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The patent EP3959021 was granted to Tata Steel Ijmuiden on Aug 24, 2022. The application was filed on Apr 17, 2020 under application number EP20717067A. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| SSAB TECHNOLOGY | May 24, 2023 | MELIN GRANBERG | ADMISSIBLE |
Patent citations refer to prior patents cited during different phases such as opposition or international search.
| Citation Phase | Publication Number |
|---|---|
| DESCRIPTION | CN102764760 |
| DESCRIPTION | JPH11156407 |
| DESCRIPTION | US2015243418 |
| DESCRIPTION | US5235840 |
| EXAMINATION | EP0377734 |
| INTERNATIONAL-SEARCH-REPORT | DE102007005015 |
| INTERNATIONAL-SEARCH-REPORT | JPH11156407 |
| INTERNATIONAL-SEARCH-REPORT | JPS61206507 |
| INTERNATIONAL-SEARCH-REPORT | US2010218911 |
| OPPOSITION | JP2005297008 |
| OPPOSITION | JP3781344B |
| OPPOSITION | JP5326709B |
| OPPOSITION | JP6288321B |
| OPPOSITION | JPH11267741 |
| OPPOSITION | US2010218911 |
| OPPOSITION | US5001915 |
| OTHER | US2010218911 |
| OTHER | US5001915 |
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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Nov 21, 2025
Nov 20, 2025
(Electronic) Receipt
Appeal
Nov 20, 2025
Nov 20, 2025
Reply to appeal
Appeal
Nov 19, 2025
(Electronic) Receipt
Appeal
Nov 19, 2025
Nov 19, 2025
Nov 19, 2025
Reply to appeal
Appeal
Sep 15, 2025
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Jul 4, 2025
(Electronic) Receipt
Appeal
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Jul 3, 2025
(Electronic) Receipt
Appeal
Jul 3, 2025
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Apr 23, 2025
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Apr 15, 2025
(Electronic) Receipt
Appeal
Apr 15, 2025
Apr 15, 2025
Notice of appeal
Appeal
Apr 7, 2025
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Apr 4, 2025
(Electronic) Receipt
Appeal
Apr 4, 2025
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Notice of appeal
Appeal
Mar 5, 2025
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Means of redress
OPPO
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OPPO
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Authorisation
OPPO
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Sep 6, 2022
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Decision to grant a European patent
Search/Exam
Jul 15, 2022
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Jul 15, 2022
Filing of the translations of the claims
Search/Exam
Jul 15, 2022
French translation of claims
Search/Exam
Jul 15, 2022
German translation of the claims
Search/Exam
Jul 5, 2022
May 19, 2022
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Intention to grant (signatures)
Search/Exam
May 19, 2022
Text intended for grant (clean copy)
Search/Exam
May 19, 2022
May 19, 2022
May 13, 2022
Citation filed by a third party
Search/Exam
May 13, 2022
Observations by third parties
Search/Exam
May 13, 2022
Patent document filed by a Third party
Search/Exam
May 13, 2022
Patent document filed by a Third party
Search/Exam
May 4, 2022
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Intention to grant (signatures)
Search/Exam
Apr 26, 2022
Observations by third parties
Search/Exam
Apr 26, 2022
Text intended for grant (clean copy)
Search/Exam
Apr 26, 2022
Mar 31, 2022
Examination started
Search/Exam
Feb 3, 2022
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Feb 3, 2022
Matter concerning the application
Search/Exam
Feb 2, 2022
Jan 31, 2022
Jan 25, 2022
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Jan 25, 2022
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Search/Exam
Dec 1, 2021
Nov 24, 2021
Priority search results copy provided by EPO
Search/Exam
Oct 25, 2021
Oct 25, 2021
Jul 20, 2021
Information regarding early processing
Search/Exam
Jul 6, 2021
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Jul 6, 2021
Request for entry into the European phase
Search/Exam
Jun 4, 2021
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May 17, 2021
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Mar 24, 2021
Written opinion
PCT2
Mar 24, 2021
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Mar 19, 2021
Notification of election of EPO
Search/Exam
Feb 24, 2021
Feb 18, 2021
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Annex
PCT2
Feb 18, 2021
Annex
PCT2
Feb 18, 2021
Feb 18, 2021
PCT demand form
PCT2
Feb 18, 2021
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Nov 16, 2020
Oct 29, 2020
Copy of the international search report
Search/Exam
Oct 29, 2020
Published international application - A1
Search/Exam
Jul 21, 2020
ISR: cited documents
PCTISA
Jul 21, 2020
Jul 21, 2020
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Apr 24, 2020
Apr 23, 2020
Apr 20, 2020
Apr 17, 2020
(Electronic) Receipt
PCTRO
Apr 17, 2020
(Electronic) Receipt
PCTRO
Apr 17, 2020
Abstract
PCTRO
Apr 17, 2020
Annex
PCTRO
Apr 17, 2020
Claims
PCTRO
Apr 17, 2020
Description
PCTRO
Apr 17, 2020
Apr 17, 2020
Drawings
PCTRO
Apr 17, 2020
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