歐洲異議程序（opposition）

歐洲專利審查基準（Guidelines for Examination in the European Patent Office）中，Part D規範了歐洲專利異議、限制與撤銷程序，內容可參閱：
http://www.epo.org/law-practice/legal-texts/html/guidelines/e/d.htm

歐洲異議程序（包括撤銷程序）規定於EPC Art. 99, 100, 101中。

歐洲異議程序僅能於專利核准公告後9個月內提出。異議結果效力及於歐洲專利會員國。

EPC 101第(1)項規定，當歐洲專利局受理異議案（opposition）時，異議部門將根據實施細則審理，判斷是否符合EPC 100的異議理由：(a)不符可專利標的；(b)沒有足夠清楚與完整而能讓相關技術人員可實現的內容；(c)專利標的超過說明書內容等。在審理過程中，異議部門應通常會要求各方相互提出意見。
EPC 101第(2)項規定，如果任一個異議理由成立，將撤銷專利權；否則則是駁回異議理由。
EPC 101第(3)項規定，異議過程的修正須符合實施細則的規定，否則將撤銷專利。

異議程序僅能於專利公告後9個月內提出，異議理由包括Art. 52/53規定的「可專利標的」、Art. 54規定的「新穎性」、Art. 54規定的「揭露要件」、Art. 56規定的「進步性」，以及Art. 57規定的「產業利用性」等，其他還有可針對修正是否超過揭露內容等方向提出異議。

異議審查流程：

1. 提出異議
2. 形式審查，不受理即駁回異議案
3. 通知專利權人
4. 4個月內由專利權人回應異議理由
5. 專利局依照需要可以要求雙方再提意見
6. 任一方可提起口頭審理程序（oral proceeding）
7. 異議部門作出異議決定
8. 任一方可提起訴願，否則專利權決定撤銷或保留或已經修改
9. 異議決定後2個月內提出訴願請求
10. 異議決定後4個月內提出訴願理由
11. 另一方回應訴願理由
12. 任一方可提起口頭審理
13. 訴願決定
14. 2個月內任一方可於歐洲擴大訴願委員會提出請願（petition），最後作出專利權是否保留的決定
15. 歐洲擴大訴願委員會可重啟（re-open）訴願

以下這份文件有很詳細的異議流程：
http://www.jakemp.com/uploads/files/general-briefings/Opposition_Procedure_Briefing_-_16_03_15.pdf

EPC法條參考：
Article 99
Opposition

(1) Within nine months of the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent in the European Patent Bulletin, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to that patent, in accordance with the Implementing Regulations. Notice of opposition shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid.

(2) The opposition shall apply to the European patent in all the Contracting States in
which that patent has effect. 

(3) Opponents shall be parties to the opposition proceedings as well as the proprietor of the patent.

(4) Where a person provides evidence that in a Contracting State, following a final decision, he has been entered in the patent register of such State instead of the previous proprietor, such person shall, at his request, replace the previous proprietor in respect of such State. Notwithstanding Article 118, the previous proprietor and the person making the request shall not be regarded as joint proprietors unless both so request.

Article 100
Grounds for opposition

Opposition may only be filed on the grounds that:
(a) the subject-matter of the European patent is not patentable under Articles 52 to 57;
(b) the European patent does not disclose the invention in a manner sufficiently clear and complete for it to be carried out by a person skilled in the art;
(c) the subject-matter of the European patent extends beyond the content of the application as filed, or, if the patent was granted on a divisional application or on a new application filed under Article 61, beyond the content of the earlier application as filed.

Article 101
Examination of the opposition – Revocation or maintenance of the European patent

(1) If the opposition is admissible, the Opposition Division shall examine, in accordance with the Implementing Regulations, whether at least one ground for opposition under Article 100 prejudices the maintenance of the European patent. During this examination, the Opposition Division shall invite the parties, as often as necessary, to file observations on communications from another party or issued by itself.

(2) If the Opposition Division is of the opinion that at least one ground for opposition prejudices the maintenance of the European patent, it shall revoke the patent. Otherwise, it shall reject the opposition.

(3) If the Opposition Division is of the opinion that, taking into consideration the amendments made by the proprietor of the European patent during the opposition proceedings, the patent and the invention to which it relates
(a) meet the requirements of this Convention, it shall decide to maintain the patent as amended, provided that the conditions laid down in the Implementing Regulations are fulfilled;
(b) do not meet the requirements of this Convention, it shall revoke the patent.

Ron