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The patent EP3349598 was granted to Philip Morris on Dec 18, 2024. The application was filed on Sep 16, 2016 under application number EP16766967A. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| NICOVENTURES | Sep 18, 2025 | D YOUNG | ADMISSIBLE |
Patent citations refer to prior patents cited during different phases such as opposition or international search.
| Citation Phase | Publication Number |
|---|---|
| EXAMINATION | CN101461565 |
| EXAMINATION | EP3145492 |
| INTERNATIONAL-SEARCH-REPORT | CN101461566 |
| INTERNATIONAL-SEARCH-REPORT | CN101473999 |
| INTERNATIONAL-SEARCH-REPORT | US2014190496 |
| INTERNATIONAL-SEARCH-REPORT | US2015020823 |
| INTERNATIONAL-SEARCH-REPORT | WO2011146264 |
| INTERNATIONAL-SEARCH-REPORT | WO2013088230 |
| INTERNATIONAL-SEARCH-REPORT | WO2015042412 |
| INTERNATIONAL-SEARCH-REPORT | WO2015177177 |
| OPPOSITION | CN101461565 |
| OPPOSITION | CN104256888 |
| OPPOSITION | EP3214956 |
| OPPOSITION | WO2013148810 |
| OPPOSITION | WO2015167629 |
| OPPOSITION | WO2016071705 |
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 9, 2025
Nov 21, 2024
Decision to grant a European patent
Search/Exam
Nov 13, 2024
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Nov 13, 2024
Filing of the translations of the claims
Search/Exam
Nov 13, 2024
French translation of claims
Search/Exam
Nov 13, 2024
German translation of the claims
Search/Exam
Nov 13, 2024
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Search/Exam
Aug 12, 2024
Aug 12, 2024
Aug 12, 2024
Aug 12, 2024
Intention to grant (signatures)
Search/Exam
Aug 12, 2024
Text intended for grant (clean copy)
Search/Exam
Aug 12, 2024
Jul 29, 2024
Jul 24, 2024
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Search/Exam
Jul 24, 2024
Jun 27, 2024
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Jun 27, 2024
Amended description with annotations
Search/Exam
Jun 27, 2024
Claims
Search/Exam
Jun 27, 2024
Description
Search/Exam
Jun 27, 2024
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Search/Exam
Jun 27, 2024
Apr 5, 2024
Annex to the communication
Search/Exam
Apr 5, 2024
Communication from the Examining Division
Search/Exam
Sep 11, 2023
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Sep 11, 2023
Claims
Search/Exam
Sep 11, 2023
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Search/Exam
Sep 11, 2023
May 17, 2023
Annex to the communication
Search/Exam
May 17, 2023
Communication from the Examining Division
Search/Exam
Jan 13, 2020
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Jan 13, 2020
Amended claims with annotations
Search/Exam
Jan 13, 2020
Claims
Search/Exam
Jan 13, 2020
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Search/Exam
Jan 13, 2020
Sep 10, 2019
Annex to the communication
Search/Exam
Sep 10, 2019
Communication from the Examining Division
Search/Exam
Aug 28, 2019
Examination started
Search/Exam
Nov 5, 2018
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Nov 5, 2018
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Search/Exam
Nov 5, 2018
Reply to Written Opinion prepared by the EPO
Search/Exam
Oct 1, 2018
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Oct 1, 2018
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Search/Exam
Jun 27, 2018
Apr 25, 2018
Apr 23, 2018
Communication to designated inventor
Search/Exam
Apr 23, 2018
Communication to designated inventor
Search/Exam
Apr 23, 2018
Communication to designated inventor
Search/Exam
Mar 27, 2018
Mar 27, 2018
Jan 18, 2018
Information regarding early processing
Search/Exam
Dec 21, 2017
(Electronic) Receipt
Search/Exam
Dec 21, 2017
Request for entry into the European phase
Search/Exam
Dec 8, 2017
Dec 8, 2017
Dec 8, 2017
Dec 8, 2017
Dec 8, 2017
Sep 6, 2017
Written opinion
PCT2
Sep 6, 2017
Sep 6, 2017
Aug 15, 2017
Notification of election of EPO
Search/Exam
Aug 1, 2017
Jul 25, 2017
Jul 14, 2017
Jul 14, 2017
PCT demand form
PCT2
Jul 14, 2017
Jul 14, 2017
Jul 14, 2017
Jul 14, 2017
May 26, 2017
May 26, 2017
May 26, 2017
Notification of the recording of a change
Search/Exam
Apr 10, 2017
Mar 23, 2017
Copy of the international search report
Search/Exam
Mar 23, 2017
Published international application - A1
Search/Exam
Jan 3, 2017
ISR: cited documents
PCTISA
Dec 21, 2016
Annex to a communication
Search/Exam
Dec 21, 2016
Dec 21, 2016
Dec 21, 2016
Oct 3, 2016
Sep 29, 2016
Sep 26, 2016
Sep 16, 2016
(Electronic) Receipt
PCTRO
Sep 16, 2016
Abstract
PCTRO
Sep 16, 2016
Claims
PCTRO
Sep 16, 2016
Description
PCTRO
Sep 16, 2016
Sep 16, 2016
Drawings
PCTRO
Sep 16, 2016