Patent decision

BL number

O/265/08

Concerning rights in

GB0320318.9

Hearing Officer

Mr J Rowlatt

Decision date

29 September 2008

Person(s) or Company(s) involved

General Electric Company

Provisions discussed

PA 1977 Section 1(1)(a), 1(1)(b), 14(5)(c) & 14(5)(d)

Keywords

Inventive step, Novelty, Plurality of invention, Support

Related Decisions

None

Summary

The application relates to the blending of phosphors to achieve a blend absorbing EM radiation having a particular range of wavelengths and emitting light having wavelengths in a visible spectrum. The blend comprises (Tb,Y,Lu)3Al5O12:Ce3+ and at least one other phosphor, including, among others, (Gd,La,Lu,Sc)2O3:Eu3+ and (Sr,Ca)MgAl10O17:Eu2+.

The Hearing Officer found that the invention was not novel in respect of the phosphors noted above and that more generally it did not involve an inventive step. He also concluded that the claim did not fall foul of s.14(5)(c) and that plurality might be overcome by amendment. Although the applicants have indicated that they do not wish to proceed further they have been given the opportunity to amend.

Full decision O/265/08 53Kb