The weekly litigation news digest is live. Subscribe now
The patent EP3974073 was granted to Primetals Germany on Jul 19, 2023. The application was filed on Sep 28, 2020 under application number EP20198745A. 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 | Apr 19, 2024 | HEMMERICH & KOLLEGEN | ADMISSIBLE |
Patent citations refer to prior patents cited during different phases such as opposition or international search.
| Citation Phase | Publication Number |
|---|---|
| DESCRIPTION | EP20200184420 |
| DESCRIPTION | EP0435595 |
| DESCRIPTION | EP3332883 |
| DESCRIPTION | JPS5868414 |
| EXAMINATION | EP0435595 |
| OPPOSITION | EP0435595 |
| OPPOSITION | EP1488863 |
| OPPOSITION | EP1627695 |
| OPPOSITION | EP3332883 |
| OPPOSITION | JPH04200915 |
| OPPOSITION | JPH05293523 |
| OPPOSITION | JPH07191702 |
| OPPOSITION | JPH08323408 |
| OPPOSITION | JPS5868414 |
| OPPOSITION | US2004221633 |
| OPPOSITION | US4656854 |
| OPPOSITION | WO2006136670 |
| OPPOSITION | WO2007096204 |
| OPPOSITION | WO2016151855 |
| SEARCH | EP1488863 |
| SEARCH | JPS5868414 |
| SEARCH | WO2016151855 |
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
Oct 21, 2025
Oct 21, 2025
Oct 21, 2025
Oct 21, 2025
Oct 21, 2025
Oct 21, 2025
Oct 21, 2025
Oct 21, 2025
Oct 21, 2025
Means of redress
OPPO
Oct 21, 2025
Oct 21, 2025
Oct 21, 2025
Oct 21, 2025
Oct 21, 2025
Oct 21, 2025
Oct 8, 2025
Sep 19, 2025
Sep 16, 2025
Sep 16, 2025
Sep 16, 2025
Sep 16, 2025
Sep 16, 2025
Description
OPPO
Sep 16, 2025
Description
OPPO
Sep 16, 2025
Description
OPPO
Sep 16, 2025
Sep 16, 2025
Aug 13, 2025
Aug 7, 2025
Aug 7, 2025
Aug 7, 2025
Aug 5, 2025
Jul 30, 2025
Jul 30, 2025
Jul 30, 2025
Jul 30, 2025
Jul 30, 2025
Jul 30, 2025
Jul 30, 2025
Jul 30, 2025
Jul 30, 2025
Jul 30, 2025
Jul 30, 2025
Jul 23, 2025
Jul 18, 2025
Jul 18, 2025
Jul 18, 2025
Feb 4, 2025
Jan 31, 2025
Jan 31, 2025
Jan 31, 2025
Jan 30, 2025
Jan 23, 2025
Jan 23, 2025
Authorisation
OPPO
Jan 23, 2025
Jan 23, 2025
Dec 13, 2024
Dec 13, 2024
Dec 13, 2024
Dec 13, 2024
Dec 13, 2024
Sep 9, 2024
Sep 4, 2024
Sep 4, 2024
Sep 4, 2024
Sep 4, 2024
Sep 4, 2024
Sep 4, 2024
Sep 4, 2024
Sep 4, 2024
Sep 4, 2024
Sep 4, 2024
Sep 4, 2024
May 7, 2024
May 7, 2024
Apr 24, 2024
Apr 19, 2024
Apr 19, 2024
Apr 19, 2024
Apr 19, 2024
Apr 19, 2024
Apr 19, 2024
Apr 19, 2024
Apr 19, 2024
Apr 19, 2024
Apr 19, 2024
Apr 19, 2024
Apr 19, 2024
Apr 19, 2024
Apr 19, 2024
Apr 19, 2024
Apr 19, 2024
Apr 19, 2024
Apr 19, 2024
Apr 19, 2024
Apr 19, 2024
Apr 19, 2024
Apr 19, 2024
Apr 19, 2024
Apr 19, 2024
Apr 19, 2024
Aug 1, 2023
Jun 22, 2023
Decision to grant a European patent
Search/Exam
Jun 12, 2023
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Jun 12, 2023
English translation of the claims
Search/Exam
Jun 12, 2023
Filing of the translations of the claims
Search/Exam
Jun 12, 2023
French translation of claims
Search/Exam
Jun 12, 2023
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Search/Exam
Mar 1, 2023
Mar 1, 2023
Mar 1, 2023
Mar 1, 2023
Intention to grant (signatures)
Search/Exam
Mar 1, 2023
Text intended for grant (clean copy)
Search/Exam
Mar 1, 2023
Jan 20, 2023
Examination started
Search/Exam
Jul 29, 2022
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Jul 29, 2022
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Search/Exam
Jul 29, 2022
Matter concerning the application
Search/Exam
Apr 4, 2022
Mar 2, 2022
Notification of forthcoming publication
Search/Exam
Mar 18, 2021
Mar 18, 2021
European search opinion
Search/Exam
Mar 18, 2021
European search report
Search/Exam
Mar 18, 2021
Information on Search Strategy
Search/Exam
Mar 1, 2021
Search started
Search/Exam
Dec 21, 2020
Communication to designated inventor
Search/Exam
Dec 21, 2020
Communication to designated inventor
Search/Exam
Sep 28, 2020
Abstract
Search/Exam
Sep 28, 2020
Sep 28, 2020
Claims
Search/Exam
Sep 28, 2020
Description
Search/Exam
Sep 28, 2020
Designation of inventor
Search/Exam
Sep 28, 2020
Drawings
Search/Exam
Sep 28, 2020
Request for grant of a European patent
Search/Exam