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The patent EP3496551 was granted to Pfeifer & Langen on Oct 2, 2024. The application was filed on Aug 11, 2017 under application number EP17754676A. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| MAIWALD | Jul 2, 2025 | MAIWALD | ADMISSIBLE |
| TATE & LYLE SOLUTIONS USA | Jul 2, 2025 | MARKS & CLERK | ADMISSIBLE |
Patent citations refer to prior patents cited during different phases such as opposition or international search.
| Citation Phase | Publication Number |
|---|---|
| DESCRIPTION | US2011237790 |
| DESCRIPTION | US2014271748 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO2015075473 |
| EXAMINATION | WO2016135458 |
| EXAMINATION | WO2017072569 |
| INTERNATIONAL-SEARCH-REPORT | US2011237790 |
| INTERNATIONAL-SEARCH-REPORT | US2014271748 |
| INTERNATIONAL-SEARCH-REPORT | WO2015075473 |
| INTERNATIONAL-SEARCH-REPORT | WO2017029244 |
| OPPOSITION | JP2016054651 |
| OPPOSITION | US2011237790 |
| OPPOSITION | US2014271748 |
| OPPOSITION | US5230742 |
| OPPOSITION | WO2015075473 |
| OPPOSITION | WO2016135458 |
| OPPOSITION | WO2017029244 |
| OPPOSITION | WO2018029351 |
| OTHER | US2011237790 |
| OTHER | US2014271748 |
| OTHER | WO2015075473 |
| OTHER | WO2016135458 |
| OTHER | WO2017029244 |
| OTHER | WO2017072569 |
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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Oct 15, 2024
Sep 5, 2024
Decision to grant a European patent
Search/Exam
Aug 12, 2024
Aug 5, 2024
(Electronic) Receipt
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Aug 5, 2024
Filing of the translations of the claims
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Aug 5, 2024
French translation of claims
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Aug 5, 2024
German translation of the claims
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Aug 5, 2024
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
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Aug 2, 2024
Jul 29, 2024
Observations by third parties
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Jul 29, 2024
Observations by third parties
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Jul 22, 2024
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Jul 22, 2024
Intention to grant (signatures)
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Jul 22, 2024
Text intended for grant (clean copy)
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Jul 22, 2024
May 27, 2024
(Electronic) Receipt
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May 27, 2024
Amended description with annotations
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May 27, 2024
Claims
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May 27, 2024
Description
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May 27, 2024
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
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May 27, 2024
Jan 29, 2024
Annex to the communication
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Jan 29, 2024
Communication from the Examining Division
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Oct 27, 2023
(Electronic) Receipt
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Oct 27, 2023
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
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Oct 27, 2023
Aug 18, 2023
Aug 15, 2023
(Electronic) Receipt
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Aug 15, 2023
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
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Aug 15, 2023
Apr 24, 2023
Annex to the communication
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Apr 24, 2023
Communication from the Examining Division
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Feb 8, 2023
(Electronic) Receipt
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Feb 8, 2023
Claims
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Feb 8, 2023
Claims
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Feb 8, 2023
Claims
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Feb 8, 2023
Claims
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Feb 8, 2023
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
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Feb 8, 2023
Feb 8, 2023
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Feb 8, 2023
Jan 16, 2023
Jan 11, 2023
(Electronic) Receipt
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Jan 11, 2023
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
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Jan 11, 2023
Sep 28, 2022
Annex to the communication
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Sep 28, 2022
Communication from the Examining Division
Search/Exam
Aug 18, 2022
Aug 18, 2022
Aug 12, 2022
(Electronic) Receipt
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Aug 12, 2022
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
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Aug 12, 2022
Observations by third parties
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Feb 18, 2022
Feb 9, 2022
Annexes in respect of a client data request
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Feb 9, 2022
Annexes in respect of a client data request
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Feb 9, 2022
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
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Feb 9, 2022
Dec 15, 2021
Communication from the Legal Division
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Nov 22, 2021
Annexes in respect of a client data request
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Nov 22, 2021
Annexes in respect of a client data request
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Nov 22, 2021
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Search/Exam
Nov 22, 2021
Nov 22, 2021
Jun 15, 2021
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Jun 15, 2021
Claims
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Jun 15, 2021
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
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Jun 15, 2021
Apr 22, 2021
Apr 19, 2021
(Electronic) Receipt
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Apr 19, 2021
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
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Apr 19, 2021
Dec 17, 2020
Annex to the communication
Search/Exam
Dec 17, 2020
Communication from the Examining Division
Search/Exam
Nov 27, 2020
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Nov 27, 2020
Claims
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Nov 27, 2020
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
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Nov 27, 2020
Oct 2, 2020
Annex to the communication
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Oct 2, 2020
Communication from the Examining Division
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Sep 24, 2020
(Electronic) Receipt
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Sep 24, 2020
Claims
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Sep 24, 2020
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
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Sep 24, 2020
Jun 4, 2020
Annex to the communication
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Jun 4, 2020
Communication from the Examining Division
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May 25, 2020
Examination started
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Feb 21, 2020
Citation filed by a third party
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Feb 21, 2020
Citation filed by a third party
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Oct 1, 2019
(Electronic) Receipt
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Oct 1, 2019
Oct 1, 2019
Amendments received before examination
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Oct 1, 2019
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
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Aug 2, 2019
Jul 30, 2019
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Apr 25, 2019
(Electronic) Receipt
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Apr 25, 2019
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
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Apr 25, 2019
Letter concerning the inventor
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Apr 12, 2019
Apr 9, 2019
Letter which had not been notified
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Mar 22, 2019
Mar 20, 2019
Communication to designated inventor
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Mar 20, 2019
Communication to designated inventor
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Mar 20, 2019
Communication to designated inventor
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Mar 15, 2019
Priority search results copy provided by EPO
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Feb 27, 2019
Feb 22, 2019
Feb 12, 2019
Citation filed by a third party
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Feb 12, 2019
Citation filed by a third party
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Feb 12, 2019
Citation filed by a third party
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Feb 12, 2019
Citation filed by a third party
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Citation filed by a third party
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Citation filed by a third party
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Citation filed by a third party
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Citation filed by a third party
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Citation filed by a third party
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Citation filed by a third party
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Citation filed by a third party
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Citation filed by a third party
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Feb 12, 2019
Citation filed by a third party
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Feb 12, 2019
Citation filed by a third party
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Feb 12, 2019
Citation filed by a third party
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Feb 12, 2019
Observations by third parties
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Feb 12, 2019
Observations by third parties
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Feb 12, 2019
Observations by third parties
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Jan 23, 2019
(Electronic) Receipt
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Jan 23, 2019
Request for entry into the European phase
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Dec 19, 2018
Information on entry into European phase
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Dec 18, 2018
Dec 18, 2018
Dec 18, 2018
Notification of the recording of a change
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Mar 5, 2018
Feb 15, 2018
Copy of the international search report
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Feb 15, 2018
Published international application - A1
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Sep 27, 2017
ISR: cited documents
PCTISA
Sep 26, 2017
Sep 26, 2017
Sep 26, 2017
Sep 4, 2017
Sep 1, 2017
Aug 29, 2017
Aug 11, 2017
(Electronic) Receipt
PCTRO
Aug 11, 2017
Abstract
PCTRO
Aug 11, 2017
Claims
PCTRO
Aug 11, 2017
Description
PCTRO
Aug 11, 2017
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Drawings
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Aug 11, 2017
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