Patent decision
- BL number
- O/0957/25
- Concerning rights in
- EP2146786
- Hearing Officer
- Mr B Micklewright
- Decision date
- 14 October 2025
- Person(s) or Company(s) involved
- Networld Sports Limited and Quick Play Sport Limited
- Provisions discussed
- Patents Act 1977 sections 72(1)(a), 2, 3, 72(4), 72(4A), 75
- Keywords
- Revocation
- Related Decisions
- None
Summary
The claimant made an application for the revocation of EP2146786 on the grounds that the claims lacked novelty and/or inventive step. The invention related to a sports goal apparatus and the claimant’s submissions were based on two prior art documents. The hearing officer found that, of the four independent claims, two were novel and inventive and two were invalid over the two prior art documents. The proprietor had however made various auxiliary requests to amend certain claims if the hearing officer found those claims to be invalid. Specifically, two of the auxiliary requests related to deletion of the claims found invalid by the hearing officer. The hearing officer therefore provided an opportunity for the proprietor to file amendments deleting the invalid claims. If no amendments were made to the satisfaction of the comptroller within the period set, the hearing officer ordered revocation of the patent.
Full decision O/0957/25 
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