Patent decision

BL number

O/229/07

Concerning rights in

GB2347682B

Hearing Officer

Mr P Marchant

Decision date

14 August 2007

Person(s) or Company(s) involved

Gareth Williams and Surfactant Technologies Limited

Provisions discussed

PA Act 1977 Section 72

Keywords

Stay of proceedings

Related Decisions

None

Summary

In an action for revocation of the GB patent, the defendant requested a stay to await the outcome of an opposition to the equivalent European Patent, in the European Patent Office. The hearing officer refused to allow a stay in the circumstances, in particular because a key factor in the GB action was the discretionary issue relating to the allowability of the amendments. This could not be at issue in the EPO opposition and would have to be decided whether or not there was a stay.

Full decision O/229/07 36Kb