Tuesday, October 11, 2016 T 1647/15 - The eyes of an objective observer

In this opposition appeal, three opponents requested that the Opposition Division's decision  be set aside for bias of at least one member of the Opposition Division and that the case be remitted for rehearing before an Opposition Division in a different composition or, in the alternative, that at least one of the questions the Opponents be referred to the Enlarged Board of Appeal, or that the Opposition Division's decision be set aside for violation of the right to be heard and that the case be remitted to the Opposition Division, or that the Opposition Division's decision be set aside insofar as the Opponents are adversely affected and that patent be revoked. A first indication of the alleged partiality was that the representative of Opponent III, on the second day of the oral proceedings, was interrupted by the chairman saying: "Shut your mouth" and "Don't speak any more". The chairman, being asked whether he would confirm this wording, expressed that he would neither regret what he just said, nor "take anything back". The opponents submitted that tis was a clear indication of a personal aversion of the chairman against the representative of Opponent III, and that it was also obvious that this personal animosity negatively affected the ability of the chairman to hear Opponent III with an objective judicial mind. According to the opponents, the Opposition Division made a fundamental procedural violation in deciding itself to reject the then raised objection of suspected partiality by Opponent III. The provisions of Article 24(3) EPC should have been applied to the members of the Opposition Division. The refusal of the Opposition Division to agree to the correction of the minutes of the oral proceedings requested by the Opponents was submitted to be a further indication of partiality. The minutes were deliberately written so as to misinterpret what had happened and was said during the oral proceedings. What did the Board decide?

Monday, July 27, 2015 T 1938/09 Procedural triggery?

Well before the oral proceedings, the proprietor/appellant requests the oral proceedings to be recorded and made public, The appellant next raises a partiality issue against the board (based on being a possible substitute for VP3). Subsequently, the appellant requested a stay of proceedings and questions to be referred to the Enlarged Board. 

None of the issues were successful.

Friday, May 01, 2015 R 8/13 Partiality settled for the time being

Background
In an interlocutory decision of 25 April 2014 in the Petition for Review case R19/12, the Chairman of the Enlarged Board of Appeal was replaced having been accused of potential partiality in view of his role as Vice President of the EPO and as such subject to the supervisory authority of the President of the EPO under Article 10(2)(f) EPC (R19/12 r.14.1 in conjunction with r.16).

As a consequence, the EPO took internal measures to reduce the consequences of the double function, but did not officially publish the measures.

In R 2/14 suspected partiality of the chairman was raised again. The Enlarged Board had to decide whether the measures taken removed the grounds. It decided that that was the case. It reasoned:

r.39.6 Consequently, the Board considers that it is appropriate to apply the legal concept of "normative concordance" so that a balance between the conflicting legal / institutional provisions of Article 10(3) EPC (in respect of management functions) and Article 23(3) EPC (in respect of judicial functions) can be achieved with regard to the Chairman's dual duties as VP3 and Chairman of the Enlarged Board of Appeal.
r.39.7 In applying the concept of "normative concordance" to the present case, the Board concludes that the President's power to give instructions to the Chairman in his function as VP3 pursuant to Article 10(2)(f) and (3) EPC is limited by virtue of Article 23(3) EPC.

The Chairman is accordingly relieved of any obligation
(a) to obey any presidential instructions or
(b) to observe other administrative/executive directions or
(c) to assist the President pursuant to Article 10(3) EPC

if and to the extent that any such instruction, direction or assistance might affect him and/or any other member of the boards of appeal, including the Enlarged Board of Appeal, directly or indirectly, in performing their judicial duties (see also Braendli, Münchner Gemeinschaftskommentar EPÜ, supra, Art. 10, para. 53, and Art. 11, para. 37).

In R. 8/13 this issue is raised for the third time. The focus now shifts to whether the current way of working complies with international law.

The Enlarged Board decides that that is the case. This decision seems for the time being to end the discussion on partiality of the Chairman of the Enlarged Board in view of the double function of also being a Vice President (of DG3). 

The Enlarged Board reiterates that it would be best to remove the organisational conflicts but that that is in issue for the legislator. 

Tuesday, March 03, 2015 T 1938/09 Objection for suspicion of partiality

Background: 

In an interlocutory decision of 25 April 2014 in the Petition for Review case R19/12, the Chairman of the Enlarged Board of Appeal was replaced having been accused of potential partiality in view of his role as Vice President of the EPO and as such subject to the supervisory authority of the President of the EPO under Article 10(2)(f) EPC (R19/12 r.14.1 in conjunction with r.16) [the EPO having decided on the case under appeal].In this new case, an attempt is made to have the chairman of the Board of Appeal replaced on the ground that any member of the Presidium of the boards of appeal could act as a substitute for the Vice President 3 (VP3 - Chairman of the Enlarged Board of Appeal). In view of interlocutory decision R 19/12, a party could also suspect any chairman of a board of appeal of being partial in a pending appeal case in which he or she was involved, if at any time during the pendency of the appeal proceedings he or she had been appointed as a substitute for VP3.The appellant raised several issues and proposed several questions to be referred to the Enlarged Board. Here we will only show the reasoning of the Board.

Reasons for the Decision

1. Where in an admissible appeal an objection under Article 24(3) EPC in respect of a board member is made by one of the parties, the board in its original composition must first decide on the admissibility of the objection (interlocutory decision R 12/09 of 3 December 2009, Reasons for the decision No. 2). An objection is inadmissible if, for example, the party has taken a procedural step while being aware of a reason for objection, or bases the objection on the nationality of the board member (Article 24(3), second and third sentences, EPC). Furthermore, the objection must be sufficiently substantiated in order to be admissible (R 12/09, Reasons for the decision No. 2). 

2. The board in its original composition considered the objection of suspected partiality with respect to the Chairman to be admissible. Therefore, the Chairman was replaced in accordance with Article 24(4) EPC for the decision to be taken on the objection. 

3. The EPC does not prescribe how the board in its alternate composition has to conduct proceedings under Article 24(4) EPC, but Article 3(2) RPBA states that the member concerned shall be invited to present his comments as to whether there is a reason for exclusion. This provision requires that the member objected to must be given an opportunity to present his comments and thus safeguards the member's right to be heard with respect to the objection (Münchner Gemeinschaftskommentar, Art. 24, Rdn. 46; see also Benkard, EPÜ, 2. Auflage, Art 24 Rdn. 26, Singer/Stauder, EPÜ 6. Auflage, Art. 24 Rdn. 16).