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The patent EP3485747 was granted to Nicoventures on Jun 25, 2025. The application was filed on Oct 9, 2013 under application number EP18207065A. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAPAN TOBACCO | Apr 20, 2023 | BARDEHLE PAGENBERG PARTNERSCHAFT MBB PATENTANWALTE RECHTSANWALTE | ADMISSIBLE |
Patent citations refer to prior patents cited during different phases such as opposition or international search.
| Citation Phase | Publication Number |
|---|---|
| EXAMINATION | US2003123328 |
| EXAMINATION | US2011036346 |
| EXAMINATION | US6183425 |
| OPPOSITION | EP3485747 |
| OPPOSITION | GB2507103 |
| OPPOSITION | KR20110053590 |
| OPPOSITION | KR20120089545 |
| OPPOSITION | WO03105529 |
| OPPOSITION | WO2006028843 |
| OPPOSITION | WO2009045198 |
| OPPOSITION | WO2012026963 |
| OPPOSITION | WO2014060268 |
| SEARCH | US2007045288 |
| SEARCH | US2011265806 |
| SEARCH | US2012048266 |
| SEARCH | WO2012109371 |
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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May 30, 2025
May 30, 2025
May 2, 2025
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Feb 12, 2025
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Feb 7, 2025
Refund of fees
Appeal
Feb 6, 2025
Feb 5, 2025
Feb 5, 2025
Jan 30, 2025
Jan 28, 2025
(Electronic) Receipt
Appeal
Jan 28, 2025
Jan 28, 2025
Withdrawal of an appeal
Appeal
Jan 20, 2025
Jan 20, 2025
Jan 13, 2025
(Electronic) Receipt
Appeal
Jan 13, 2025
Jan 13, 2025
Notice of appeal
Appeal
Nov 11, 2024
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OPPO
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Aug 2, 2022
Jun 23, 2022
Decision to grant a European patent
Search/Exam
Jun 7, 2022
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Jun 7, 2022
French translation of claims
Search/Exam
Jun 7, 2022
German translation of the claims
Search/Exam
Jun 7, 2022
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Search/Exam
Feb 8, 2022
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Intention to grant (signatures)
Search/Exam
Feb 8, 2022
Text intended for grant (clean copy)
Search/Exam
Feb 8, 2022
Oct 8, 2021
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Oct 8, 2021
Amended claims with annotations
Search/Exam
Oct 8, 2021
Amended description with annotations
Search/Exam
Oct 8, 2021
Claims
Search/Exam
Oct 8, 2021
Description
Search/Exam
Oct 8, 2021
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Search/Exam
Oct 8, 2021
Jul 8, 2021
Annex to the communication
Search/Exam
Jul 8, 2021
Communication from the Examining Division
Search/Exam
Jun 11, 2021
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Jun 11, 2021
Amended description with annotations
Search/Exam
Jun 11, 2021
Description
Search/Exam
Jun 11, 2021
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Search/Exam
Jun 11, 2021
Mar 1, 2021
Annex to the communication
Search/Exam
Mar 1, 2021
Communication from the Examining Division
Search/Exam
Feb 12, 2021
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Feb 12, 2021
Amended claims with annotations
Search/Exam
Feb 12, 2021
Claims
Search/Exam
Feb 12, 2021
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Search/Exam
Feb 12, 2021
Dec 1, 2020
Nov 25, 2020
Nov 25, 2020
Nov 4, 2020
Annex to the communication
Search/Exam
Nov 4, 2020
Communication from the Examining Division
Search/Exam
Oct 9, 2020
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Oct 9, 2020
Amended claims with annotations
Search/Exam
Oct 9, 2020
Claims
Search/Exam
Oct 9, 2020
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Search/Exam
Oct 9, 2020
Jun 25, 2020
Annex to the communication
Search/Exam
Jun 25, 2020
Communication from the Examining Division
Search/Exam
May 5, 2020
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
May 5, 2020
Amended claims with annotations
Search/Exam
May 5, 2020
Claims
Search/Exam
May 5, 2020
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Search/Exam
May 5, 2020
Feb 3, 2020
Annex to the communication
Search/Exam
Feb 3, 2020
Communication from the Examining Division
Search/Exam
Jan 27, 2020
Examination started
Search/Exam
Nov 11, 2019
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Nov 11, 2019
Nov 11, 2019
Amended claims with annotations
Search/Exam
Nov 11, 2019
Nov 11, 2019
Amended description with annotations
Search/Exam
Nov 11, 2019
Amendments received before examination
Search/Exam
Nov 11, 2019
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Search/Exam
May 27, 2019
Apr 25, 2019
Notification of forthcoming publication
Search/Exam
Apr 17, 2019
Refund of fees
Search/Exam
Apr 12, 2019
Apr 12, 2019
European search opinion
Search/Exam
Apr 12, 2019
European search report
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Apr 12, 2019
Information on Search Strategy
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Apr 8, 2019
Search started
Search/Exam
Feb 11, 2019
Communication to designated inventor
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Nov 19, 2018
Abstract
Search/Exam
Nov 19, 2018
Nov 19, 2018
Claims
Search/Exam
Nov 19, 2018
Description
Search/Exam
Nov 19, 2018
Designation of inventor
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Nov 19, 2018
Drawings
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Nov 19, 2018
Priority search results
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Nov 19, 2018
Request for grant of a European patent
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May 13, 2014