of appeal procedure: appeal of the opponent was rejected
20.03.2001Appeal received No.  T0343/01
31.05.2001Statement of grounds filed
12.05.2005Result of appeal procedure: continuation of opposition procedure
20.03.2001Appeal received No.  T0343/01
22.05.2001Statement of grounds filed
06.04.2004Invitation to file observations in an appeal (Time limit: M06) [2004/15]
15.10.2004Date of receipt of observations in an appeal [2004/42]
12.05.2005Result of appeal procedure: continuation of opposition procedure
22.09.2010Date of oral proceedings
29.09.2010Minutes of the oral proceedings despatched
12.05.2005Date of oral proceedings
18.05.2005Minutes of the oral proceedings despatched
Fees paidRenewal fee
21.10.1992Renewal fee patent year 03
08.11.1993Renewal fee patent year 04
15.11.1994Renewal fee patent year 05
09.11.1995Renewal fee patent year 06
11.11.1996Renewal fee patent year 07
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Lapses during opposition  TooltipGB04.11.2010
DE05.11.2010
ES06.11.2010
[2013/30]
Former [2011/28]GB04.11.2010
Cited inInternational search[X] WO8900606  (MARICULTURA INC et al.) [X]
 [Y] WO8810112  (SCHWARTZ CARL S et al.) [Y]
 [Y] US4792418  (RUBIN DAVID et al.) [Y]
 [Y]   PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN, Unexamined Applications, Volume 9, No. 228 (C-303), issued 13 September 1985, IWAMOTO, "Production of Eicosapentaenoic Acid by Algae", see page 69, application number 60-87798(A). [Y]
 [X]   JONG et al., "American Type Culture Collection Catalogue of Fungi/Yeast", Seventeenth Edition, published 1987 by American Type Culture Collection, see pages 350 and 378. [X]
 [YP]   CHEMICAL ABSTRACTS, Volume 111, No. 21 issued 20 November 1989, BEHRENS et al., "Eicosapentaenoic acid from microalgae" see page 623, column 2, Abstract No. 193025d, Novel Microb. Prod. Med. Agric., first 1988, 253-259. [YP]
 [Y]   CHEMICAL ABSTRACTS, Volume 111, No. 3 issued 17 July 1989, KYLE et al., "Microalgae as a source of EPA-containing oils", see page 495, column 2, Abstract No. 22136, Proc.-World Conf. Biotechnol. Fats Oil Ind., published 1988, 117-121. [Y]
 [Y]   PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN, Unexamined Applications, Volume 9, No. 247 (C-307) issued 03 October 1985, Kitamura, "Production of Health Food Egg", see page 146 application number 60-105471 (A). [Y]
OppositionWO8900606
 WO8810112
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