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The patent EP2546638 was granted to FEI on Aug 21, 2019. The application was filed on Jun 28, 2012 under application number EP12173974A. The patent is currently recorded with a legal status of "Opposition Rejected".

Patent oppositions filed by competitors challenge the validity of a granted patent. These oppositions are typically based on claims of prior art, lack of novelty, or non-obviousness. They are a key part of the process for determining a patent's strength and enforceability.
| Company | Opposition Date | Representative | Opposition Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| CARL ZEISS | May 15, 2020 | CARL ZEISS PATENTABTEILUNG | - |
Patent citations refer to prior patents cited during different phases such as opposition or international search.
| Citation Phase | Publication Number |
|---|---|
| DESCRIPTION | US2011144922 |
| OPPOSITION | JP2009250867 |
| SEARCH | EP0568351 |
The dossier documents provide a comprehensive record of the patent's prosecution history - including filings, correspondence, and decisions made by patent offices - and are crucial for understanding the patent's legal journey and any challenges it may have faced during examination.
Date
Description
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Mar 17, 2022
Mar 17, 2022
Mar 14, 2022
Nov 30, 2021
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Nov 29, 2021
Nov 29, 2021
Nov 29, 2021
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Nov 29, 2021
Means of redress
OPPO
Nov 29, 2021
Nov 29, 2021
Nov 29, 2021
Nov 29, 2021
Nov 17, 2021
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Oct 22, 2021
Aug 26, 2021
Aug 26, 2021
Aug 20, 2021
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Jun 29, 2021
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Jan 19, 2021
Jan 15, 2021
Jan 15, 2021
Jan 15, 2021
Oct 22, 2020
Oct 15, 2020
Oct 15, 2020
Oct 15, 2020
Oct 15, 2020
Oct 15, 2020
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Oct 15, 2020
Oct 15, 2020
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Oct 15, 2020
Oct 15, 2020
Oct 14, 2020
Oct 14, 2020
Oct 14, 2020
Oct 1, 2020
Oct 1, 2020
Authorisation
OPPO
Oct 1, 2020
Oct 1, 2020
Jun 15, 2020
Jun 15, 2020
Jun 2, 2020
Refund of fees
OPPO
May 25, 2020
May 18, 2020
May 15, 2020
May 15, 2020
May 15, 2020
May 15, 2020
May 15, 2020
May 15, 2020
May 15, 2020
Sep 2, 2019
Jul 25, 2019
Decision to grant a European patent
Search/Exam
Jul 10, 2019
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Jul 10, 2019
Filing of the translations of the claims
Search/Exam
Jul 10, 2019
French translation of claims
Search/Exam
Jul 10, 2019
German translation of the claims
Search/Exam
Jul 10, 2019
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Search/Exam
May 28, 2019
May 28, 2019
May 28, 2019
Intention to grant (signatures)
Search/Exam
May 28, 2019
Text intended for grant (clean copy)
Search/Exam
May 28, 2019
Apr 5, 2019
Examination started
Search/Exam
Jan 16, 2019
Jul 20, 2018
Jul 17, 2018
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Search/Exam
Jul 17, 2018
Mar 23, 2018
Mar 8, 2018
Mar 2, 2018
Feb 6, 2018
Jul 22, 2015
Amended claims with annotations
Search/Exam
Jul 22, 2015
Amendments received before examination
Search/Exam
Jul 22, 2015
Claims
Search/Exam
Jul 22, 2015
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Search/Exam
Feb 2, 2015
Jan 8, 2015
Jan 8, 2015
European search opinion
Search/Exam
Jan 8, 2015
European search report
Search/Exam
Dec 22, 2014
Modified abstract
Search/Exam
Dec 17, 2014
Search started
Search/Exam
Dec 19, 2012
Notification of forthcoming publication
Search/Exam
Sep 4, 2012
Aug 29, 2012
Aug 29, 2012
Aug 21, 2012
Communication to designated inventor
Search/Exam
Aug 21, 2012
Communication to designated inventor
Search/Exam
Jul 20, 2012
Priority search results copy provided by EPO
Search/Exam
Jun 28, 2012
Abstract
Search/Exam
Jun 28, 2012
Jun 28, 2012
Claims
Search/Exam
Jun 28, 2012
Description
Search/Exam
Jun 28, 2012
Designation of inventor
Search/Exam
Jun 28, 2012
Designation of inventor
Search/Exam
Jun 28, 2012
Drawings
Search/Exam
Jun 28, 2012
Priority search results
Search/Exam
Jun 28, 2012
Request for grant of a European patent
Search/Exam