Disclosure of The Invention Under The European Patent Convention - Burden of Proof in Opposition

Burden of Proof in Opposition

The burden of proof generally lies upon an opponent to establish insufficiency of disclosure. However, "when the patent does not give any information of how a feature of the invention can be put into practice" and if the opponent plausibly argues that "common general knowledge would not enable the skilled person to put this feature into practice", the burden of proof can be shifted to the patentee to show that "common general knowledge would indeed enable the skilled person to carry out the invention."

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