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The patent EP3380235 was granted to Eramet on Sep 3, 2025. The application was filed on Nov 24, 2016 under application number EP16801228A. The patent is currently recorded with a legal status of "Patent Maintained As Amended".

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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| VULCAN ENERGIE RESSOURCEN | Apr 20, 2023 | DURM PATENTANWALTE PARTG MBB | ADMISSIBLE |
Patent citations refer to prior patents cited during different phases such as opposition or international search.
| Citation Phase | Publication Number |
|---|---|
| DESCRIPTION | CN1243112 |
| DESCRIPTION | RU2234367 |
| DESCRIPTION | US6280693 |
| INTERNATIONAL-SEARCH-REPORT | CN1511964 |
| INTERNATIONAL-SEARCH-REPORT | FR3015458 |
| INTERNATIONAL-SEARCH-REPORT | US4348297 |
| INTERNATIONAL-SEARCH-REPORT | US8753594 |
| INTERNATIONAL-SEARCH-REPORT | WO2015162272 |
| OPPOSITION | EP0103034 |
| OPPOSITION | US4472362 |
| OPPOSITION | US4727167 |
| OPPOSITION | US6280693 |
| OPPOSITION | US8753594 |
| OPPOSITION | US8901032 |
| OPPOSITION | WO2015162272 |
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.
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Decision to grant a European patent
Search/Exam
Jun 13, 2022
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Jun 13, 2022
English translation of the claims
Search/Exam
Jun 13, 2022
Filing of the translations of the claims
Search/Exam
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German translation of the claims
Search/Exam
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Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Search/Exam
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Intention to grant (signatures)
Search/Exam
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Text intended for grant (clean copy)
Search/Exam
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Examination started
Search/Exam
Jan 4, 2019
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(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Dec 31, 2018
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Search/Exam
Dec 31, 2018
Reply to Written Opinion prepared by the EPO
Search/Exam
Dec 11, 2018
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Annexes in respect of a client data request
Search/Exam
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Communication to designated inventor
Search/Exam
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Communication to designated inventor
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(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Oct 24, 2018
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Search/Exam
Oct 24, 2018
Letter concerning the inventor
Search/Exam
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Letter which had not been notified
Search/Exam
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Letter which had not been notified
Search/Exam
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Communication to designated inventor
Search/Exam
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Communication to designated inventor
Search/Exam
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Communication to designated inventor
Search/Exam
Jun 26, 2018
Priority search results copy provided by EPO
Search/Exam
Jun 14, 2018
May 24, 2018
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
May 24, 2018
Request for entry into the European phase
Search/Exam
Apr 6, 2018
Information on entry into European phase
Search/Exam
Nov 10, 2017
Submission concerning representation
Search/Exam
Sep 26, 2017
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Copy of the international search report
Search/Exam
Jun 1, 2017
Copy of the international search report
Search/Exam
Jun 1, 2017
Published international application - A1
Search/Exam
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ISR: cited documents
PCTISA
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(Electronic) Receipt
PCTRO
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Abstract
PCTRO
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Claims
PCTRO
Nov 24, 2016
Description
PCTRO
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Drawings
PCTRO