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The patent EP3976892 was granted to Esco Group on Oct 16, 2024. The application was filed on May 29, 2020 under application number EP20814231A. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| METALOGENIA RESEARCH & SL | Jul 15, 2025 | BARDEHLE PAGENBERG SL | ADMISSIBLE |
Patent citations refer to prior patents cited during different phases such as opposition or international search.
| Citation Phase | Publication Number |
|---|---|
| DESCRIPTION | US10011975 |
| DESCRIPTION | US10612214 |
| DESCRIPTION | US2016237640 |
| DESCRIPTION | US5743031 |
| DESCRIPTION | US6870485 |
| DESCRIPTION | US7536811 |
| DESCRIPTION | US8411930 |
| DESCRIPTION | US9222243 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO2016131015 |
| EXAMINATION | AU2012215112 |
| EXAMINATION | US2003112153 |
| INTERNATIONAL-SEARCH-REPORT | US2002078607 |
| INTERNATIONAL-SEARCH-REPORT | US2003112153 |
| INTERNATIONAL-SEARCH-REPORT | US5743031 |
| INTERNATIONAL-SEARCH-REPORT | WO2016131015 |
| OPPOSITION | AU2012215112 |
| OPPOSITION | AU2013304355B |
| OPPOSITION | EP3327205 |
| OPPOSITION | EP3591126 |
| OPPOSITION | EP4136294 |
| OPPOSITION | JPH11132215 |
| OPPOSITION | US2016237640 |
| OPPOSITION | US2017254051 |
| OPPOSITION | US5743031 |
| OPPOSITION | WO2016131015 |
| OPPOSITION | WO2018095536 |
| OTHER | EP2938789 |
| OTHER | EP3327205 |
| OTHER | EP3591126 |
| OTHER | US2003112153 |
| OTHER | US2004227645 |
| OTHER | US2016237640 |
| OTHER | WO2012107848 |
| OTHER | WO2012116408 |
| SEARCH | WO2016131015 |
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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Mar 21, 2025
Mar 9, 2025
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Search/Exam
Mar 9, 2025
Oct 29, 2024
Sep 19, 2024
Decision to grant a European patent
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Sep 9, 2024
(Electronic) Receipt
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Sep 9, 2024
Filing of the translations of the claims
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Sep 9, 2024
French translation of claims
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Sep 9, 2024
German translation of the claims
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Sep 9, 2024
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
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Jun 24, 2024
Jun 24, 2024
Jun 24, 2024
Jun 24, 2024
Intention to grant (signatures)
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Jun 24, 2024
Text intended for grant (clean copy)
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Jun 24, 2024
Apr 11, 2024
(Electronic) Receipt
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Apr 11, 2024
Amended claims with annotations
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Apr 11, 2024
Claims
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Apr 11, 2024
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
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Apr 11, 2024
Feb 16, 2024
Feb 12, 2024
(Electronic) Receipt
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Feb 12, 2024
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
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Feb 12, 2024
Oct 25, 2023
Annex to the communication
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Oct 25, 2023
Communication from the Examining Division
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Oct 24, 2023
Reply to a complaint
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Oct 18, 2023
Oct 18, 2023
Oct 13, 2023
Complaint
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Oct 13, 2023
Observations by third parties
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Oct 13, 2023
Aug 8, 2023
Aug 8, 2023
Aug 8, 2023
Aug 8, 2023
Intention to grant (signatures)
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Aug 8, 2023
Text intended for grant (clean copy)
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Aug 8, 2023
Jun 27, 2023
Examination started
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Apr 5, 2023
Mar 30, 2023
Observations by third parties
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Mar 30, 2023
Patent document filed by a Third party
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Feb 21, 2023
(Electronic) Receipt
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Feb 21, 2023
Feb 21, 2023
Amended claims with annotations
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Feb 21, 2023
Feb 21, 2023
Amended description with annotations
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Feb 21, 2023
Feb 21, 2023
Amendments received before examination
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Feb 21, 2023
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
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Nov 22, 2022
Nov 4, 2022
Nov 4, 2022
European search opinion
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Nov 4, 2022
Information on Search Strategy
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Nov 4, 2022
Supplementary European search report
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Jul 12, 2022
(Electronic) Receipt
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Jul 12, 2022
Jul 12, 2022
Amended claims with annotations
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Jul 12, 2022
Amendments received before examination
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Jul 12, 2022
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
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May 27, 2022
Payment submission rejected
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Mar 10, 2022
Jan 26, 2022
Dec 21, 2021
(Electronic) Receipt
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Dec 21, 2021
Dec 21, 2021
Request for entry into the European phase
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Dec 6, 2021
Nov 30, 2021
Observations by third parties
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Nov 30, 2021
Patent document filed by a Third party
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Nov 30, 2021
Patent document filed by a Third party
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Nov 30, 2021
Patent document filed by a Third party
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Nov 30, 2021
Patent document filed by a Third party
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Nov 30, 2021
Patent document filed by a Third party
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Nov 30, 2021
Patent document filed by a Third party
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Nov 30, 2021
Patent document filed by a Third party
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Nov 30, 2021
Patent document filed by a Third party
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Nov 30, 2021
Patent document filed by a Third party
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Nov 30, 2021
Patent document filed by a Third party
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Oct 8, 2021
Information on entry into European phase
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Apr 22, 2021
Notification of election of EPO
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Dec 21, 2020
Dec 3, 2020
Copy of the international search report
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Dec 3, 2020
Published international application - A1
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