|
According to the German version of R. 78(2) EPC 1973 (jetzt R. 126 (2) EPC), the EPO must in a case of doubt, "im Zweifel", establish the date on which the letter was delivered to the addressee. In T 247/98 the board decided that, when establishing the meaning of the term "im Zweifel" in the German version of R. 78(2) EPC 1973, account should be taken of the French and English versions, which assumed that there was a dispute ("en cas de contestation", "in the event of any dispute"). From the general principles concerning the burden of presentation which fell on the parties, it followed that a party seeking the application of a legal provision favourable to its interests had to set out the facts justifying such application, even if it did not ultimately bear the burden of proof for those facts. Although, in the event of a dispute within the meaning of R. 78(2) EPC 1973, the burden of proof for the date of delivery fell on the EPO, this could not be taken to mean that a party wishing to rely on the late delivery of a letter from the EPO had no obligation to contribute to the clarification of circumstances within its own sphere of activity but could sit back, as it were, and wait to see whether the EPO succeeded in ascertaining when the letter had been delivered to the party. A dispute ("Zweifel" in the German version) within the meaning of this rule could only arise if it was maintained that a letter had in fact been received more than ten days following its posting.
|