법조 제75권 제3호(통권 제777호) 판례평석 - 428 - 비적 청구를 고려하지 않고, 주위적 청구의 특허성이 인정되지 않을 때 예비적 청구를 고려 한다.71) 주위적 청구와 예비적 청구는 다음과 같은 요건을 만족해야 한다. 우선 이의신청 이유에 의하여 필요하게 된 경우여야 하고,72) 정정은 유럽특허협약 제84조에 따른 명확성 요건 (clarity)을 만족하여야 하며,73) 신규사항을 추가해서는 안 되고,74) 등록된 권리범위가 확장 되어서는 안 된다.75) 특허권자는 이의신청에 대한 의견서 제출기한 내에 정정안을 제출할 수 있다. 특허권자는 그 후에도 정정안을 제출할 수 있으나, 제출시기에 따라 그 내용이 제한될 수 있고 제출시 기가 늦어질수록 허용 가능성이 낮아진다. 유럽특허청은 구술심리기일을 통지할 때 구술심 리 준비를 위한 최종 기한(final date)을 부여하는데, 이때까지는 비교적 자유롭게 정정안 을 제출할 수 있다.76) 한편, 최종 기한 후에 제출된 정정안은 그 허용 가능성이 명백한 경 Prop. 44, 45~46 (2013); Michael Ford & Magnus Johnston, Admissibility of Requests During Opposition Proceedings, 2023. <https://www.hlk-ip.com/news-and-insights/admissibility-ofrequests-during-opposition-proceedings/> (최종방문일: 2026. 5. 21.). 71) Guidelines H-III, 3.1 General principles (“If the main request is allowable, the division will ignore any auxiliary requests. If the main request is not allowable, the division will consid er the auxiliary requests, in the sequence chosen by the requester.”). 72) Rule 80 EPC (“Without prejudice to Rule 138, the description, claims and drawings may b e amended, provided that the amendments are occasioned by a ground for opposition un der Article 100, even if that ground has not been invoked by the opponent.”); Colleen Chi en, Christian Helmers & Alfred Spigarelli, supra p. 831 (“the patentee has the right to am end the opposed patent, subject to the approval of the Opposition Division. However, an opposed patent can only be amended when this is justified by at least one of the opposit ion grounds.”). 73) Nigel Tucker, Clarity of dependent claims and consequences for amendments in oppositio n proceedings, 2025. 11. <https://www.boult.com/bulletin/clarity-of-dependent-claims-andconsequences-for-amendments-in-opposition-proceedings/> (최종방문일: 2026. 5. 25.). (“Alth ough clarity is not a ground of opposition, the clarity of any amendment made during op position proceedings should be examined by the opposition division.”). 74) Art. 123(2) EPC (“The European patent application or European patent may not be amend ed in such a way that it contains subject-matter which extends beyond the content of the application as filed.”). 75) Art. 123(3) EPC (“The European patent may not be amended in such a way as to extend t he protection it confers.”). 76) Rule 116(1) EPC (“When issuing the summons, the European Patent Office shall draw atten tion to the points which in its opinion need to be discussed for the purposes of the decis ion to be taken. At the same time a final date for making written submissions in preparat
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