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The patent EP3802457 was granted to SMS Group on Jan 26, 2022. The application was filed on Jun 11, 2019 under application number EP19730741A. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| GEBR PFEIFFER | Oct 26, 2022 | GRUNECKER PATENT | ADMISSIBLE |
Patent citations refer to prior patents cited during different phases such as opposition or international search.
| Citation Phase | Publication Number |
|---|---|
| DESCRIPTION | DE1088404 |
| DESCRIPTION | DE69030020T |
| DESCRIPTION | EP0193109 |
| INTERNATIONAL-SEARCH-REPORT | CN108046750 |
| INTERNATIONAL-SEARCH-REPORT | CZ306516 |
| INTERNATIONAL-SEARCH-REPORT | DE102006028547 |
| INTERNATIONAL-SEARCH-REPORT | DE1088404 |
| INTERNATIONAL-SEARCH-REPORT | DE19806895 |
| INTERNATIONAL-SEARCH-REPORT | EP0292739 |
| INTERNATIONAL-SEARCH-REPORT | EP0510890 |
| INTERNATIONAL-SEARCH-REPORT | RU2187387 |
| INTERNATIONAL-SEARCH-REPORT | WO03028893 |
| INTERNATIONAL-SEARCH-REPORT | WO2015051925 |
| OPPOSITION | CN108046750 |
| OPPOSITION | CZ2013446 |
| OPPOSITION | DD137891 |
| OPPOSITION | DE102006028547 |
| OPPOSITION | DE1088404 |
| OPPOSITION | DE19606672 |
| OPPOSITION | DE19806895 |
| OPPOSITION | DE3921986 |
| OPPOSITION | EP0292739 |
| OPPOSITION | EP0510890 |
| OPPOSITION | JPH03151059 |
| OPPOSITION | JPH0538460 |
| OPPOSITION | JPH0557205 |
| OPPOSITION | RU2187387 |
| OPPOSITION | US4561597 |
| OPPOSITION | US4593860 |
| OPPOSITION | US4981269 |
| OPPOSITION | WO0162391 |
| OPPOSITION | WO03028893 |
| OPPOSITION | WO2015051925 |
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 10, 2025
Dec 4, 2025
(Electronic) Receipt
Appeal
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(Electronic) Receipt
Appeal
Oct 6, 2025
Oct 6, 2025
Notice of appeal
Appeal
Aug 4, 2025
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Means of redress
OPPO
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Decision to grant a European patent
Search/Exam
Dec 20, 2021
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Dec 20, 2021
English translation of the claims
Search/Exam
Dec 20, 2021
Filing of the translations of the claims
Search/Exam
Dec 20, 2021
French translation of claims
Search/Exam
Dec 20, 2021
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Search/Exam
Aug 27, 2021
Aug 27, 2021
Aug 27, 2021
Intention to grant (signatures)
Search/Exam
Aug 27, 2021
Text intended for grant (clean copy)
Search/Exam
Aug 27, 2021
Jul 9, 2021
Examination started
Search/Exam
Apr 1, 2021
Mar 29, 2021
Mar 22, 2021
Mar 17, 2021
Jan 29, 2021
Jan 29, 2021
Matter concerning the application
Search/Exam
Jan 29, 2021
Priority search results
Search/Exam
Jan 27, 2021
Jan 20, 2021
Jan 18, 2021
Communication to designated inventor
Search/Exam
Jan 18, 2021
Communication to designated inventor
Search/Exam
Jan 18, 2021
Communication to designated inventor
Search/Exam
Jan 18, 2021
Communication to designated inventor
Search/Exam
Dec 14, 2020
Dec 14, 2020
Dec 9, 2020
Note on telephone consultation
Search/Exam
Nov 30, 2020
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Nov 30, 2020
Request for entry into the European phase
Search/Exam
Oct 16, 2020
Information on entry into European phase
Search/Exam
Mar 13, 2020
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Notification of election of EPO
Search/Exam
Dec 12, 2019
Copy of the international search report
Search/Exam
Dec 12, 2019
Copy of the international search report
Search/Exam
Dec 12, 2019
Published international application - A1
Search/Exam
Dec 5, 2019
Nov 26, 2019
Nov 26, 2019
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Nov 26, 2019
PCT demand form
PCT2
Nov 26, 2019
Nov 26, 2019
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Sep 2, 2019
ISR: cited documents
PCTISA
Sep 2, 2019
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Jul 4, 2019
Jun 28, 2019
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Jun 25, 2019
Jun 11, 2019
(Electronic) Receipt
PCTRO
Jun 11, 2019
Abstract
PCTRO
Jun 11, 2019
Claims
PCTRO
Jun 11, 2019
Description
PCTRO
Jun 11, 2019
Jun 11, 2019
Drawings
PCTRO
Jun 11, 2019