Method For Operating An Annealing Surface

Patent No. EP3642372 (titled "Method For Operating An Annealing Surface") was filed by SMS Group on Jun 5, 2018. The application was issued on May 26, 2021.

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
TATA STEEL UK	Feb 25, 2022	WYNNE JONES

Dossier Documents

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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Dec 18, 2025
Decision to maintain the European patent in amended form
Dec 18, 2025
Decision to maintain the European patent in amended form
Dec 8, 2025
(Electronic) Receipt
Dec 8, 2025
English translation of the claims
Dec 8, 2025
Filing of the translation of the amended claims
Dec 8, 2025
French translation of claims
Dec 8, 2025
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Nov 13, 2025
Communication of bibliographic data
Nov 13, 2025
Communication to opponent concerning maintenance
Nov 13, 2025
Communication with request to file translations
Nov 5, 2025
Maintenance of the patent with the documents specified in the final decision
Aug 6, 2025
Annex to the communication - opposition
Aug 6, 2025
Brief communication - Opposition proceedings
Aug 6, 2025
Brief communication - Opposition proceedings
Aug 6, 2025
Decision of the Opposition Division and instruction
Aug 6, 2025
Druckexemplar in opposition procedure
Aug 6, 2025
Grounds for the decision (Annex) - opposition
Aug 6, 2025
Interlocutory decision in opposition proceedings
Aug 6, 2025
Interlocutory decision in opposition proceedings
Aug 6, 2025
Means of redress
Aug 6, 2025
Minutes of the oral proceedings (Opposition Division) - conclusion of the proceedings
Aug 6, 2025
Minutes of the oral proceedings (Opposition Division) - introduction of the parties
Aug 6, 2025
Provision of a copy of the minutes - opposition procedure
Aug 6, 2025
Provision of a copy of the minutes - opposition procedure
Aug 6, 2025
Scanned annex to a communication - opposition procedure
Jul 3, 2025
Information about the result of oral proceedings
Jul 2, 2025
Brief communication - Opposition proceedings
Jul 1, 2025
(Electronic) Receipt
Jul 1, 2025
Amended description with annotations
Jul 1, 2025
Amended description with annotations
Jul 1, 2025
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Jul 1, 2025
Written submission in preparation to/during oral proceedings
May 7, 2025
Brief communication - Opposition proceedings
Apr 30, 2025
(Electronic) Receipt
Apr 30, 2025
(Electronic) Receipt
Apr 30, 2025
Auxiliary request during Opposition procedure
Apr 30, 2025
Auxiliary request during Opposition procedure
Apr 30, 2025
Auxiliary request during Opposition procedure - 01
Apr 30, 2025
Auxiliary request during Opposition procedure - 02
Apr 30, 2025
Brief communication - Opposition proceedings
Apr 30, 2025
Citation in opposition procedure - 019
Apr 30, 2025
Citation in opposition procedure - 020
Apr 30, 2025
Citation in opposition procedure - 021
Apr 30, 2025
Citation in opposition procedure - 022
Apr 30, 2025
Consolidated list of cited opposition documents
Apr 30, 2025
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Apr 30, 2025
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Apr 30, 2025
Request for interpreters during oral proceedings
Apr 30, 2025
Written submission in preparation to/during oral proceedings
Apr 25, 2025
(Electronic) Receipt
Apr 25, 2025
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Apr 25, 2025
Written submission in preparation to/during oral proceedings
Nov 26, 2024
Annex to the communication - opposition
Nov 26, 2024
Information concerning oral proceedings
Nov 26, 2024
Scanned annex to a communication - opposition procedure
Nov 26, 2024
Summons to attend oral proceedings
Nov 26, 2024
Summons to attend oral proceedings
Aug 5, 2024
Communication of the registration of a transfer or change of name and/or address
Jul 1, 2024
Annexes in respect of a client data request
Jul 1, 2024
Submission concerning change of applicant's address
Sep 2, 2022
Brief communication - Opposition proceedings
Aug 30, 2022
(Electronic) Receipt
Aug 30, 2022
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Aug 30, 2022
Reply of the patent proprietor to the notice(s) of opposition
May 23, 2022
Communication of a notice of opposition and request to file observations
May 23, 2022
Notice of further oppositions to opponent(s)
May 16, 2022
(Electronic) Receipt
May 16, 2022
Citation in opposition procedure - 001
May 16, 2022
Citation in opposition procedure - 002
May 16, 2022
Citation in opposition procedure - 003
May 16, 2022
Citation in opposition procedure - 004
May 16, 2022
Citation in opposition procedure - 005
May 16, 2022
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
May 16, 2022
Letter regarding the opposition procedure (no time limit)
Mar 9, 2022
Request for documents
Mar 7, 2022
Communication of a notice of opposition - first information to patent proprietor
Feb 25, 2022
(Electronic) Receipt
Feb 25, 2022
Citation in opposition procedure - 006
Feb 25, 2022
Citation in opposition procedure - 007
Feb 25, 2022
Citation in opposition procedure - 007
Feb 25, 2022
Citation in opposition procedure - 008
Feb 25, 2022
Citation in opposition procedure - 008
Feb 25, 2022
Citation in opposition procedure - 009
Feb 25, 2022
Citation in opposition procedure - 010
Feb 25, 2022
Citation in opposition procedure - 010
Feb 25, 2022
Citation in opposition procedure - 011
Feb 25, 2022
Citation in opposition procedure - 012
Feb 25, 2022
Citation in opposition procedure - 012
Feb 25, 2022
Citation in opposition procedure - 013
Feb 25, 2022
Citation in opposition procedure - 014
Feb 25, 2022
Citation in opposition procedure - 014
Feb 25, 2022
Citation in opposition procedure - 015
Feb 25, 2022
Citation in opposition procedure - 015
Feb 25, 2022
Citation in opposition procedure - 016
Feb 25, 2022
Citation in opposition procedure - 017
Feb 25, 2022
Citation in opposition procedure - 018
Feb 25, 2022
International publication (Pamphlet)
Feb 25, 2022
Notice of opposition
Feb 25, 2022
Notice of opposition
Jun 9, 2021
Transmission of the certificate for a European patent pursuant to Rule 74 EPC
Apr 30, 2021
Decision to grant a European patent
Apr 30, 2021
Decision to grant a European patent
Apr 13, 2021
(Electronic) Receipt
Apr 13, 2021
English translation of the claims
Apr 13, 2021
Filing of the translations of the claims
Apr 13, 2021
French translation of claims
Apr 13, 2021
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Dec 15, 2020
Annex to the communication about intention to grant a European patent
Dec 15, 2020
Bibliographic data of the European patent application
Dec 15, 2020
Communication about intention to grant a European patent
Dec 15, 2020
Intention to grant (signatures)
Dec 15, 2020
Text intended for grant (clean copy)
Dec 15, 2020
Text intended for grant (version for approval)
Nov 4, 2020
Examination started
Sep 24, 2020
Statement of non-availability of priority search results
Sep 16, 2020
Invitation to file a copy of search results(priority)
Jul 28, 2020
(Electronic) Receipt
Jul 28, 2020
Letter accompanying subsequently filed items
Jul 28, 2020
Reply to Written Opinion prepared by the EPO
Apr 3, 2020
Communication to designated inventor
Apr 1, 2020
Notification on forthcoming publication of bibliographic data
Mar 20, 2020
Letter concerning the inventor
Mar 11, 2020
Invitation to indicate correct address of inventor
Mar 2, 2020
Letter which had not been notified
Jan 29, 2020
Communication concerning correction of deficiencies in written opinion/amendment of application/payment of claims fee
Jan 27, 2020
Communication to designated inventor
Jan 27, 2020
Communication to designated inventor
Jan 27, 2020
Communication to designated inventor
Jan 27, 2020
Communication to designated inventor
Jan 27, 2020
Communication to designated inventor
Jan 3, 2020
Annexes to the international preliminary examination report
Jan 3, 2020
Copy of the international preliminary examination report
Dec 4, 2019
(Electronic) Receipt
Dec 4, 2019
Request for entry into the European phase
Nov 4, 2019
Information on entry into European phase
Jul 4, 2019
Annex to International preliminary examination report
Jul 4, 2019
International preliminary examination report
Jul 4, 2019
International preliminary examination report - free text sheet
Jul 4, 2019
International preliminary examination report - points I-VIII
Jul 4, 2019
Transmittal of International Preliminary Examination Report
May 3, 2019
(Electronic) Receipt
May 3, 2019
Letter regarding PCTII procedure
May 3, 2019
PCT(IPEA): Amended sheet - claims
May 3, 2019
PCT(IPEA): Amended sheet - claims
May 3, 2019
PCT(IPEA): Amended sheet - description
May 3, 2019
PCT(IPEA): Amended sheet - description
May 3, 2019
Reply to communication PCT/IPEA/408
Apr 30, 2019
Grant of extension of time limit
Apr 25, 2019
Request for extension of time limit
Feb 28, 2019
Written opinion
Feb 28, 2019
Written opinion - free text sheet
Feb 28, 2019
Written opinion - points I-VIII
Jan 17, 2019
Priority document (electronically transmitted)
Jan 4, 2019
Notification of election of EPO
Dec 27, 2018
Copy of the international search report
Dec 27, 2018
Copy of the international search report
Dec 27, 2018
Published international application - A1
Nov 8, 2018
Notification of receipt of demand
Oct 23, 2018
(Electronic) Receipt
Oct 23, 2018
Letter regarding PCTII procedure
Oct 23, 2018
PCT demand form
Oct 23, 2018
PCT(IPEA): Amended sheet - claims
Oct 23, 2018
PCT(IPEA): Amended sheet - claims
Oct 23, 2018
Reply to International Search Opinion
Aug 16, 2018
Incoming letter related to PCT RO
Aug 10, 2018
Incoming fax related to PCT RO
Jul 23, 2018
Written opinion of the ISA, boxes No. I to VIII
Jul 23, 2018
Written opinion of the ISA, cover sheet
Jul 23, 2018
Written opinion of the ISA, supplemental box
Jul 20, 2018
Communication in cases for which no other form is available
Jun 22, 2018
Notification of the international application number and of the international filing date
Jun 18, 2018
Incoming letter related to PCT RO
Jun 5, 2018
(Electronic) Receipt
Jun 5, 2018
Abstract
Jun 5, 2018
Claims
Jun 5, 2018
Description
Jun 5, 2018
Document concerning fees and payments
Jun 5, 2018
Drawings
Jun 5, 2018
Electronic request for grant of an International application

EP3642372

SMS GROUP

Application Number: EP18729646A
Filing Date: Jun 5, 2018
Status: Granted And Under Opposition; Apr 23, 2021
Publication Date: May 26, 2021
External Links: Slate, Register , Google Patents

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Method For Operating An Annealing Surface

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Dossier Documents

EP3642372