The weekly litigation news digest is live. Subscribe now
The patent EP3609661 was granted to University OF Maryland on Apr 17, 2024. The application was filed on Apr 9, 2018 under application number EP18783970A. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| VOSSIUS & PARTNER PATENTANWALTE RECHTSANWALTE MBB | Jan 17, 2025 | VOSSIUS & PARTNER PATENTANWALTE RECHTSANWALTE MBB | ADMISSIBLE |
Patent citations refer to prior patents cited during different phases such as opposition or international search.
| Citation Phase | Publication Number |
|---|---|
| EXAMINATION | CN106493815 |
| INTERNATIONAL-SEARCH-REPORT | CA2608174 |
| INTERNATIONAL-SEARCH-REPORT | CN104774485 |
| INTERNATIONAL-SEARCH-REPORT | US2008221263 |
| INTERNATIONAL-SEARCH-REPORT | WO2016173743 |
| OPPOSITION | CN106493815 |
| OPPOSITION | US2018026742 |
| SEARCH | CN105563570 |
| SEARCH | US2014370319 |
| SEARCH | US4012280 |
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
Nov 27, 2025
Nov 27, 2025
Nov 27, 2025
Nov 27, 2025
Nov 27, 2025
Nov 20, 2025
Nov 20, 2025
Nov 13, 2025
Nov 10, 2025
Nov 10, 2025
Nov 10, 2025
Nov 6, 2025
Nov 6, 2025
Nov 6, 2025
Nov 6, 2025
Nov 6, 2025
Jun 4, 2025
May 29, 2025
May 29, 2025
May 29, 2025
May 29, 2025
May 29, 2025
May 29, 2025
May 29, 2025
May 29, 2025
May 29, 2025
May 29, 2025
May 29, 2025
May 29, 2025
May 29, 2025
May 29, 2025
May 29, 2025
May 29, 2025
May 29, 2025
May 29, 2025
May 29, 2025
May 29, 2025
May 29, 2025
May 29, 2025
May 29, 2025
May 29, 2025
May 29, 2025
May 29, 2025
May 29, 2025
May 29, 2025
May 29, 2025
May 29, 2025
May 29, 2025
May 29, 2025
May 29, 2025
May 29, 2025
May 29, 2025
May 29, 2025
May 29, 2025
May 29, 2025
May 29, 2025
May 29, 2025
Jan 29, 2025
Jan 29, 2025
Jan 22, 2025
Jan 17, 2025
Jan 17, 2025
Jan 17, 2025
Jan 17, 2025
Jan 17, 2025
Jan 17, 2025
Jan 17, 2025
Jan 17, 2025
Jan 17, 2025
Jan 17, 2025
Jan 17, 2025
Jan 17, 2025
Jan 17, 2025
Jan 17, 2025
Jan 17, 2025
Jan 17, 2025
Jan 17, 2025
Jan 17, 2025
Jan 17, 2025
Jan 17, 2025
Jan 17, 2025
Jan 17, 2025
Jan 17, 2025
Jan 17, 2025
Jan 17, 2025
Jan 17, 2025
Jan 17, 2025
Jan 17, 2025
Apr 30, 2024
Mar 21, 2024
Decision to grant a European patent
Search/Exam
Mar 12, 2024
Mar 5, 2024
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Mar 5, 2024
Filing of the translations of the claims
Search/Exam
Mar 5, 2024
French translation of claims
Search/Exam
Mar 5, 2024
German translation of the claims
Search/Exam
Mar 5, 2024
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Search/Exam
Nov 6, 2023
Nov 6, 2023
Nov 6, 2023
Nov 6, 2023
Intention to grant (signatures)
Search/Exam
Nov 6, 2023
Text intended for grant (clean copy)
Search/Exam
Nov 6, 2023
Oct 6, 2023
Oct 2, 2023
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Oct 2, 2023
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Oct 2, 2023
Amended claims with annotations
Search/Exam
Oct 2, 2023
Amended description with annotations
Search/Exam
Oct 2, 2023
Claims
Search/Exam
Oct 2, 2023
Description
Search/Exam
Oct 2, 2023
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Search/Exam
Oct 2, 2023
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Search/Exam
Oct 2, 2023
Sep 5, 2023
Annex to the communication
Search/Exam
Sep 5, 2023
Consultation by telephone/in person
Search/Exam
Sep 5, 2023
Aug 17, 2023
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Aug 17, 2023
Amended claims with annotations
Search/Exam
Aug 17, 2023
Claims
Search/Exam
Aug 17, 2023
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Search/Exam
Aug 17, 2023
Jul 4, 2023
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Jul 4, 2023
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Search/Exam
Jul 4, 2023
Apr 28, 2023
Annex to the communication
Search/Exam
Apr 28, 2023
Summons to attend oral proceedings
Search/Exam
Aug 17, 2022
Decision to allow further processing
Search/Exam
Aug 8, 2022
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Aug 8, 2022
Amended claims with annotations
Search/Exam
Aug 8, 2022
Claims
Search/Exam
Aug 8, 2022
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Search/Exam
Aug 8, 2022
Jun 8, 2022
Feb 14, 2022
Feb 8, 2022
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Feb 8, 2022
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Search/Exam
Nov 3, 2021
Annex to a communication
Search/Exam
Nov 3, 2021
Annex to the communication
Search/Exam
Nov 3, 2021
Communication from the Examining Division
Search/Exam
Oct 26, 2021
Examination started
Search/Exam
May 13, 2021
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
May 13, 2021
May 13, 2021
Amended claims with annotations
Search/Exam
May 13, 2021
Amendments received before examination
Search/Exam
May 13, 2021
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Search/Exam
Nov 3, 2020
Oct 15, 2020
Oct 15, 2020
Oct 15, 2020
European search opinion
Search/Exam
Oct 15, 2020
Information on Search Strategy
Search/Exam
Oct 15, 2020
Supplementary European search report
Search/Exam
Oct 6, 2020
Search started
Search/Exam
Jun 2, 2020
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Jun 2, 2020
Jun 2, 2020
Amended claims with annotations
Search/Exam
Jun 2, 2020
Amendments received before examination
Search/Exam
Jun 2, 2020
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Search/Exam
Jan 22, 2020
Nov 22, 2019
Nov 15, 2019
Communication to designated inventor
Search/Exam
Nov 15, 2019
Communication to designated inventor
Search/Exam
Nov 15, 2019
Communication to designated inventor
Search/Exam
Oct 29, 2019
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Oct 29, 2019
Oct 29, 2019
Oct 29, 2019
Request for entry into the European phase
Search/Exam
Aug 23, 2019
Information on entry into European phase
Search/Exam
Nov 7, 2018
Nov 7, 2018
Oct 18, 2018
Copy of the international search report
Search/Exam
Oct 18, 2018
Published international application - A1
Search/Exam