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The patent EP4204396 was granted to Unilever on May 29, 2024. The application was originally filed on Aug 17, 2021 under application number EP21765624A. 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.
Patent citations refer to prior patents cited during different phases such as opposition or international search.
| Citation Phase | Publication Number |
|---|---|
| DESCRIPTION | EP0218272 |
| DESCRIPTION | EP0258068 |
| DESCRIPTION | EP0260105 |
| DESCRIPTION | EP0305216 |
| DESCRIPTION | EP0331376 |
| DESCRIPTION | EP0407225 |
| DESCRIPTION | GB1296839 |
| DESCRIPTION | GB1372034 |
| DESCRIPTION | US4435307 |
| DESCRIPTION | US4760025 |
| DESCRIPTION | US5648263 |
| DESCRIPTION | US5679630 |
| DESCRIPTION | US5691178 |
| DESCRIPTION | US5776757 |
| DESCRIPTION | US6312936 |
| DESCRIPTION | US7262042 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO0060060 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO0060063 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO0116285 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO0216547 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO0226024 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO2005003274 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO2005040372 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO2005052146 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO2005052161 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO2006027086 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO2006032327 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO2006032397 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO2006045275 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO2008017570 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO2008087497 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO2008141880 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO2009021867 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO2009087524 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO2009090576 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO2009107091 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO2009111258 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO2009132870 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO2009141173 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO2009148983 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO2010099997 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO2010102861 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO2010148624 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO2010151906 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO2011011799 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO2011047987 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO2012054058 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO2012054820 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO2012119859 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO2013142495 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO2013151970 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO2014029479 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO2016005338 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO2018085311 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO2019007636 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO2019008036 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO2019075149 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO2020016097 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO2020058088 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO8906270 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO8906279 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO8909259 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO9116422 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO9205249 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO9217517 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO9219708 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO9219709 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO9318140 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO9324618 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO9401541 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO9425578 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO9425583 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO9506720 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO9510602 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO9514783 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO9522615 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO9526397 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO9530744 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO9535381 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO9600292 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO9612012 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO9613580 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO9627002 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO9629397 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO9704079 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO9707202 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO9812307 |
| DESCRIPTION | WO9815257 |
| INTERNATIONAL-SEARCH-REPORT | GB1010588 |
| INTERNATIONAL-SEARCH-REPORT | GB1451228 |
| INTERNATIONAL-SEARCH-REPORT | GB1494760 |
| OPPOSITION | DE2800519 |
| OPPOSITION | EP1236793 |
| OPPOSITION | US2008105847 |
| OPPOSITION | US2014116690 |
| OPPOSITION | US4295980 |
| OPPOSITION | WO2015130669 |
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.
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May 3, 2024
Decision to grant a European patent
Search/Exam
Apr 19, 2024
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Apr 19, 2024
Filing of the translations of the claims
Search/Exam
Apr 19, 2024
French translation of claims
Search/Exam
Apr 19, 2024
German translation of the claims
Search/Exam
Feb 1, 2024
Feb 1, 2024
Feb 1, 2024
Feb 1, 2024
Intention to grant (signatures)
Search/Exam
Feb 1, 2024
Text intended for grant (clean copy)
Search/Exam
Feb 1, 2024
Jan 17, 2024
Examination started
Search/Exam
Sep 26, 2023
Sep 21, 2023
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Sep 21, 2023
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Search/Exam
Sep 21, 2023
Matter concerning the application
Search/Exam
Jun 7, 2023
Apr 4, 2023
Mar 28, 2023
Priority search results copy provided by EPO
Search/Exam
Mar 13, 2023
Feb 28, 2023
Feb 8, 2023
Information regarding early processing
Search/Exam
Jan 31, 2023
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Jan 31, 2023
Request for entry into the European phase
Search/Exam
Jan 9, 2023
Information on entry into European phase
Search/Exam
Mar 21, 2022
Mar 3, 2022
Copy of the international search report
Search/Exam
Mar 3, 2022
Published international application - A1
Search/Exam
Dec 24, 2021
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ISR: cited documents
PCTISA
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Aug 17, 2021
(Electronic) Receipt
PCTRO
Aug 17, 2021
Abstract
PCTRO
Aug 17, 2021
Claims
PCTRO
Aug 17, 2021
Description
PCTRO
Aug 17, 2021
Aug 17, 2021
Aug 17, 2021