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The patent EP3266221 was granted to Sonova on May 26, 2021. The application was filed on Mar 3, 2015 under application number EP15707162A. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| GN HEARING | Feb 28, 2022 | ZACCO DENMARK | ADMISSIBLE |
Patent citations refer to prior patents cited during different phases such as opposition or international search.
| Citation Phase | Publication Number |
|---|---|
| EXAMINATION | US2011142270 |
| INTERNATIONAL-SEARCH-REPORT | EP2615854 |
| INTERNATIONAL-SEARCH-REPORT | US2012033840 |
| INTERNATIONAL-SEARCH-REPORT | WO0070911 |
| OPPOSITION | EP1587344 |
| OPPOSITION | EP1653776 |
| OPPOSITION | EP2061275 |
| OPPOSITION | EP2615854 |
| OPPOSITION | US2004264723 |
| OPPOSITION | US2005168396 |
| OPPOSITION | US2007086610 |
| OPPOSITION | US2012033840 |
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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Jan 7, 2026
Refund of fees
Appeal
Dec 23, 2025
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Nov 18, 2025
(Electronic) Receipt
Appeal
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(Electronic) Receipt
Appeal
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(Electronic) Receipt
Appeal
Nov 3, 2025
(Electronic) Receipt
Appeal
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(Electronic) Receipt
Appeal
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(Electronic) Receipt
Appeal
Apr 5, 2024
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Reply to appeal
Appeal
Apr 4, 2024
(Electronic) Receipt
Appeal
Apr 4, 2024
Apr 4, 2024
Reply to appeal
Appeal
Dec 7, 2023
Dec 7, 2023
Dec 1, 2023
(Electronic) Receipt
Appeal
Dec 1, 2023
(Electronic) Receipt
Appeal
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Oct 3, 2023
(Electronic) Receipt
Appeal
Oct 3, 2023
Oct 3, 2023
Notice of appeal
Appeal
Oct 2, 2023
(Electronic) Receipt
Appeal
Oct 2, 2023
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Notice of appeal
Appeal
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Jun 9, 2021
Apr 30, 2021
Decision to grant a European patent
Search/Exam
Apr 14, 2021
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Apr 14, 2021
French translation of claims
Search/Exam
Apr 14, 2021
German translation of the claims
Search/Exam
Apr 14, 2021
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Search/Exam
Dec 15, 2020
Dec 15, 2020
Dec 15, 2020
Intention to grant (signatures)
Search/Exam
Dec 15, 2020
Text intended for grant (clean copy)
Search/Exam
Dec 15, 2020
Nov 19, 2020
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Nov 19, 2020
Amended claims with annotations
Search/Exam
Nov 19, 2020
Claims
Search/Exam
Nov 19, 2020
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Search/Exam
Nov 19, 2020
Jul 27, 2020
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Jul 27, 2020
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Search/Exam
Jul 27, 2020
Mar 18, 2020
Annex to the communication
Search/Exam
Mar 18, 2020
Communication from the Examining Division
Search/Exam
Nov 25, 2019
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Nov 25, 2019
Amended claims with annotations
Search/Exam
Nov 25, 2019
Amended description with annotations
Search/Exam
Nov 25, 2019
Claims
Search/Exam
Nov 25, 2019
Description
Search/Exam
Nov 25, 2019
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Search/Exam
Nov 25, 2019
Jul 18, 2019
Annex to the communication
Search/Exam
Jul 18, 2019
Communication from the Examining Division
Search/Exam
Mar 19, 2019
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Mar 19, 2019
Amended claims with annotations
Search/Exam
Mar 19, 2019
Claims
Search/Exam
Mar 19, 2019
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Search/Exam
Mar 19, 2019
Nov 9, 2018
Annex to the communication
Search/Exam
Nov 9, 2018
Communication from the Examining Division
Search/Exam
Oct 31, 2018
Examination started
Search/Exam
Dec 13, 2017
Nov 21, 2017
Communication to designated inventor
Search/Exam
Nov 21, 2017
Communication to designated inventor
Search/Exam
Nov 10, 2017
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Nov 10, 2017
Nov 10, 2017
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Search/Exam
Nov 10, 2017
Letter concerning the inventor
Search/Exam
Nov 7, 2017
Nov 6, 2017
Nov 1, 2017
Letter which had not been notified
Search/Exam
Oct 30, 2017
Letter which had not been notified
Search/Exam
Oct 6, 2017
Communication to designated inventor
Search/Exam
Oct 6, 2017
Communication to designated inventor
Search/Exam
Oct 6, 2017
Communication to designated inventor
Search/Exam
Sep 22, 2017
Aug 22, 2017
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Aug 22, 2017
Aug 22, 2017
Amended claims with annotations
Search/Exam
Aug 22, 2017
Amendments received before examination
Search/Exam
Aug 22, 2017
Request for entry into the European phase
Search/Exam
Aug 14, 2017
Aug 14, 2017
Notification of the recording of a change
Search/Exam
Jul 14, 2017
Information on entry into European phase
Search/Exam
Sep 9, 2016
Copy of the international search report
Search/Exam
Sep 9, 2016
Published international application - A1
Search/Exam
Nov 5, 2015
ISR: cited documents
PCTISA
Nov 4, 2015
Nov 4, 2015
Nov 4, 2015
Aug 12, 2015
Aug 12, 2015
Jul 15, 2015
Jul 15, 2015
Mar 3, 2015
(Electronic) Receipt
PCTRO
Mar 3, 2015
Abstract
PCTRO
Mar 3, 2015
Claims
PCTRO
Mar 3, 2015
Description
PCTRO
Mar 3, 2015
Drawings
PCTRO