The weekly litigation news digest is live. Subscribe now
The patent EP3318226 was granted to This on Jan 6, 2021. The application was filed on Nov 3, 2016 under application number EP16196998A. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| CARL ZEISS | Oct 6, 2021 | PATERIS PATENTANWALTE PARTMBB | - |
Patent citations refer to prior patents cited during different phases such as opposition or international search.
| Citation Phase | Publication Number |
|---|---|
| DESCRIPTION | DE102007031722 |
| DESCRIPTION | DE102012018982 |
| DESCRIPTION | DE19852574 |
| DESCRIPTION | US2016089268 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO0025710 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO02056805 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO2010129128 |
| OPPOSITION | DE102008026014 |
| OPPOSITION | DE102009049430 |
| OPPOSITION | DE102010010336 |
| OPPOSITION | DE1728343 |
| OPPOSITION | DE202015006341U |
| OPPOSITION | DE2030536 |
| OPPOSITION | DE68928524T |
| OPPOSITION | DE69032869T |
| OPPOSITION | EP2227196 |
| OPPOSITION | US2003202894 |
| OPPOSITION | US2004059284 |
| OPPOSITION | US2010249693 |
| OPPOSITION | US2014276428 |
| OPPOSITION | US5499969 |
| OPPOSITION | US8197231 |
| OPPOSITION | WO9318802 |
| SEARCH | DE102007042964 |
| SEARCH | DE69032869T |
| SEARCH | US2013023821 |
| SEARCH | US5746719 |
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 9, 2025
Dec 3, 2025
(Electronic) Receipt
Appeal
Dec 3, 2025
Dec 3, 2025
Oct 28, 2025
Oct 28, 2025
Oct 28, 2025
Oct 23, 2025
Sep 30, 2025
Mar 13, 2025
Mar 13, 2025
Mar 11, 2025
Mar 11, 2025
Feb 27, 2025
Jan 7, 2025
Jan 7, 2025
Nov 22, 2024
Sep 20, 2024
Aug 8, 2024
Aug 2, 2024
(Electronic) Receipt
Appeal
Aug 2, 2024
Aug 2, 2024
Mar 4, 2024
Feb 27, 2024
(Electronic) Receipt
Appeal
Feb 27, 2024
Feb 27, 2024
Feb 27, 2024
Feb 27, 2024
Feb 27, 2024
Feb 27, 2024
Feb 27, 2024
Claims
Appeal
Feb 27, 2024
Claims
Appeal
Feb 27, 2024
Claims
Appeal
Feb 27, 2024
Claims
Appeal
Feb 27, 2024
Claims
Appeal
Feb 27, 2024
Claims
Appeal
Feb 27, 2024
Feb 27, 2024
Reply to appeal
Appeal
Oct 20, 2023
Oct 12, 2023
(Electronic) Receipt
Appeal
Oct 12, 2023
Oct 12, 2023
Aug 21, 2023
Aug 21, 2023
Aug 14, 2023
(Electronic) Receipt
Appeal
Aug 14, 2023
Aug 14, 2023
Notice of appeal
Appeal
Jun 2, 2023
Jun 2, 2023
Jun 2, 2023
Jun 2, 2023
Jun 2, 2023
Jun 2, 2023
Jun 2, 2023
Jun 2, 2023
Means of redress
OPPO
Jun 2, 2023
Jun 2, 2023
Jun 2, 2023
Jun 2, 2023
Jun 2, 2023
Jun 2, 2023
Jun 2, 2023
Jun 2, 2023
Jun 2, 2023
Jun 2, 2023
Jun 2, 2023
Jun 2, 2023
Jun 2, 2023
Jun 2, 2023
Jun 2, 2023
Jun 2, 2023
Jun 2, 2023
Jun 2, 2023
Jun 2, 2023
Jun 2, 2023
Mar 22, 2023
Mar 21, 2023
Mar 20, 2023
Mar 20, 2023
Mar 20, 2023
Description
OPPO
Mar 20, 2023
Mar 20, 2023
Mar 15, 2023
Mar 14, 2023
Mar 14, 2023
Mar 14, 2023
Jan 25, 2023
Jan 19, 2023
Jan 19, 2023
Jan 19, 2023
Jan 19, 2023
Jan 19, 2023
Jan 19, 2023
Jan 19, 2023
Jan 19, 2023
Jan 13, 2023
Jan 10, 2023
Jan 10, 2023
Jan 10, 2023
Nov 29, 2022
Nov 29, 2022
Nov 28, 2022
Nov 23, 2022
Nov 23, 2022
Nov 23, 2022
Nov 23, 2022
Nov 23, 2022
May 31, 2022
May 30, 2022
May 30, 2022
May 30, 2022
May 30, 2022
May 30, 2022
May 30, 2022
May 30, 2022
Mar 2, 2022
Feb 25, 2022
Feb 25, 2022
Feb 25, 2022
Feb 25, 2022
Feb 25, 2022
Feb 25, 2022
Feb 25, 2022
Feb 25, 2022
Feb 25, 2022
Feb 25, 2022
Feb 25, 2022
Feb 25, 2022
Feb 25, 2022
Feb 25, 2022
Feb 25, 2022
Oct 18, 2021
Oct 18, 2021
Oct 12, 2021
Oct 6, 2021
Oct 6, 2021
Oct 6, 2021
Oct 6, 2021
Oct 6, 2021
Oct 6, 2021
Oct 6, 2021
Oct 6, 2021
Oct 6, 2021
Oct 6, 2021
Oct 6, 2021
Oct 6, 2021
Oct 6, 2021
Oct 6, 2021
Oct 6, 2021
Oct 6, 2021
Oct 6, 2021
Oct 6, 2021
Oct 6, 2021
Oct 6, 2021
Oct 6, 2021
Oct 6, 2021
Oct 6, 2021
Jan 20, 2021
Dec 10, 2020
Decision to grant a European patent
Search/Exam
Nov 27, 2020
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Nov 27, 2020
English translation of the claims
Search/Exam
Nov 27, 2020
Filing of the translations of the claims
Search/Exam
Nov 27, 2020
French translation of claims
Search/Exam
Nov 27, 2020
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Search/Exam
Jul 30, 2020
Jul 30, 2020
Jul 30, 2020
Intention to grant (signatures)
Search/Exam
Jul 30, 2020
Text intended for grant (clean copy)
Search/Exam
Jul 30, 2020
Mar 2, 2020
Amended claims with annotations
Search/Exam
Mar 2, 2020
Amended description with annotations
Search/Exam
Mar 2, 2020
Claims
Search/Exam
Mar 2, 2020
Description
Search/Exam
Mar 2, 2020
Feb 26, 2020
Amended claims with annotations
Search/Exam
Feb 26, 2020
Amended description with annotations
Search/Exam
Feb 26, 2020
Claims
Search/Exam
Feb 26, 2020
Description
Search/Exam
Feb 26, 2020
Oct 17, 2019
Annex to the communication
Search/Exam
Oct 17, 2019
Communication from the Examining Division
Search/Exam
Oct 7, 2019
Examination started
Search/Exam
Nov 14, 2018
Nov 14, 2018
Amended claims with annotations
Search/Exam
Nov 14, 2018
Amendments received before examination
Search/Exam
Nov 9, 2018
Nov 9, 2018
Amended claims with annotations
Search/Exam
Nov 9, 2018
Amendments received before examination
Search/Exam
May 15, 2018
Apr 11, 2018
Notification of forthcoming publication
Search/Exam
Oct 17, 2017
Oct 11, 2017
May 15, 2017
May 15, 2017
European search opinion
Search/Exam
May 15, 2017
European search report
Search/Exam
May 15, 2017
Information on Search Strategy
Search/Exam
Apr 25, 2017
Search started
Search/Exam
Jan 3, 2017
Communication to designated inventor
Search/Exam
Dec 16, 2016
Matter concerning the application
Search/Exam
Dec 8, 2016
Nov 3, 2016
Abstract
Search/Exam
Nov 3, 2016
Nov 3, 2016
Claims
Search/Exam
Nov 3, 2016
Description
Search/Exam
Nov 3, 2016
Description
Search/Exam
Nov 3, 2016
Designation of inventor
Search/Exam
Nov 3, 2016
Drawings
Search/Exam
Nov 3, 2016
Drawings
Search/Exam
Nov 3, 2016
Request for grant of a European patent
Search/Exam