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The patent EP3178483 was granted to The University OF Tokyo on Apr 29, 2020. The application was filed on Jun 3, 2011 under application number EP16188203A. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| GRUND | Jan 29, 2021 | GRUND | ADMISSIBLE |
| NESTLE | Jan 29, 2021 | ELKINGTON AND FIFE | ADMISSIBLE |
| POTTER CLARKSON | Jan 29, 2021 | POTTER CLARKSON | ADMISSIBLE |
| STRAWMAN | Jan 29, 2021 | BRAND MURRAY FULLER | WITHDRAWN |
Patent citations refer to prior patents cited during different phases such as opposition or international search.
| Citation Phase | Publication Number |
|---|---|
| DESCRIPTION | US6368586 |
| OPPOSITION | AU2001276160B |
| OPPOSITION | DE102006062250 |
| OPPOSITION | EP1749538 |
| OPPOSITION | EP1955706 |
| OPPOSITION | EP2575835 |
| OPPOSITION | JP2009084215 |
| OPPOSITION | WO2004085628 |
| OPPOSITION | WO2009050486 |
| OPPOSITION | WO2011152566 |
| OPPOSITION | WO2013080561 |
| SEARCH | DE102006062250 |
| SEARCH | EP1749538 |
| SEARCH | EP1955706 |
| SEARCH | WO2009050486 |
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
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Appeal
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Notice of appeal
Appeal
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May 11, 2020
Apr 2, 2020
Decision to grant a European patent
Search/Exam
Mar 18, 2020
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Mar 18, 2020
Filing of the translations of the claims
Search/Exam
Mar 18, 2020
French translation of claims
Search/Exam
Mar 18, 2020
German translation of the claims
Search/Exam
Mar 18, 2020
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Search/Exam
Feb 26, 2020
Feb 26, 2020
Feb 26, 2020
Intention to grant (signatures)
Search/Exam
Feb 26, 2020
Text intended for grant (clean copy)
Search/Exam
Feb 26, 2020
Text intended for grant (sequence listing)
Search/Exam
Feb 26, 2020
Nov 8, 2019
Annex to the communication
Search/Exam
Nov 8, 2019
Consultation by telephone/in person
Search/Exam
Nov 8, 2019
Oct 29, 2019
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Oct 29, 2019
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Search/Exam
Oct 29, 2019
Jul 23, 2019
Annex to the communication
Search/Exam
Jul 23, 2019
Communication from the Examining Division
Search/Exam
May 13, 2019
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
May 13, 2019
Amended claims with annotations
Search/Exam
May 13, 2019
Claims
Search/Exam
May 13, 2019
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Search/Exam
May 13, 2019
May 3, 2019
Annex to the communication
Search/Exam
May 3, 2019
Consultation by telephone/in person
Search/Exam
May 3, 2019
Apr 4, 2019
Annex to the communication
Search/Exam
Apr 4, 2019
Communication from the Examining Division
Search/Exam
Mar 15, 2019
Decision to allow further processing
Search/Exam
Feb 27, 2019
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Feb 27, 2019
Amended claims with annotations
Search/Exam
Feb 27, 2019
Amended description with annotations
Search/Exam
Feb 27, 2019
Claims
Search/Exam
Feb 27, 2019
Description
Search/Exam
Feb 27, 2019
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Search/Exam
Feb 27, 2019
Feb 27, 2019
Request for further processing
Search/Exam
Dec 20, 2018
Nov 16, 2018
Annex to the communication
Search/Exam
Nov 16, 2018
Consultation by telephone/in person
Search/Exam
Nov 16, 2018
Jul 11, 2018
Refund of fees
Search/Exam
May 14, 2018
Annex to the communication
Search/Exam
May 14, 2018
Communication from the Examining Division
Search/Exam
May 7, 2018
Examination started
Search/Exam
Dec 13, 2017
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Dec 13, 2017
Dec 13, 2017
Amended claims with annotations
Search/Exam
Dec 13, 2017
Amendments received before examination
Search/Exam
Dec 13, 2017
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Search/Exam
Dec 13, 2017
Nov 16, 2017
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Nov 16, 2017
Letter concerning fees and payments
Search/Exam
Jul 27, 2017
Jul 27, 2017
Jul 12, 2017
Refund of fees
Search/Exam
Jul 7, 2017
Jul 4, 2017
Jun 30, 2017
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Jun 30, 2017
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Search/Exam
Jun 30, 2017
Jun 29, 2017
Jun 20, 2017
May 17, 2017
Notification of forthcoming publication
Search/Exam
May 4, 2017
Refund of fees
Search/Exam
Apr 26, 2017
Apr 26, 2017
European search opinion
Search/Exam
Apr 26, 2017
European search report
Search/Exam
Apr 26, 2017
Information on Search Strategy
Search/Exam
Apr 13, 2017
Search started
Search/Exam
Dec 20, 2016
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Dec 20, 2016
Amended claims with annotations
Search/Exam
Dec 20, 2016
Claims
Search/Exam
Dec 20, 2016
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Search/Exam
Dec 20, 2016
Matter concerning the application
Search/Exam
Dec 2, 2016
Communication to designated inventor
Search/Exam
Dec 2, 2016
Communication to designated inventor
Search/Exam
Dec 2, 2016
Communication to designated inventor
Search/Exam
Dec 2, 2016
Communication to designated inventor
Search/Exam
Nov 16, 2016
Refund of fees
Search/Exam
Oct 25, 2016
Invitation to file claims
Search/Exam
Sep 9, 2016
Abstract
Search/Exam
Sep 9, 2016
Sep 9, 2016
Converted Sequence Listing
Search/Exam
Sep 9, 2016
Converted Sequence Listing
Search/Exam
Sep 9, 2016
Description
Search/Exam
Sep 9, 2016
Designation of inventor
Search/Exam
Sep 9, 2016
Drawings
Search/Exam
Sep 9, 2016
Request for grant of a European patent
Search/Exam
Dec 28, 2011
Dec 28, 2011