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The patent EP3610960 was granted to Primetals Japan on Aug 10, 2022. The application was filed on Jun 16, 2017 under application number EP17913969A. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| SMS GROUP | May 10, 2023 | HEMMERICH & KOLLEGEN | ADMISSIBLE |
Patent citations refer to prior patents cited during different phases such as opposition or international search.
| Citation Phase | Publication Number |
|---|---|
| DESCRIPTION | JPH0832336B |
| INTERNATIONAL-SEARCH-REPORT | JP2001150009 |
| INTERNATIONAL-SEARCH-REPORT | JPH09182907 |
| OPPOSITION | DE10138588 |
| OPPOSITION | DE102009037665 |
| OPPOSITION | JP2001150009 |
| OPPOSITION | JP2010162550 |
| OPPOSITION | JPH0230315 |
| OPPOSITION | JPH09182907 |
| OPPOSITION | US2002078728 |
| OPPOSITION | US3699796 |
| OPPOSITION | US6408667 |
| OPPOSITION | US6763565 |
| SEARCH | JP2010162550 |
| SEARCH | JPH0230315 |
| SEARCH | US6408667 |
| SEARCH | US6763565 |
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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Dec 17, 2025
Dec 11, 2025
(Electronic) Receipt
Appeal
Dec 11, 2025
Dec 11, 2025
Dec 11, 2025
Dec 11, 2025
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Dec 11, 2025
Reply to appeal
Appeal
Aug 11, 2025
Aug 4, 2025
(Electronic) Receipt
Appeal
Aug 4, 2025
Aug 4, 2025
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Jun 10, 2025
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Jun 3, 2025
(Electronic) Receipt
Appeal
Jun 3, 2025
Jun 3, 2025
Notice of appeal
Appeal
Apr 3, 2025
Apr 3, 2025
Apr 3, 2025
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Means of redress
OPPO
Apr 3, 2025
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Aug 23, 2022
Jul 14, 2022
Decision to grant a European patent
Search/Exam
Jun 29, 2022
Jun 24, 2022
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Jun 24, 2022
Filing of the translations of the claims
Search/Exam
Jun 24, 2022
French translation of claims
Search/Exam
Jun 24, 2022
German translation of the claims
Search/Exam
Apr 4, 2022
Apr 4, 2022
Apr 4, 2022
Intention to grant (signatures)
Search/Exam
Apr 4, 2022
Text intended for grant (clean copy)
Search/Exam
Apr 4, 2022
Mar 2, 2022
Examination started
Search/Exam
Nov 12, 2020
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Nov 12, 2020
Nov 12, 2020
Amended claims with annotations
Search/Exam
Nov 12, 2020
Nov 12, 2020
Amended description with annotations
Search/Exam
Nov 12, 2020
Amendments received before examination
Search/Exam
Nov 12, 2020
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Search/Exam
May 12, 2020
Apr 23, 2020
Apr 23, 2020
European search opinion
Search/Exam
Apr 23, 2020
Information on Search Strategy
Search/Exam
Apr 23, 2020
Supplementary European search report
Search/Exam
Apr 14, 2020
Search started
Search/Exam
Jan 22, 2020
Notification of forthcoming publication
Search/Exam
Jan 14, 2020
Jan 9, 2020
Jan 3, 2020
Nov 21, 2019
Enquiry with the International Bureau
Search/Exam
Nov 20, 2019
Communication to designated inventor
Search/Exam
Nov 20, 2019
Communication to designated inventor
Search/Exam
Nov 20, 2019
Communication to designated inventor
Search/Exam
Nov 20, 2019
Nov 19, 2019
Nov 13, 2019
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Nov 13, 2019
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Nov 13, 2019
Abstract
Search/Exam
Nov 13, 2019
Nov 13, 2019
Amended claims with annotations
Search/Exam
Nov 13, 2019
Claims
Search/Exam
Nov 13, 2019
Description
Search/Exam
Nov 13, 2019
Drawings
Search/Exam
Nov 13, 2019
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Search/Exam
Nov 13, 2019
Matter concerning the application
Search/Exam
Nov 13, 2019
Request for entry into the European phase
Search/Exam
Oct 25, 2019
Information on entry into European phase
Search/Exam
Dec 20, 2018
Dec 20, 2018
Copy of the international search report
Search/Exam
Dec 20, 2018
Dec 20, 2018
International publication pamphlet
Search/Exam