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The patent EP3681978 was granted to Thyssenkrupp on Dec 27, 2023. The application was filed on Sep 13, 2018 under application number EP18769664A. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| PAUL WURTH | Sep 26, 2024 | OFFICE FREYLINGER | ADMISSIBLE |
Patent citations refer to prior patents cited during different phases such as opposition or international search.
| Citation Phase | Publication Number |
|---|---|
| DESCRIPTION | CN107033926 |
| DESCRIPTION | DE3443976 |
| DESCRIPTION | DE3812558 |
| DESCRIPTION | DE3916728 |
| DESCRIPTION | DE4006217 |
| INTERNATIONAL-SEARCH-REPORT | AT147818B |
| INTERNATIONAL-SEARCH-REPORT | DE3443976 |
| INTERNATIONAL-SEARCH-REPORT | DE735312 |
| INTERNATIONAL-SEARCH-REPORT | EP0373358 |
| OPPOSITION | AT147818B |
| OPPOSITION | CN102268266 |
| OPPOSITION | CN104449768 |
| OPPOSITION | CN105349158 |
| OPPOSITION | CN107033926 |
| OPPOSITION | CN202116492U |
| OPPOSITION | CN202953979U |
| OPPOSITION | CN204265686U |
| OPPOSITION | DE3911295 |
| OPPOSITION | DE4006217 |
| OPPOSITION | DE613606 |
| OPPOSITION | DE618969 |
| OPPOSITION | DE735312 |
| OPPOSITION | EP0068304 |
| OPPOSITION | JP2000008043 |
| OPPOSITION | JP2001003055 |
| OPPOSITION | JP2012052021 |
| OPPOSITION | JPH07118641 |
| OPPOSITION | JPH10265778 |
| OPPOSITION | JPH11323344 |
| OPPOSITION | US2012261244 |
| OPPOSITION | US3170851 |
| OPPOSITION | US3996109 |
| OPPOSITION | US5017270 |
| OPPOSITION | US5062925 |
| OPPOSITION | US6797122 |
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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Authorisation
OPPO
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Authorisation
OPPO
Dec 19, 2024
Authorisation
OPPO
Dec 19, 2024
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Nov 30, 2023
Decision to grant a European patent
Search/Exam
Nov 17, 2023
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Nov 17, 2023
English translation of the claims
Search/Exam
Nov 17, 2023
French translation of claims
Search/Exam
Nov 17, 2023
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Search/Exam
Aug 11, 2023
Aug 11, 2023
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Intention to grant (signatures)
Search/Exam
Aug 11, 2023
Text intended for grant (clean copy)
Search/Exam
Aug 11, 2023
Jul 25, 2023
Examination started
Search/Exam
Jun 24, 2020
May 5, 2020
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
May 5, 2020
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Search/Exam
May 5, 2020
Reply to Written Opinion prepared by the EPO
Search/Exam
Apr 24, 2020
Apr 22, 2020
Communication to designated inventor
Search/Exam
Apr 22, 2020
Communication to designated inventor
Search/Exam
Apr 22, 2020
Communication to designated inventor
Search/Exam
Mar 31, 2020
Feb 19, 2020
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Feb 19, 2020
Feb 19, 2020
Amended claims with annotations
Search/Exam
Feb 19, 2020
Matter concerning the application
Search/Exam
Feb 19, 2020
Priority search results
Search/Exam
Feb 19, 2020
Priority search results
Search/Exam
Feb 19, 2020
Priority search results
Search/Exam
Feb 19, 2020
Request for entry into the European phase
Search/Exam
Jan 24, 2020
Information on entry into European phase
Search/Exam
Apr 11, 2019
Apr 11, 2019
Apr 11, 2019
Mar 21, 2019
Copy of the international search report
Search/Exam
Mar 21, 2019
Copy of the international search report
Search/Exam
Mar 21, 2019
Published international application - A1
Search/Exam
Dec 14, 2018
Dec 14, 2018
Dec 14, 2018
Oct 1, 2018
Sep 13, 2018
(Electronic) Receipt
PCTRO
Sep 13, 2018
Abstract
PCTRO
Sep 13, 2018
Claims
PCTRO
Sep 13, 2018
Description
PCTRO
Sep 13, 2018
Sep 13, 2018
Drawings
PCTRO
Sep 13, 2018