▁of ▁its ▁own ▁pat ent ▁in ▁that ▁the ▁decision ▁to ▁am end ▁or ▁not , ▁and ▁how ▁to ▁am end ▁the ▁pat ent , ▁is ▁a ▁decision ▁of ▁the ▁pat ent ▁propriet or ▁alone ▁( although ▁the ▁O pp osition ▁Division ▁or ▁the ▁oppon ent ▁may ▁apply ▁pressure ▁to ▁have ▁am end ments ▁made ). ▁The ▁pat ent , ▁however , ▁may ▁not ▁be ▁am ended ▁in ▁such ▁a ▁manner ▁that ▁the ▁am end ment ▁would ▁lead ▁to ▁an ▁extension ▁of ▁the ▁protection ▁con ferred ▁by ▁the ▁pat ent . ▁ ▁If ▁am end ments ▁are ▁made ▁to ▁the ▁pat ent ▁during ▁the ▁opposition ▁proceed ings , ▁the ▁pat ent ▁( and ▁the ▁in vention ▁to ▁which ▁it ▁rel ates ) ▁must ▁meet ▁the ▁requirements ▁of ▁the ▁E PC . ▁These ▁requirements ▁not ably ▁include ▁the ▁requirements ▁of ▁support ▁in ▁the ▁description ▁and ▁clar ity ▁( ), ▁even ▁though ▁those ▁are ▁not ▁listed ▁as ▁grounds ▁of ▁opposition ▁in ▁. ▁However , ▁the ▁requirements ▁to ▁be ▁met ▁by ▁the ▁am ended ▁pat ent ▁do ▁not ▁include ▁the ▁requirement ▁of ▁unity ▁of ▁in vention ▁( because ▁division als ▁cannot ▁be ▁file d ▁after ▁grant ). ▁ ▁During ▁the ▁opposition , ▁or al ▁proceed ings ▁may ▁take ▁place ▁at ▁the ▁request ▁of ▁the ▁E PO ▁or ▁at ▁the ▁request ▁of ▁any ▁party ▁to ▁the ▁proceed ings , ▁i . e . ▁the ▁pat ente e ▁or ▁an ▁oppon ent . ▁The ▁or al ▁proceed ings ▁are ▁held ▁before ▁the ▁O pp osition ▁Division ▁itself . ▁They