The weekly litigation news digest is live. Subscribe now
The patent EP3144403 was granted to Ball on Oct 21, 2020. The application was filed on Sep 14, 2012 under application number EP16189160A. The patent is currently recorded with a legal status of "Granted And Under Opposition".

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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| HOFFMANN EITLE | Jul 21, 2021 | HOFFMANN EITLE | - |
| NEUMAN ALUMINIUM AUSTRIA | Jul 20, 2021 | LEINWEBER & ZIMMERMANN | ADMISSIBLE |
Patent citations refer to prior patents cited during different phases such as opposition or international search.
| Citation Phase | Publication Number |
|---|---|
| OPPOSITION | FR2457328 |
| OPPOSITION | JPH06279888 |
| OPPOSITION | US2001031376 |
| OPPOSITION | US2006021415 |
| OPPOSITION | US4282044 |
| OPPOSITION | US6945085 |
| SEARCH | JPH11293363 |
| SEARCH | US2008041501 |
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
Get instant alerts for new documents
Dec 22, 2025
Dec 22, 2025
Dec 22, 2025
Dec 17, 2025
Dec 17, 2025
Oct 8, 2025
Oct 8, 2025
Oct 2, 2025
(Electronic) Receipt
Appeal
Oct 2, 2025
Oct 2, 2025
Oct 2, 2025
Oct 2, 2025
Reply to appeal
Appeal
Jun 5, 2025
Jun 5, 2025
May 30, 2025
(Electronic) Receipt
Appeal
May 30, 2025
May 30, 2025
May 30, 2025
May 30, 2025
May 30, 2025
May 30, 2025
May 30, 2025
May 30, 2025
May 30, 2025
May 30, 2025
May 30, 2025
May 30, 2025
May 30, 2025
May 30, 2025
May 30, 2025
May 30, 2025
May 30, 2025
May 30, 2025
May 30, 2025
Description
Appeal
May 30, 2025
May 30, 2025
May 30, 2025
Apr 14, 2025
Apr 2, 2025
Apr 2, 2025
Apr 2, 2025
Apr 2, 2025
Apr 2, 2025
Apr 2, 2025
Mar 28, 2025
(Electronic) Receipt
Appeal
Mar 28, 2025
Mar 28, 2025
Mar 28, 2025
Mar 27, 2025
(Electronic) Receipt
Appeal
Mar 27, 2025
Mar 27, 2025
Notice of appeal
Appeal
Jan 29, 2025
Jan 29, 2025
Jan 29, 2025
Jan 29, 2025
Jan 29, 2025
Jan 29, 2025
Jan 29, 2025
Jan 29, 2025
Jan 29, 2025
Jan 29, 2025
Jan 29, 2025
Means of redress
OPPO
Jan 29, 2025
Jan 29, 2025
Jan 29, 2025
Jan 29, 2025
Jan 29, 2025
Jan 29, 2025
Jan 29, 2025
Jan 29, 2025
Jan 29, 2025
Jan 29, 2025
Jan 29, 2025
Jan 29, 2025
Jan 29, 2025
Jan 29, 2025
Jan 29, 2025
Jan 29, 2025
Jan 29, 2025
Jan 29, 2025
Dec 12, 2024
Nov 4, 2024
Oct 17, 2024
Oct 17, 2024
Oct 17, 2024
Oct 17, 2024
Oct 14, 2024
Oct 14, 2024
Oct 14, 2024
Oct 11, 2024
Oct 11, 2024
Oct 11, 2024
Oct 11, 2024
Oct 11, 2024
Oct 11, 2024
Oct 11, 2024
Oct 11, 2024
Oct 11, 2024
Oct 11, 2024
Oct 11, 2024
Oct 11, 2024
Oct 11, 2024
Oct 11, 2024
Oct 11, 2024
Oct 11, 2024
Oct 11, 2024
Oct 11, 2024
Oct 11, 2024
Oct 11, 2024
Description
OPPO
Oct 11, 2024
Description
OPPO
Oct 11, 2024
Oct 11, 2024
Oct 11, 2024
Oct 8, 2024
Oct 8, 2024
Oct 8, 2024
Apr 18, 2024
Apr 18, 2024
Apr 18, 2024
Apr 18, 2024
Apr 18, 2024
Apr 18, 2024
Apr 18, 2024
Apr 18, 2024
Apr 18, 2024
Apr 17, 2024
Apr 17, 2024
Apr 12, 2024
Apr 12, 2024
Apr 12, 2024
Apr 12, 2024
Apr 12, 2024
Apr 12, 2024
Apr 12, 2024
Apr 12, 2024
Apr 12, 2024
Apr 12, 2024
Apr 12, 2024
Apr 12, 2024
Apr 12, 2024
Aug 22, 2022
Aug 22, 2022
Aug 16, 2022
Aug 16, 2022
Aug 16, 2022
Apr 12, 2022
Apr 12, 2022
Apr 5, 2022
Apr 5, 2022
Apr 5, 2022
Apr 5, 2022
Apr 5, 2022
Apr 5, 2022
Apr 5, 2022
Apr 5, 2022
Mar 2, 2022
Mar 2, 2022
Feb 25, 2022
Feb 25, 2022
Feb 25, 2022
Dec 17, 2021
Dec 17, 2021
Dec 13, 2021
Dec 13, 2021
Dec 13, 2021
Dec 13, 2021
Dec 13, 2021
Dec 13, 2021
Dec 13, 2021
Dec 13, 2021
Dec 13, 2021
Dec 13, 2021
Dec 13, 2021
Dec 13, 2021
Dec 13, 2021
Dec 13, 2021
Dec 13, 2021
Dec 13, 2021
Dec 13, 2021
Aug 4, 2021
Aug 4, 2021
Aug 4, 2021
Jul 27, 2021
Jul 26, 2021
Jul 21, 2021
Jul 21, 2021
Jul 21, 2021
Jul 21, 2021
Jul 21, 2021
Jul 21, 2021
Jul 21, 2021
Jul 21, 2021
Jul 21, 2021
Jul 21, 2021
Jul 21, 2021
Jul 21, 2021
Jul 21, 2021
Jul 21, 2021
Jul 21, 2021
Jul 20, 2021
Jul 20, 2021
Jul 20, 2021
Jul 20, 2021
Jul 20, 2021
Jul 20, 2021
Jul 20, 2021
Jul 20, 2021
Jul 20, 2021
Jan 26, 2021
Document concerning representation
Search/Exam
Nov 2, 2020
Sep 24, 2020
Decision to grant a European patent
Search/Exam
Sep 8, 2020
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Sep 8, 2020
Filing of the translations of the claims
Search/Exam
Sep 8, 2020
French translation of claims
Search/Exam
Sep 8, 2020
German translation of the claims
Search/Exam
Sep 8, 2020
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Search/Exam
Jun 5, 2020
Jun 5, 2020
Jun 5, 2020
Intention to grant (signatures)
Search/Exam
Jun 5, 2020
Text intended for grant (clean copy)
Search/Exam
Jun 5, 2020
Apr 28, 2020
Annex to a communication
Search/Exam
Apr 28, 2020
Annex to the communication
Search/Exam
Apr 28, 2020
Apr 28, 2020
Apr 28, 2020
Apr 17, 2020
Annex to the communication
Search/Exam
Apr 17, 2020
Apr 17, 2020
Apr 17, 2020
Apr 1, 2020
Claims submitted during oral proceedings
Search/Exam
Apr 1, 2020
Claims submitted during oral proceedings
Search/Exam
Apr 1, 2020
Mar 23, 2020
Feb 28, 2020
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Feb 28, 2020
Amended claims with annotations
Search/Exam
Feb 28, 2020
Amended claims with annotations
Search/Exam
Feb 28, 2020
Amended claims with annotations
Search/Exam
Feb 28, 2020
Amended claims with annotations
Search/Exam
Feb 28, 2020
Amended claims with annotations
Search/Exam
Feb 28, 2020
Claims
Search/Exam
Feb 28, 2020
Claims
Search/Exam
Feb 28, 2020
Claims
Search/Exam
Feb 28, 2020
Claims
Search/Exam
Feb 28, 2020
Claims
Search/Exam
Feb 28, 2020
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Search/Exam
Feb 28, 2020
Oct 24, 2019
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Oct 24, 2019
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Search/Exam
Oct 24, 2019
Letter dealing with oral proceedings
Search/Exam
Oct 16, 2019
Advice of delivery
Search/Exam
Oct 11, 2019
Acknowledgement of a document
Search/Exam
Oct 11, 2019
Advice of delivery
Search/Exam
Oct 11, 2019
Annex to the communication
Search/Exam
Oct 11, 2019
Summons to attend oral proceedings
Search/Exam
Jul 4, 2019
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Jul 4, 2019
Amended claims with annotations
Search/Exam
Jul 4, 2019
Amended description with annotations
Search/Exam
Jul 4, 2019
Claims
Search/Exam
Jul 4, 2019
Description
Search/Exam
Jul 4, 2019
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Search/Exam
Jul 4, 2019
Jul 4, 2019
May 16, 2019
May 13, 2019
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
May 13, 2019
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Search/Exam
May 13, 2019
Jan 2, 2019
Annex to the communication
Search/Exam
Jan 2, 2019
Communication from the Examining Division
Search/Exam
Oct 4, 2018
Oct 2, 2018
Sep 28, 2018
Jul 31, 2018
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Jul 31, 2018
Amended claims with annotations
Search/Exam
Jul 31, 2018
Amended description with annotations
Search/Exam
Jul 31, 2018
Claims
Search/Exam
Jul 31, 2018
Description
Search/Exam
Jul 31, 2018
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Search/Exam
Jul 31, 2018
Jun 7, 2018
Jun 1, 2018
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Jun 1, 2018
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Search/Exam
Jun 1, 2018
Jan 24, 2018
Annex to the communication
Search/Exam
Jan 24, 2018
Communication from the Examining Division
Search/Exam
Jan 18, 2018
Examination started
Search/Exam
Oct 5, 2017
Oct 2, 2017
Sep 29, 2017
Sep 22, 2017
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Sep 22, 2017
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Sep 22, 2017
Sep 22, 2017
Amended claims with annotations
Search/Exam
Sep 22, 2017
Sep 22, 2017
Amended description with annotations
Search/Exam
Sep 22, 2017
Amendments received before examination
Search/Exam
Sep 22, 2017
Amendments received before examination
Search/Exam
Sep 22, 2017
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Search/Exam
Sep 22, 2017
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Search/Exam
Apr 5, 2017
Refund of fees
Search/Exam
Mar 27, 2017
Feb 22, 2017
Notification of forthcoming publication
Search/Exam
Feb 16, 2017
Feb 16, 2017
European search opinion
Search/Exam
Feb 16, 2017
European search report
Search/Exam
Feb 16, 2017
Information on Search Strategy
Search/Exam
Jan 30, 2017
Search started
Search/Exam
Dec 9, 2016
Communication to designated inventor
Search/Exam
Dec 9, 2016
Communication to designated inventor
Search/Exam
Dec 9, 2016
Communication to designated inventor
Search/Exam
Dec 9, 2016
Communication to designated inventor
Search/Exam
Sep 16, 2016
Abstract
Search/Exam
Sep 16, 2016
Sep 16, 2016
Claims
Search/Exam
Sep 16, 2016
Description
Search/Exam
Sep 16, 2016
Designation of inventor
Search/Exam
Sep 16, 2016
Drawings
Search/Exam
Sep 16, 2016
Request for grant of a European patent
Search/Exam
Apr 9, 2013