(1) These rules may be called the Patents Rules, 2003.

(2) They shall come into force on the date2 on which the Patents (Amendment) Act, 2002 comes into force.

In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires,

(a) Act means the Patents Act, 1970 (39 of 1970);

(b) appropriate office means the appropriate office of the patent office as specified in Rule 4;

(c) article includes any substance or material, and any plant, machinery or apparatus, whether affixed to land or not;

(d) Form means a Form specified in the Second Schedule;

3[(da) person other than a natural person shall include a small entity ;]

4[(db) Request for examination means a request for examination, including expedited examination, made under Section 11-B in respect of Rule 24-B or Rule 24-C;]

(e) Schedule means Schedule to these rules;

(f) Section means a section of the Act;

5[(fa) small entity means,

(i) in case of an enterprise engaged in the manufacture or production of goods, an enterprise where the investment in plant and machinery does not exceed the limit specified for a medium enterprise under clause (a) of sub-section (1) of Section 7 of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006 (27 of 2006); and

(ii) in case of an enterprise engaged in providing or rendering of services, an enterprise where the investment in equipment is not more than the limit specified for medium enterprises under clause (b) of sub-section (1) of Section 7 of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006.

Explanation 1. For the purpose of this clause, enterprise means an industrial undertaking or a business concern or any other establishment, by whatever name called, engaged in the manufacture or production of goods, in any manner, pertaining to any industry specified in the First Schedule to the Industries (Development and Regulation) Act, 1951 (65 of 1951) or engaged in providing or rendering of any service or services in such an industry.

Explanation 2. In calculating the investment in plant and machinery, the cost of pollution control, research and development, industrial safety devices and such other things as may be specified by notification under the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006 (27 of 2006), shall be excluded.

Explanation 3. The reference rates of foreign currency of the Reserve Bank of India shall prevail.]

6[(fb) 7[(i) Startup means

(a) an entity in India recognised as a startup by the competent authority under Startup India initiative,

(b) In case of a foreign entity, an entity fulfilling the criteria for turnover and period of incorporation/registration as per Startup India Initiative and submitting declaration to that effect.

Explanation: In calculating the turnover, reference rates of foreign currency of Reserve Bank of India shall prevail.]

(g) words and expressions used, but not defined in these rules, shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in the Act.

Save as otherwise provided in these rules, the particulars contained in the form are hereby prescribed as the particulars, if any, required under the relevant provision or provisions of the Act.

(1) The appropriate office of the patent office shall

(i) for all the proceedings under the Act, 8[* * *] 9[* * *] be the head office of the patent office or the branch office, as the case may be, within whose territorial limits

(a) the applicant or first mentioned applicant in case of joint applicants for a patent, normally resides or has his domicile or has a place of business or the place from where the invention actually originated; or

(b) the applicant for a patent or party in a proceeding if he has no place of business or domicile in India, the address for service in India given by such applicant or party is situated; and

(ii) 10[* * *]

(2) The appropriate office once decided in respect of any proceedings under the Act shall not ordinarily be changed.

11[(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-rule (2), the Controller may transfer an application for patent so filed, to head office or, as the case may be, branch office of the Patent Office.

(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-rule (1), further application referred to in Section 16 of the Act, shall be filed at the appropriate office of the first mentioned application only.

(5) All further applications referred to Section 16 of the Act filed in an office other than the appropriate office of the first mentioned application, before the commencement of the Patents (Amendment) Rules, 2013, shall be transferred to the appropriate office of the first mentioned application.]

12[5. Every person, concerned in any proceedings to which the Act or these rules relate and every patentee, shall furnish to the Controller an address for service, including a postal address in India and an e-mail address, and such address for service shall be treated for all purposes connected with such proceedings or patent as the address of the person concerned in the proceedings or of the patentee. Unless such an address for service is given, the Controller shall be under no obligation either to proceed or deal with any proceeding, or patent or to send any notice that may be required to be given under the Act or these rules and the Controller may take suo motu decision in the matter:

Provided that a patent agent shall also be required to furnish to the Controller a mobile number registered in India.]

13[(1) Any application, notice or other document authorized or required to be filed, left, made or given at the patent office, or to the Controller or to any other person under the Act or these rules, may be tendered by hand or sent by a letter addressed to the Controller at the appropriate office or to that person through post or registered post or speed post 14[* * *] or by electronic transmission duly authenticated. If it is sent by post or registered post or speed post 15[* * *] or by electronic transmission duly authenticated, it shall be deemed to have been filed, left, made or given at the time when the mail containing the same would have been delivered in the ordinary course of post or registered post or speed post 16[* * *], or by electronic transmission duly authenticated, as the case may be. In proving such sending, it shall be sufficient to show that the mail was properly addressed and transmitted:

17[* * *]]

18[(1-A) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-rule (1), a patent agent shall file, leave, make or give all documents only by electronic transmission duly authenticated:

Provided that any document, if asked to be submitted in original, shall be submitted within a period of fifteen days, failing which such documents shall be deemed not to have been filed.]

19[(2) Any written communication addressed to a patentee at his postal address or e-mail address, as it appears on the register of patents or at his address for service given under Rule 5, or to any applicant or opponent in any proceedings under the Act or these rules, at the postal address or e-mail address, appearing on the application or notice of opposition, or given for service, shall be deemed to be properly addressed.]

(3) All notices and all written communications addressed to a patentee, or to any applicant or opponent in any proceedings under the Act or these rules, and all documents forwarded to the patentee or to the said applicant or opponent, shall, except when they are sent by special messenger, be sent by registered post or speed post 20[* * *] or by electronic transmission duly authenticated.

(4) The date of a notice or a written communication addressed to a patentee or to any applicant or opponent in any proceedings under the Act and these rules shall be the date of dispatch of the said notice or written communication, by registered post or speed post 21[* * *] or fax or by electronic transmission duly authenticated, as the case may be, unless otherwise specified under the Act or these rules.

(5) In case of delay in receipt of a document or a communication sent by the patent office to a party in any proceedings under the Act or these rules, the delay in transmitting or resubmitting a document to the patent office or doing any act by the party may be condoned by the Controller if a petition for such condonation of delay is made by the party to the Controller immediately after the receipt of the document or a communication along with a statement regarding the circumstances of the fact and evidence in support of the statement:

Provided that the delay condoned by the Controller shall not exceed the period between the date on which the party was supposed to have received the document or communication by ordinary course of mail or electronic transmission and the actual date of receipt of the same.

22[(6) Without prejudice to sub-rule (5) and notwithstanding anything contained in sub-rule (2) of Rule 138, the Controller may condone the delay in transmitting or resubmitting a document to the patent office or performing any act by a party, if a petition for such condonation of delay is made by the party to the Controller along with a statement regarding the circumstances of the fact and evidence in support of the statement, to the satisfaction of the Controller, that the delay was due to war, revolution, civil disorder, strike, natural calamity, a general unavailability of electronic communication services or other like reason in the locality where the party resides or has place of business, and that such situation was of such severity that it disrupted the normal communication in that area and that the relevant action was taken as soon as reasonably possible not later than one month from the date when such situation had ceased to exist:

Provided that the delay condoned by the Controller shall not exceed the period for which the national emergency was in force, or six months from the expiry of the prescribed period, whichever is earlier.

(7) Any liability or burden of proof regarding the authenticity of any document filed, left, made or given under these rules, including electronically transmitted documents, shall lie only with the party filing, leaving, making or giving the document.]

(1) The fees payable under Section 142 in respect of the grant of patents and applications therefor, and in respect of other matters for which fees are required to be payable under the Act shall be as specified in the First Schedule.

23[Provided that ten per cent additional fee shall be payable when the applications for patent and other documents are filed through physical mode, namely, in hard copy format:

24[Provided further that in the case of a small entity, or startup, every document, for which a fee has been specified, shall be accompanied by Form 28.]]

(2) 25[(a) The fees payable under the Act or these rules may be paid at the appropriate office either in cash or through electronic means or may be sent by bank draft or banker's cheque payable to the Controller of Patents and drawn on a scheduled bank at the place where the appropriate office is situated and if the draft or banker's cheque is sent by post, the fees shall be deemed to have been paid on the date on which the draft or banker's cheque has actually reached the Controller.]

(b) 26[* * *]

27[(c) Where a fee is payable in respect of a document, the entire fee shall accompany the document.]

Provided that the Controller may accept the fee in part and allow remaining part of the fee to be paid at any time within one month from the date of filing of the document notwithstanding the expiry of the due date for filing of such document and on such payment the document shall be taken on record from the date of its filing.

(3) In case an application processed by a natural person is fully or partly transferred to a person other than a natural person, the difference, if any, in the scale of fee(s) between the fee(s) charged from a natural person and the fee(s) chargeable from the person other than the natural person in the same matter shall be paid by the new applicant with the request for transfer.

28[(3-A) In case an application processed by a small entity is fully or partly transferred to a person other than a natural person (except a small entity), the difference, if any, in the scale of fee(s) between the fee(s) charged from a small entity and the fee(s) chargeable from the person other than a natural person (except a small entity) in the same matter shall be paid by the new applicant with the request for transfer.]

29[(3-B) In case an application processed by a start-up is fully or partly transferred to any person other than a natural person or a start-up, the difference, if any, in the scale of fees between the fees charged from a start-up and such person to whom the application is transferred, shall be paid by the new applicant along with the request for transfer:

Explanation. Where the start-up ceases to be a start-up after having filed an application for patent due to lapse of more than five years from the date of its incorporation or registration or the turnover subsequently crosses the financial threshold limit as defined, no such difference in the scale of fees shall be payable.]

30[(4) Fees once paid in respect of any proceeding shall not ordinarily be refunded irrespective of whether the proceeding has taken place or not:

Provided that, if the Controller is satisfied that during the online filing process, the fee was paid more than once for the same proceeding, the excess fee shall be refunded.]

31[(4-A) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-rule (4), upon the withdrawal of an application in respect of which a request for examination has been filed, but before issuance of first statement of objection, the fee may be refunded to the extent prescribed in the First Schedule on a request made by the applicant in Form, 29.]

(5)(i) Subject to the approval of the Controller, any person may deposit money in advance and request the Controller to realise any fee payable by him from the said deposit and in such case the date of the receipt of the request to realise the fee is deemed to have been received, whichever is earlier, shall be taken as the date of payment of the fee:

Provided that the requisite amount of money is available at the credit of the person making such request.

(ii) Subject to the approval of the Controller, any person may discontinue the deposit of money in advance and in such case the balance, if any, shall be refunded.

(1) The forms set forth in the Second Schedule with such variations as the circumstances of each case may require shall be used for the purposes mentioned therein.

32[(2) Where no Form is so specified for any purpose, the applicant may use Form, 30 specified in the Second Schedule.]

33[(1) All documents and copies of the documents, except affidavits and drawings, filed with patent office, shall

(a) be typewritten or printed in Hindi or English (unless otherwise directed or allowed by the Controller) in large and legible characters not less than 0.28 centimetre high with deep indelible ink with lines widely spaced not less than one and half spaced only upon one side of the paper;

(b) be on such paper which is flexible, strong, white, smooth, non-shiny, and durable of size A-4 of approximately 29.7 centimetre by 21 centimetre with a margin of at least 4 centimetre on the top and left hand part and 3 centimetre on the bottom and right hand part thereof;

(c) be numbered in consecutive Arabic numerals in the centre of the bottom of the sheet; and

(b) contain the numbering to every fifth line of each page of the description and each page of the claims at right half of the left margin.

(2) Any signature which is not legible or which is written in a script other than English or Hindi shall be accompanied by a transcription of the name either in Hindi or English in capital letters.

(3) In case, the application for patent discloses sequence listing of nucleotides or amino acid sequences, the sequence listing of nucleotides or amino acid sequences shall be filed in computer readable text format along with the application, and no print form of the sequence listing of nucleotides or amino acid sequences is required to be given.

(4) Additional copies of all documents shall be filed at the appropriate office as may be required by the controller.

(5) Names and addresses of applicant and other persons shall be given in full together with their nationality and such other particular, if any, as are necessary for their identification.]

APPLICATION FOR PATENTS

Where, in an application for a patent made by virtue of an assignment of the right to apply for the patent for the invention, if the proof of the right to make the application is not furnished with the application, the applicant shall within a period of 34[six months] after the filing of such application furnish such proof.

Explanation. For the purposes of this rule, the 35[six months] period in case of an application corresponding to an international application in which India is designated shall be reckoned from the actual date on which the corresponding application is filed in India.

The applications filed in a year shall constitute a series identified by the year of such filing. In case of an application filed corresponding to an international application in which India is designated, such application shall constitute a series distinct from the rest of the applications identified by the year of filing of corresponding applications in India.

(1) The statement and undertaking required to be filed by an applicant for a patent under sub-section (1) of Section 8 shall be made in Form 3.

36[(1-A) The period within which the applicant shall file the statement and undertaking under sub-section (1) of Section 8 shall be 37[six months] from the date of filing the application.

Explanation. For the purpose of this rule, the period of 38[six months] in case of an application corresponding to an international application in which India is designated shall be reckoned from the actual date on which the corresponding application is filed in India.]

(2) The time within which the applicant for a patent shall keep the Controller informed of the details in respect of other applications filed in any country in the undertaking to be given by him under clause (b) of sub-section (1) of Section 8 shall be 39[six months] from the date of such filing.

(3) When so required by the Controller under sub-section (2) of Section 8, the applicant shall furnish information relating to objections, if any, in respect of novelty and patentability of the invention and any other particulars as the Controller may require which may include claims of application allowed 40[within 41[six months] from the date of such communication by the Controller.]

(4) 42[* * *]

(1) Every specification, whether provisional or complete, shall be made in Form, 2.

(2) A specification in respect of a divisional application under Section 16 shall contain specific reference to the number of the original application from which the divisional application is made.

(3) A specification in respect of a patent of addition under Section 54 shall contain a specific reference to the number of the main patent, or the application for the main patent, as the case may be, and a definite statement that the invention comprises of an improvement in, or a modification of, the invention claimed in the specification of the main patent granted or applied for.

43[(4) Where the invention requires explanation through drawings, such drawings shall be prepared in accordance with the provisions of Rule 15 and shall be supplied with, and referred to in detail, in the specification, including the claims where the features illustrated in the drawings shall be followed by their respective reference signs in parentheses:

Provided that in case of a complete specification, if the applicant desires to adopt the drawings filed with the provisional specification as the drawings or part of the drawings for the complete specification, it shall be sufficient to refer to them in the complete specification as those left or filed with the provisional specification.]

(5) Irrelevant or other matter, not necessary, in the opinion of the Controller, for elucidation of the invention, shall be excluded from the title, description, claims and drawings.

(6) Except in the case of an application (other than a convention application 44[or an application filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty designating India]) which is accompanied by a complete specification, a declaration as to the inventorship of the invention shall be filed in Form, 5 with the complete specification or at any time before the expiration of one month from the date of filing of the complete specification, as the Controller may allow on an application made in Form, 4.

Explanation. 45[* * *]

(7)(a) The abstract as specified under clause (d) of sub-section (4) of Section 10, accompanying the specification shall commence with the title of the invention. The title of the invention shall disclose the specific features of the invention normally in not more than fifteen words.

46[(b) The abstract shall contain a concise summary of the matter contained in the specification and the summary shall indicate clearly the technical field to which the invention belongs, technical advancement of the invention as compared to the existing knowledge and principal use of the invention excluding any speculative use and where necessary, the abstract shall contain the chemical formula, which characterises the invention.]

(c) The abstract may not contain more than one hundred and fifty words.

(d) If the specification contains any drawing, the applicant shall indicate on the abstract the figure, or exceptionally, the figures of the drawings which may accompany the abstract when published. Each main feature mentioned in the abstract and illustrated by a drawing shall be followed by the reference sign used in that drawing.

(e) The abstract shall be so drafted that it constitutes an efficient instrument for the purposes of searching in the particular technical field, in particular by making it possible to assess whether there is a need to consult the specification itself.

47[(8) The period within which reference to the deposit shall be made in the specification under sub-clause (A) of clause (ii) of sub-section (4) of Section 10 shall be three months from the date of filing of the application:

Provided that in case of a request for publication under Rule 24-A, such reference shall be made on or before the date of filing of such request.]

48[(1) When amendments are made to a provisional or complete specification or any drawing accompanying it, the pages incorporating such amendments shall be retyped and submitted to form a continuous document.

(2) A marked copy clearly identifying the amendments carried out and a statement clearly indicating the portion (page number and line number) of the specification or drawing being amended along with the reason shall also be filed.

(3) Amendments shall not be made by slips pasted on, or as footnotes or by writing in the margin of any of the said documents.

(4) When a retyped page or pages incorporating amendments are submitted, the corresponding earlier page shall be deemed to have been superseded and cancelled by the applicant.]

(1) Drawings, when furnished under Section 10 by the applicants otherwise than on requisition made by the Controller, shall accompany the specifications to which they relate.

(2) No drawings or sketch, which would require a special illustration of the specification, shall appear in the specification itself.

(3) At least one copy of the drawing shall be prepared neatly and clearly on a durable paper sheet.

(4) Drawings shall be on standard A4 size sheets with a clear margin of at least 4 centimeters on the top and left hand and 3 centimeters at the bottom and right hand of every sheet.

(5) Drawings shall be on a scale sufficiently large to show the inventions clearly and dimensions shall not be marked on the drawings.

(6) Drawing shall be sequentially or systematically numbered and shall bear

(i) in the left hand top corner, the name of the applicant;

(ii) in the right hand top corner, the number of the sheets of drawings, and the consecutive number of each sheet; and

(iii) in the right hand bottom corner, the signature of the applicant or his agent.

(7) No descriptive matter shall appear on the drawings except in the flow diagrams.

Models or samples shall be furnished under Section 10 only when required by the Controller.

INTERNATIONAL APPLICATIONS UNDER PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT)

In this Chapter, unless the context otherwise requires,

(a) Article means an Article of the Treaty;

49[(aa) Examining Authority means the Indian International Preliminary Examining Authority referred to in sub-rule (1) of Rule 19-F;

(ab) International Bureau means the International Bureau of World Intellectual Property Organisation;

(ac) Searching Authority means the Indian International Searching Authority referred to in sub-rule (1) of Rule 19-A.]

(b) Treaty or PCT means the Patent Cooperation Treaty;

(c) All other words and expressions used herein and not defined but defined in the PCT shall have the same meaning as assigned to them in that Treaty.

50[(1) The receiving office, the designated office and the elected office, as the case may be, for the purposes of international applications shall be the appropriate office referred to in Rule 4.

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-rule (1), the Patent Office, Delhi branch shall be the appropriate office for dealing with the International Bureau and any other International Searching Authority and International Preliminary Examining Authority.

(3) An international application shall be filed at and processed by the appropriate office, referred to in sub-rule (1), in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, the Treaty and the regulations under the Treaty.

(4) The appropriate office referred to in sub-rule (1), shall, on receipt of an international application,

(a) keep one copy of the application to be called the home copy in its office;

(b) transmit one copy to be called the record copy to the International Bureau; and

(c) transmit one copy to be called search copy to the competent International Searching Authority referred to in Article 16 of the Treaty,

and simultaneously furnish complete details of such application to the Patent Office, Delhi branch.]

51[(1) An international application shall be filed with the appropriate office in triplicate either in English or Hindi language.

(2) The fees payable in respect of an international application shall, in addition to the fees specified in the regulations under the Treaty, be the fees as specified in the First Schedule and the Fifth Schedule.

(3) Where an international application has not been filed in triplicate, the appropriate office shall, upon payment of fees specified in the First Schedule, prepare the required additional copies.

(4) On receipt of a request from the applicant and on payment of the fees specified in the First Schedule, the appropriate office shall prepare a certified copy of the priority document and promptly transmit the same to the International Bureau and intimate the applicant and the Patent Office, Delhi branch.]

52[19-A. Indian International Searching Authority. (1) The Patent Office, Delhi branch shall perform the functions of the Indian International Searching Authority under the treaty in accordance with an agreement between the Indian Patent Office and the International Bureau.

(2) The fees payable to the Searching Authority shall, in addition to the fees specified in the regulations made under the Treaty, be the fees as specified in the Fifth Schedule.

(3) The Searching Authority referred to in sub-rule (1), shall establish international search report in respect of international applications, or, as the case may be, declare in accordance with sub-rule (3) of Rule 19-B, in cases where India has been indicated as a competent International Searching Authority.]

53[19-B. International search report. (1) The Searching Authority shall, on receipt of the search copy, notify the International Bureau and the applicant about the receipt of search copy with identification mark ISA/IN along with the international application number and its serial number and the date of receipt of the search copy.

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in the proviso to item (i) of sub-rule (2) of Rule 24-B, the Searching Authority shall, upon receipt of the search copy, refer the international application, in the order in which the search copy was received, to an examiner or any other officer appointed under sub-section (2) of Section 73 of the Act for preparing an international search report, in accordance with the provisions contained in the Treaty and the regulations under the Treaty, ordinarily within a period of one month but not exceeding two months from the date of such reference.

(3) The Searching Authority, if it considers that

(a) the international application relates to a subject matter which the Searching Authority is not required to search and accordingly decides not to search; or

(b) the description, claims or drawings fail to comply with the requirements prescribed under the regulations under the Treaty to such an extent that a meaningful search could not be carried out,

the Authority shall so declare and notify the applicant and the International Bureau that no international search report shall be established.

(4) In a case where any situation referred to in clause (a) or clause (b) of sub-rule (3) is found to exist in connection with certain claims only, the Searching Authority shall indicate this fact in the International Search Report in respect of such claims, and for other claims, it shall establish the International Search Report.

(5) The Searching Authority, if it considers that the international application does not comply with the requirement of unity of invention, in accordance with the provisions contained in Rule 13 of the regulations under the Treaty, shall send a notice specifying the reasons for which the international application is not considered as complying with the requirement of unity of invention and inviting the applicant

(a) to pay the additional fees specified in the Fifth Schedule, indicating the amount of fees to be paid, within a period of one month from the date of such invitation; and

(b) to pay, where applicable, the protest fee specified in the Fifth Schedule, indicating the amount of fee to be paid, within a period of one month from the date of such invitation.

(6) The Searching Authority shall establish the International Search Report on those parts of the international application which relate to the invention first mentioned in the claims ( main invention ) and subject to payment of additional fee within the period specified in sub-rule (5), on those parts of the international application which relate to inventions in respect of which such additional fees were paid.

(7) Any applicant may pay the additional fees under protest, that is, accompanied by a reasoned statement to the effect that the international application complies with the requirement of unity of invention or that the amount of the required additional fees is excessive.

(8) The examination of the protest referred to in sub-rule (7) shall be carried out by a Review Committee constituted by the Controller.

(9) The Review Committee constituted under sub-rule (8) shall examine the extent to which the protest is justified and shall accordingly order for the total or partial reimbursement of the additional fee to the applicant.

(10) Where the applicant has not paid the fees for the protest in accordance with clause (b) of sub-rule (5), the protest shall be considered not to have been made and the Searching Authority shall so declare.

(11) The protest fee shall be refunded to the applicant where the Review Committee referred to in sub-rule (8) finds that the protest was entirely justified.

(12) Where the international application contains the disclosure of one or more nucleotide or amino acid sequences and the sequences are not furnished in computer-readable text format, the Searching Authority shall send a notice to the applicant to submit the sequence listing in computer-readable text format and pay the late furnishing fee specified in the Fifth Schedule, within a period of one month from the date of such notice and if the applicant fails to comply with the notice, the Searching Authority shall search the international application to the extent that a meaningful search can be carried out without the sequence listing.]

54[19-C. Time limit for establishing international search report. The Searching Authority shall establish the International Search Report and written opinion or, as the case may be, the declaration referred to in sub-rule (3) of Rule 19-B within a period of three months from the date of receipt of the search copy by the Searching Authority, or within a period of nine months from the date of priority, whichever expires later.]

55[19-D. Transmittal of the International Search Report and written opinion. The Searching Authority shall transmit one copy of the International Search Report or of the declaration referred to in Article 17(2)(a) of the Treaty, and one copy of the written opinion established under Rule 43 bis.1 of the regulations under the Treaty, to the International Bureau and one copy to the applicant, on the same day.]

56[19-E. Confidential treatment. All matters pertaining to international applications shall be kept confidential in accordance with the treaty and the regulations under the Treaty.]

57[19-F. Indian International Preliminary Examining Authority. (1) The Patent Office, Delhi branch shall perform the functions of the International Preliminary Examining Authority under the Treaty in accordance with an agreement between the Indian Patent Office and the International Bureau.

(2) The Examining Authority referred to in sub-rule (1), shall establish

(a) the International Preliminary Examination Report in respect of all international applications electing India as an International Preliminary Examining Authority;

(b) the International Preliminary Examination Report in respect of the demands filed by the nationals or residents of other countries in accordance with an agreement between Indian Patent Office and the International Bureau, upon being notified by the International Bureau;

(c) the International Preliminary Examination in respect of demands made by the nationals or residents of other countries not party to the Treaty or not bound by Chapter II of the Treaty, if the Assembly has so approved.]

58[19-G. Period for making a demand. (1) The demand for international preliminary examination shall be made within the period specified in the Treaty or regulations under the Treaty.

(2) In case the demand is made after the expiry of the period specified in sub-rule (1), it shall be considered to have not been made and no International Preliminary Examination Report shall be prepared.]

59[19-H. Fees payable to Examining Authority. The fees payable to the Examining Authority shall, in addition to the fees specified in the regulations under the Treaty, be the fees specified in the Fifth Schedule.]

60[19-I. Manner of making a demand. A demand shall be made in accordance with the provisions contained in these rules, the Treaty and the regulations under the Treaty.]

61[19-J. Processing of demands for international preliminary examination. (1) The Examining Authority, on receipt of the demand for international preliminary examination, if the Examining Authority is competent to conduct an international preliminary examination, shall assign the identification mark IPEA/IN and shall notify the Applicant and the International Bureau.

(2) In case where the Examining Authority is not competent to conduct the international preliminary examination of the international application, it shall transmit the demand promptly to the International Bureau.]

62[19-K. International Preliminary Examination Report. (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the proviso to item (i) of sub-rule (2) of Rule 24-B, the Examining Authority shall refer the international application, in accordance with the provisions contained in the Treaty and the regulations under the Treaty, in the order in which the demand was received in the Examining Authority to an examiner or any other officer appointed under sub-section (2) of Section 73 of the Act for preparing an International Preliminary Examination Report ordinarily within a period of three months but not exceeding four months from the date of such reference.

(2) Claims relating to inventions in respect of which no International Search Report has been established shall not be the subject of international preliminary examination.

(3) The Examination Authority, if considers that

(a) the international application relates to a subject matter on which the Examination Authority is not required to carry out an international preliminary examination, and, decides not to carry out such examination; or

(b) that the description, the claims, or the drawings, are so unclear, or the claims are so inadequately supported by the description, that no meaningful opinion can be formed on the questions of novelty, inventive step (non-obviousness), or industrial applicability, the Examining Authority shall not go into these questions and shall inform the applicant of this opinion and the reasons therefor.

(4) In a case where any situation referred to in clause (a) or clause (b) of sub-rule (3) is found to exist in connection with certain claims only, the Examining Authority shall indicate this fact in the International Preliminary Examining Report in respect of such claims, and for other claims, it shall establish the International Preliminary Examination Report.

(5) Where the Examining Authority finds that the international application does not comply with the requirement of unity of invention, in accordance with the provisions contained in Rule 13 of the regulations under the Treaty and chooses to invite the applicant, at his option, to restrict the claims or to pay additional fees, it shall issue a notice to the applicant:

(a) specifying at least one possibility of restriction which, in the opinion of the Examining Authority, would be in compliance with the applicable requirement;

(b) specifying the reasons for which the international application is not considered as complying with the requirement of unity of invention;

(c) inviting the applicant to comply with the invitation within one month from the date of such notice;

(d) indicating the amount of the required additional fees to be paid in case the applicant so chooses; and

(e) inviting the applicant to pay, the protest fee within one month from the date of such notice, and indicate the amount to be paid, as specified in the Fifth Schedule.

(6) Any applicant may pay the additional fees under protest, that is, accompanied by a reasoned statement to the effect that the international application complies with the requirement of unity of invention or that the amount of the required additional fees is excessive.

(7) The examination of the protest referred to in sub-rule (5) shall be carried out by a Review Committee constituted by the Controller.

(8) The Review Committee constituted under sub-rule (7) shall examine the extent to which the protest is justified and shall accordingly order for the total or partial reimbursement of the applicant of the additional fee.

(9) The protest fee shall be refunded to the applicant where the Review Committee referred to in sub-rule (6) finds that the protest was entirely justified.]

63[19-L. Period for establishing international preliminary examination report and its transmission. The period for establishing the International Preliminary Examination Report shall be:

(i) twenty-eight months from the priority date; or

(ii) six months from the period specified under Rule 69.1 of the regulations under the Treaty for the start of the international preliminary examination; or

(iii) six months from the date of receipt by the Examining Authority of the translation furnished under Rule 55.2 of the regulations under the Treaty, whichever expires last.]

64[19-M. Transmittal of the International Preliminary Examination Report. The Examining Authority shall transmit one copy of the International Preliminary Examination Report and its annexures, if any, to the International Bureau, and one copy to the applicant, on the same day.]

65[19-N. Conditions for and extent of refund. The fee paid by the applicant may be refunded, waived or reduced to the extent and in accordance with the conditions specified in the Treaty or the regulations under the Treaty and the agreement entered between the Indian Patent Office and the International Bureau.]

66[(1) An application corresponding to an international application filed under Patent Cooperation Treaty may be made in Form, 1 under sub-section (1-A) of Section 7.

Explanation. For the purpose of this rule, an application corresponding to an international application means an international application as filed under Patent Cooperation Treaty which includes any amendments made by the applicant under Article 19 and communicated to Designated Office under Article 20 or any amendment made under sub-clause (b) of clause (2) of Article 34 of the Treaty:

Provided that the applicant, while filing such application corresponding to an international application designating India, may delete a claim, in accordance with the provisions contained in Rule 14.]

(2) The Patent Office shall not commence processing of an application filed corresponding to international application designating India before the expiration of the time-limit prescribed under sub-rule (4) 67[(i)].

(3) An applicant in respect of an international application designating India shall, before the time-limit prescribed in sub-rule (4) 68[(i)],

(a) pay the prescribed national fee and other fees to the patent office in the manner prescribed under these rules and under the regulations made under the Treaty;

(b) and where the international application was either not filed or has not been published in English, file with the patent office, a translation of the application in English, duly verified by the applicant 69[or the person duly authorized by him] that the contents thereof are correct and complete.

70[(4)(i) The time limit referred to in sub-rule (2) shall be thirty-one months from the priority date as referred to in Article 2(xi);

(ii) Notwithstanding anything contained in clause (i), the Patent Office may, on the express request filed in Form, 18 along with the fee specified in First Schedule, process or examine the application at any time before thirty-one months.]

(5) The translation of the international application referred to in sub-rule (3) shall include a translation in English of,

(i) the description;

(ii) the claims as filed;

(iii) any text matter of the drawings;

(iv) the abstract;

(v) in case the applicant has not elected India and if the claims have been amended under Article 19, then the amended claims together with any statement filed under the said Article; and

(vi) in case the applicant has elected India and any amendments to the description, the claims and text matter of the drawings that are annexed to the international preliminary examination report.

(6) If the applicant fails to file a translation of the amended claims and annexures referred to in sub-rule (5), even after invitation from the appropriate office to do so, within a time-limit as may be fixed by that office having regard to the time left for meeting the requirements, the amended claims and annexures shall be disregarded in the course of further processing the application by the appropriate office.

(7) The applicant in respect of an international application designating India shall when complying with sub-rule (3), preferably use forms set out in the Second Schedule before the appropriate office as designated office.

(1) Where the applicant in respect of an international application designating India has not complied with the requirements of paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) of Rule 17.1 of the regulations under the Treaty, the applicant shall file with the patent office the priority document referred to in that rule before the expiration of the time-limit referred to in sub-rule (4) of Rule 20.

(2) Where priority document referred to in sub-rule (1) is not in the English language, an English translation thereof duly verified by the applicant 71[or the person duly authorized by him] shall be filed within the time limit specified in sub-rule (4) of Rule 20.

(3) Where the applicant does not comply with the requirements of sub-rule (1) sub-rule (2), the appropriate office shall invite the applicant to file the priority document or the translation thereof, as the case may be, within three months from the date of such invitation, and if the applicant fails to do so, the claim of applicant for the priority shall be disregarded for the purposes of the Act.

An international application designating India shall be deemed to be withdrawn if the applicant does not comply with the requirements of Rule 20.

(1) The provisions of this Chapter shall be supplemental to the PCT and the regulation and the administrative instructions made thereunder.

(2) In case of a conflict between any provisions of the rules contained in this Chapter and provisions of the Treaty and the regulations and the administrative instructions made thereunder, the provisions of the Treaty and the regulations and administrative instructions made thereunder shall apply in relation to international applications.

PUBLICATION AND EXAMINATION OF APPLICATIONS

72[The period for which an application for patent shall not ordinarily be open to public under sub-section (1) of Section 11-A shall be eighteen months from the date of filing of application or the date of priority of the application, whichever is earlier:

73[Provided that the period within which the Controller shall publish the application in the Journal shall ordinarily be one month from the date of expiry of said period, or one month from the date of request for publication under Rule 24-A.]

24-A. Request for publication. A request for publication under sub-section (2) of Section 11-A shall be made in Form, 9.

24-B. Examination of application. (1)(i) A request for examination under Section 11-B shall be made in Form, 18 74[within forty-eight months] from the date of priority of the application or from the date of filing of the application, whichever is earlier;

75[(ii) The period within which the request for examination under sub-section (3) of Section 11-B to be made shall be forty-eight months from the date of priority, if applicable, or forty-eight months from the date of filing of the application;]

76[(iii) The request for examination under sub-section (4) of Section 11-B shall be made within forty-eight months from the date of priority or from the date of filing of the application, or within six months from the date of revocation of the secrecy direction, whichever is later;]

77[(iv) The request for examination of application as filed according to the Explanation under sub-section (3) of Section 16 shall be made within forty-eight months from the date of filing of the application or from the date of priority of the first mentioned application or within six months from the date of filing of the further application, whichever is later;]

(v) The period for making request for examination under Section 11-B, of the applications filed before the 1st day of January, 2005 shall be the 78[the period specified under the Section 11-B before the commencement of the Patents (Amendment) Act, 2005 or] the period specified under these rules, whichever expires later.

(2) 79[(i) Where the request for examination has been filed under sub-rule (1) and application has been published under Section 11-A, the Controller shall refer the application, specification and other documents related thereto to the examiner and such reference shall be made in the order in which the request is filed:

Provided that in case of a further application filed under Section 16, the order of reference of such further application shall be the same as that of the first mentioned application:

Provided further that in case the first mentioned application has already been referred for examination, the further application shall have to be accompanied by a request for examination, and such further application shall be published within one month and be referred to the examiner within one month from the date of such publication.]

(ii) The period within which the examiner shall make the report under sub-section (2) of Section 12, shall ordinarily be one month but not exceeding three months from the date of reference of the application to him by the Controller.

80[(iii) the period within which the Controller shall dispose of the report of the examiner shall ordinarily be one month from the date of the receipt of such report by the Controller.]

81[(3) A first statement of objections, along with any documents as may be required, shall be issued by the Controller to the applicant or his authorised agent within one month from the date of disposal of the report of Examiner by the Controller:

Provided that where the request for examination was filed by a person interested, only an intimation of such examination may be sent to such person interested.

(4) Reply to the first statement of objections and subsequent reply, if any, shall be processed in the order in which such reply is received.

(5) The time for putting an application in order for grant under Section 21 shall be six months from the date on which the first statement of objections is issued to the applicant to comply with the requirements.

(6) The time for putting an application in order for grant under Section 21 as prescribed under sub-rule (5) may be further extended for a period of three months on a request in Form, 4 for extension of time along with prescribed fee, made to the Controller before expiry of the period specified under sub-rule (5).]

82[24-C. Expedited examination of applications. (1) An applicant may file a request for expedited examination in Form, 18-A along with the fee as specified in the first schedule only by electronic transmission duly authenticated within the period prescribed in Rule 24-B on any of the following grounds, namely

(a) that India has been indicated as the competent International Searching Authority or elected as an International Preliminary Examining Authority in the corresponding international application; or

83[(b) that the applicant is a startup; or]

84[(c) that the applicant is a small entity; or

(d) that if the applicant is a natural person or in the case of joint applicants, all the applicants are natural persons, then the applicant or at least one of the applicants is a female; or

(e) that the applicant is a department of the Government; or

(f) that the applicant is an institution established by a Central, Provincial or State Act, which is owned or controlled by the Government; or

(g) that the applicant is a Government company as defined in clause (45) of Section 2 of the Companies Act, 2013 (18 of 2013); or

(h) that the applicant is an institution wholly or substantially financed by the Government;

Explanation. For the purpose of this clause, the term substantially financed shall have the same meaning as in the Explanation to sub-section (1) of Section 14 of the Comptroller and Auditor General's (Duties, Powers and Conditions of Service) Act, 1971(56 of 1971); or

(i) that the application pertains to a sector which is notified by the Central Government on the basis of a request from the head of a department of the Central Government.:

Provided that public comments are invited before any such notification; or

(j) that the applicant is eligible under an arrangement for processing a patent application pursuant to an agreement between Indian Patent Office and a foreign Patent Office.

Explanation. The patentability of patent applications filed under clause (j) above will be in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Act.]

(2) A request for examination filed under Rule 24-B may be converted to a request for expedited examination under sub-rule (1) of Rule 24-C by paying the relevant fees and submitting requisite documents as required under sub-rule (1).

(3) Except where the application has already been published under sub-section (2) of Section 11-A or a request for publication under Rule 24-A has already been filed, a request for expedited examination shall be accompanied by a request for publication under Rule 24-A.

(4) Where the request for expedited examination does not comply with the requirements of this rule, such a request shall be processed in accordance with the provisions contained in Rule 24-B, with an intimation to the applicant, and shall be deemed to have been filed on the date on which the request for expedited examination was filed.

(5) The Controller shall refer the request for expedited examination along with the application and specification and other documents to the examiner, in respect of the applications where the request for expedited examination has been received, in the order of filing of such requests:

Provided that a request for expedited examination under this rule filed by a start-up shall not be questioned merely on the ground that the start-up ceased to be a start-up after having filed an application for patent due to the lapse of more than five years from the date of its incorporation or registration, or the turnover subsequently crossed the financial threshold limit, as defined.

(6) The period within which the examiner shall make the report under sub-section (2) of Section 12, shall ordinarily be one month but not exceeding two months from the date of reference of the application to him by the Controller.

(7) The period within which the Controller shall dispose of the report of the examiner shall be one month from the date of receipt of such report by the Controller.

(8) A first statement of objections along with any document, if required, shall be issued by the Controller to the applicant or his authorised agent within fifteen days from the date of disposal of the report of examiner by the Controller.

(9) Reply to the first statement of objections and subsequent reply, if any, in respect of an application where the request for expedited examination was filed, shall be processed in the order in which such reply for such application is received.

(10) The time for putting an application in order for grant under Section 21 shall be six months from the date on which the first statement of objections is issued to the applicant.

(11) The time for putting an application in order for grant under Section 21, as prescribed in sub-rule (10) may be further extended for a period of three months on a request for extension made in Form, 4 along with the prescribed fee, made to the Controller before the expiry of the period specified under sub-rule (10).

(12) The Controller shall dispose of the application within a period of three months from the date of receipt of the last reply to the first statement of objections or within a period of three months from the last date to put the application in order for grant under Section 21 of the Act, whichever is earlier:

Provided that this time limit shall not be applicable in case of pre-grant opposition.

(13) Notwithstanding anything contained this rule, the Controller may limit the number of requests for expedited examination to be received during the year by way of a notice to be published in the official journal.]

Publication of application under sub-sections (2) and (5) of Section 11-A shall be identified by the letter A along with the number of application.

85[26. A request for withdrawing the application under sub-section (4) of Section 11-B shall be made in Form, 29.]

86[After the date of publication of the application under Section 11-A, the application together with the complete specification and provisional specification, if any, the drawing, if any, 87[the abstract and any other document] filed in respect of the application may be inspected at the appropriate office by making a written request to the Controller on payment of the fee in that behalf and copies thereof may be obtained on payment of fees specified in the First Schedule.]

(1) If the Controller is satisfied after investigation under Section 13 that the invention so far as claimed in any claim of the complete specification has been published in any specification or other document referred to in clause (a) of sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) of the said section, the Controller shall communicate the gist of specific objections and the basis thereof to the applicant and the applicant shall be afforded an opportunity to amend his specification.

(2) If the applicant contests any of the objections communicated to him by the Controller under sub-rule (1), or if he refiles his specification along with his observations as to whether or not the specification is to be amended, he shall be given an opportunity to be heard in the matter if he so requests:

Provided that such request shall be made on a date earlier than ten days of the final date of the period 88[referred to] under sub-section (1) of Section 21:

Provided further that a request for hearing may be allowed to be filed within such shorter period as the Controller may deem fit in the circumstances of the case.

(3) If the applicant requests for a hearing under sub-rule (2) within a period of one month from the date of communication of the gist of objections, or, the Controller, considers it desirable to do so, whether or not the applicant has refiled his application, he shall forthwith fix a date and time for hearing having regard to the period remaining for putting the application in order or to the other circumstances of the case.

(4) The applicant shall be given ten days' notice of any such hearing or such shorter notice as appears to the Controller to be reasonable in the circumstances of the case and the applicant shall, as soon as possible, notify the Controller whether he will attend the hearing.

(5) After hearing the applicant, or without a hearing if the applicant has not attended or has notified that he does not desire to be heard, the Controller may specify or permit such amendment of the specification as he thinks fit to be made and may refuse to 89[grant the patent] unless the amendment so specified or permitted is made within such period as may be fixed.

90[(6) The hearing may also be held through video-conferencing or audio-visual communication devices:

Provided that such hearing shall be deemed to have taken place at the appropriate office.

Explanation. For the purposes of this rule, the expression communication device shall have the same meaning as assigned to it in clause (ha) of sub-section (1) of Section 2 of the Information Technology Act, 2000 (21 of 2000).

(7) In all cases of hearing, written submissions and the relevant documents, if any, shall be filed within fifteen days from the date of hearing.]

91[28-A. Procedure in relation to consideration of report of examiner under Section 14. In case the applicant contests any of the objections communicated to him, the procedure specified under Rule 28 may apply.]

(1) When it is found that the invention so far as claimed in any claim of the complete specification, is claimed in any claim of any other specification falling within clause (b) of sub-section (1) of Section 13, the applicant shall be so informed and shall be afforded an opportunity to amend his specification.

92[(2) If the applicant's specification is otherwise in order for grant and an objection under clause (b) of sub-section (1) of Section 13 is outstanding, the Controller may postpone the grant of patent and allow a period of two months for removing the objection.]

(1) If the applicant so requests at any time, or if the Controller is satisfied that the objection has not been removed within the period referred to in sub-clause (2) of Rule 29, a date for hearing the applicant shall be fixed forthwith and the applicant shall be given at least ten days' notice of the date so fixed. The applicant shall, as soon as possible, notify the Controller whether he will attend the hearing.

(2) After hearing the applicant, or without a hearing if the applicant has not attended or has notified that he does not desire to be heard, the Controller may specify or permit such amendment of the specification as will be to his satisfaction to be made and may direct that reference to such other specification, as he shall mention shall be inserted in the applicant's specification unless the amendment is made or agreed to within such period as he may fix.

When in pursuance of Rule 30, the Controller directs that a reference to another specification shall be inserted in the applicant's complete specification, such reference shall be inserted after the claims and shall be in the following form, namely:

Reference has been directed, in pursuance of Section 18(2) of the Patents Act, 1970, to the specification filed in pursuance of application No. ..

If in consequence of an investigation made under Section 13 93[* * *], it appears to the Controller that the applicant's invention cannot be performed without substantial risk of infringement of a claim of another patent, the applicant shall be so informed and the procedure provided in Rule 29 shall, so far as may be necessary, be applicable.

Where the Controller directs that a reference to another patent shall be inserted in the applicant's complete specification under sub-section (1) of Section 19, such reference shall be inserted after the claims in the following form, namely

Reference has been directed, in pursuance of Section 19(1) of the Patents Act, 1970, to Patent No. ..

(1) A claim under sub-section (1) of Section 20 shall be made in Form, 6.

(2) The original assignment or agreement or an official copy or notarised copy thereof shall also be produced for the Controller's inspection and the Controller may call for such other proof of title or written consent as he may require.

(1) A request under sub-section (4) of Section 20 shall be made in Form, 6.

(2) The request shall be accompanied by proof of death of the joint applicant and a certified copy of the probate of the will of the deceased or letters of administration in respect of his estate or any other document to prove that the person who gives the consent is the legal representative of the deceased applicant.

(1) An application under sub-section (5) of Section 20 shall be made in Form, 6 in duplicate and shall be accompanied by a statement setting out fully the facts upon which the applicant relies and the directions which he seeks.

(2) A copy of the application and statement shall be sent by the Controller to every other joint applicant.

94[On the grant of a patent, the application shall be accorded a number (called serial number) in the series of numbers accorded to patents under the Indian Patents and Designs Act, 1911 (2 of 1911) which shall be the number of the patent so granted.]

95[* * *]

96[Chapter V]

97[OPPOSITION PROCEEDINGS TO GRANT OF PATENT]

98[55. 99[Opposition to the patent]. 100[(1) Representation for opposition under sub-section (1) of Section 25 shall be filed in Form, 7(A) at the appropriate office with a copy to the applicant, and shall include a statement and evidence, if any, in support of the representation and a request for hearing, if so desired.]

(1-A) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-rule (1), no patent shall be granted before the expiry of a period of six months from the date of publication of the application under Section 11-A.]

(2) The Controller shall consider such representation only when a request for examination of the application has been filed.

101[(3) On consideration of the representation if the Controller is of the opinion that application for patent shall be refused or the complete specification requires amendment, he shall give a notice to the applicant to that effect.

(4) On receiving the notice under sub-rule (3), the applicant shall, if he so desires, file his statement and evidence, if any, in support of his application within three months from the date of the notice, with a copy to the opponent.

(5) On consideration of the statement and evidence filed by the applicant, the representation including the statement and evidence filed by the opponent, submissions made by the parties, and after hearing the parties, if so requested, the Controller may either reject the representation or require the complete specification and other documents to be amended to his satisfaction before the patent is granted or refuse to grant a patent on the application, by passing a speaking order to simultaneously decide on the application and the representation ordinarily within one month from the completion of above proceedings.]

(6) 102[* * *]

55-A. Filing of notice of opposition. The notice of opposition to be given under 103[sub-section (2) of Section 25] shall be made in Form, 7 and sent to the Controller in duplicate at the appropriate office.

56. Constitution of Opposition Board and its proceeding. (1) On receipt of 104[notice of opposition under Rule 55-A], the Controller shall, by order, constitute an Opposition Board consisting of three members and nominate one of the members as the Chairman of the Board.

(2) An examiner appointed under sub-section (2) of Section 73 shall be eligible to be a member of the Opposition Board.

(3) The examiner, who has dealt with the application for patent during the proceeding for grant of patent thereon shall not be eligible as member of Opposition Board as specified in sub-rule (2) for that application.

(4) The Opposition Board shall conduct the examination of the notice of opposition along with documents filed under Rules, 57 to 60 referred to under 105[sub-section (3) of Section 25], submit a report with reasons on each ground taken in the notice of opposition with its joint recommendation within three months from the date on which the documents were forwarded to them.

57. Filing of written statement of opposition and evidence. The opponent shall send a written statement in duplicate setting out the nature of the opponent's interest, the facts upon which he bases his case and relief which he seeks and evidence, if any, along with notice of opposition and shall deliver to the patentee a copy of the statement and the evidence, if any.]

58. Filing of reply statement and evidence. (1) If the 106[patentee] desires to contest the opposition, he shall leave at the appropriate office a reply statement setting out fully the grounds upon which the opposition is contested and evidence if any, in support of his case within a period of two months from the date of receipt of the copy of the written statement and opponent's evidence, if any by him under Rule 57 and deliver to the opponent a copy thereof.

107[(2) If the patentee does not desire to contest or leave his reply and evidence within the period as specified in sub-rule (1), the patent shall be deemed to have been revoked.]

59. Filing of reply evidence by opponent. The opponent may, within one month from the date of delivery to him of a copy of the 108[patentee's] reply statement and evidence under Rule 58, leave at the appropriate office evidence in reply strictly confined to matters in the 109[patentee's] evidence and shall deliver to the 110[patentee] a copy of such evidence.

60. Further evidence to be left with the leave of the Controller. No further evidence shall be delivered by either party except with the leave or directions of the Controller:

Provided that such leave or direction is prayed before the Controller has fixed the hearing under Rule 62.

61. Copies of documents to be supplied. (1) Copies of all documents referred to in the notice of opposition or in any statement or evidence filed in connection with the opposition and authenticated to the satisfaction of the Controller, shall be simultaneously furnished in duplicate unless the Controller otherwise directs.

(2) Where a specification or other document in a language other than English is referred to in the notice, statement or evidence, an attested translation thereof, in duplicate, in English shall be furnished along with such notice, statement or evidence, as the case may be.

62. Hearing. 111[(1) On the completion of the presentation of evidence, if any, and on receiving the recommendation of Opposition Board or at such other time as the Controller may think fit, he shall fix a date and time for the hearing of the opposition and shall give the parties not less than ten days' notice of such hearing and may require members of Opposition Board to be present in the hearing.]

(2) If either party to the proceeding desires to be heard, he shall inform the Controller by a notice along with the fee as specified in the First Schedule.

(3) The Controller may refuse to hear any party who has not given notice under sub-rule (2).

(4) If either party intends to rely on any publication at the hearing not already mentioned in the notice, statement or evidence, he shall give to the other party and to the Controller not less than five days' notice of his intention, together with details of such publication.

112[(5) After hearing the party or parties desirous of being heard, or if neither party desires to be heard, then without a hearing, and after taking into consideration the recommendation of Opposition Board, the Controller shall decide the opposition and notify his decision to the parties giving reasons therefor.]

113[63. Determination of costs. If the patentee notifies the Controller that he desires to withdraw the patent after notice of opposition is given, the Controller, depending on the merits of the case, may decide whether costs should be awarded to the opponent.]

114[63-A. Request made under Section 26(1). Request under Section 26(1) shall be made on Form 12 within three months from the date of the order of the Controller and shall be accompanied by a statement setting out the facts upon which the petitioner relies and relief he claims.]

64. Time within which complete specification is to be amended under Section 27. 115[* * *]

65. Procedure to be followed. 116[* * *]

66. Form of making a request under Section 28(2). A request under sub-section (2) of Section 28 shall be made in Form 8.

67. Form of making a claim under Section 28(3). (1) A claim under sub-section (3) of Section 28 shall be made in Form 8, and shall be accompanied by a statement setting out the circumstances under which the claim is made.

(2) A copy of the claim and the statement shall be sent by the Controller to every applicant for the patent (not being the claimant) and to any other person whom the Controller may consider to be interested.

68. Form of application to be made under Section 28(7). (1) An application under sub-section (7) of Section 28 shall be made in Form 8 and shall be accompanied by a statement setting out the circumstances under which the application is made.

(2) A copy of the application and the statement shall be sent by the Controller to each patentee or the applicant for patent, as the case may be, and to any other person whom the Controller may consider to be interested.

117[69. Procedure for the hearing of claim or an application under Section 28. The procedure specified in Rules 55-A and 57 to 63 relating to the filing of notice of opposition, written statement, reply statement, leaving evidence, hearing and cost shall, so far as may be, apply to the hearing of a claim or an application under Section 28 as they apply to the opposition proceedings subject to the modification that reference to patentee shall be construed as the person making the claim, or an application, as the case may be.]

70. Mention of inventor. Any mention of the inventor under sub-section (1) of Section 28 shall be made in the relevant documents in the following form, namely:

The inventor of this invention/substantial part of this invention within the meaning of Section 28 of the Patents Act, 1970, is . of .

SECRECY DIRECTIONS

118[71. Permission for making patent application outside India under Section 39. (1) The request for permission for making patent application outside India shall be made in Form 25.

119[(2) The Controller shall dispose of the request made under sub-rule (1) within a period of twenty-one days from the date of filing of such request:

Provided that in case of inventions relating to defence or atomic energy, the period of twenty-one days shall be counted from the date of receipt of consent from the Central Government.]

72. Communication of result of reconsideration under Section 36(2). (1) The result of every reconsideration under sub-section (1) of Section 36 shall be communicated to the applicant for patent within fifteen days of the receipt of the notice by the Controller.

(2) Extension of time on revocation of secrecy directions under Section 38. The extension of time to be given for doing anything required or authorised to be done under Section 38 shall not exceed the period for which directions given by the Central Government under sub-section (1) of Section 35 were in force.

120[GRANT] OF PATENTS

73. Sealing of patents. 121[* * *]

122[74. Form of patent. (1) A patent shall be in the form as specified in the Third Schedule with such modifications as the circumstances of each case may require and shall bear the number accorded to the application under Rule 37.

(2) The patent certificate shall ordinarily be issued within seven days from the date of grant of patent under Section 43.]

123[74-A. Inspection of documents related to grant of patent. After the date of publication of a grant of a patent, the application together with the complete specification and provisional specification, if any, the drawing if any, abstract and other documents related thereto may be inspected at the appropriate office by making a written request to the Controller and on payment of fee and may obtain copies on payment of fee specified in the First Schedule.]

75. Amendment of patent under Section 44. An application under Section 44 for the amendment of a patent shall be made in Form 10 along with substantiating evidence and be accompanied by the patent.

76. Manner of applying for direction under Section 51(1). An application for directions under sub-section (1) of Section 51 shall be made in Form 11 and shall be accompanied by a statement setting out the facts upon which the applicant relies.

(2) A copy of the application and of the statement shall be sent by the Controller to every other person registered as grantee or proprietor of the patent.

77. Manner of application under Section 51(2). (1) An application for directions under sub-section (2) of Section 51 shall be made in Form 11 and shall be accompanied by a statement setting out the facts upon which the applicant relies.

(2) A copy of the application and statement shall be sent by the Controller to the person in default.

124[78. Procedure for the hearing of proceedings under Section 51. The procedure specified in Rules 55-A and 57 to 63 relating to the filing of notice of opposition, written statement, reply statement, leaving evidence, hearing and costs shall, so far as may be, apply to the hearing of an application under Section 51 as they apply to the hearing of an opposition proceeding.]

79. Request under Section 52(2). (1) A request under sub-section (2) of Section 52 shall be made in Form 12 within three months from the date of the order of the 125[Appellate Board or] court referred to in sub-section (1) of the said section and shall be accompanied by a statement setting out the facts upon which the petitioner relies and the relief he claims and a certified copy of the order of the 126[Appellate Board or] court.

(2) Where the 127[Appellate Board or] court has ordered the grant of patent to the applicant only for a part of the invention, the new patent granted shall be accorded a number in the same series of numbers accorded to the complete specifications accepted on the same day as the patent is granted.

80. Renewal fees under Section 53. (1) To keep a patent in force, the renewal fees specified in the First Schedule shall be payable at the expiration of the second year from the date of the patent or of any succeeding year and the same shall be remitted to the patent office before the expiration of the second or the succeeding year.

128[(1-A) The period for payment of renewal fees so specified in sub-rule (1) may be extended to such period not being more than six months if the request for such extension of time is made in Form 4 with the fee specified in the First Schedule.]

(2) While paying the renewal fee, the number and date of the patent concerned and the year in respect of which the fee is paid shall be quoted.

(3) The annual renewal fees payable in respect of two or more years may be paid in advance.

(4) The Controller shall, after making such enquiry as he may deem necessary, credit any renewal fee and issue a certificate that the fee has been paid.

AMENDMENT OF APPLICATION, SPECIFICATION OR ANY DOCUMENT RELATING THERETO

81. Amendment of application, specification or any document relating thereto. (1) An application under Section 57 for the amendment of an application for a patent or a complete specification or any document related thereto shall be made in Form 13.

(2) If the application for amendment under sub-rule (1) relates to an application for a patent which has not been 129[granted], the Controller shall determine whether and subject to what conditions, if any, the amendment shall be allowed.

130[3(a) If the application for amendment under sub-rule (1) is made after grant of patent and the nature of the proposed amendment is substantive, the application shall be published.

(b) Any person interested in opposing the application for amendment shall give a notice of opposition in Form 14 within three months from the date of publication of the application.

(c) The procedure specified in Rules 57 to 63 relating to the filing of written statement, reply statement, leaving evidence, hearing and costs shall, so far as may be, apply to the hearing of the opposition under Section 57 as they apply to the hearing of an opposition proceeding.]

82. Preparation of amendment specifications, etc. Where the Controller allows the application for a patent or the complete specification or any other document to be amended, the applicant shall, if the Controller so requires and within the time to be specified by him, leave at the appropriate office an amended application or the specification or the other document, as the case may be, in accordance with the provisions of these rules.

131[83. Publication of the amendment allowed. The amendments allowed after a patent has been granted, shall be published.]

RESTORATION OF PATENTS

84. Restoration of patents. (1) An application for the restoration of a patent under Section 60 shall be made in Form 15.

(2) Where the Controller is satisfied that a prima facie case for the restoration of any patent has not been made out, he shall intimate the applicant accordingly and unless the applicant makes a request to be heard in the matter within one month from the date of such intimation the Controller shall refuse the application.

(3) Where applicant requests for a hearing within the time allowed and the Controller, after giving the applicant such a hearing, is prima facie satisfied that the failure to pay the renewal fees was unintentional, he shall 132[publish the application].

133[85. Opposition to restoration under Section 61. (1) At any time, within two months from the date of publication of the application under sub-rule (3) of Rule 84, any person interested may give notice of opposition thereto in Form 14.

(2) A copy of the notice of opposition shall be sent by the Controller to the applicant.

(3) The procedure specified in Rules 57 to 63 relating to the filing of written statement, reply statement, leaving evidence, hearing and costs shall, so far as may be, apply to the hearing of the opposition under Section 60 as they apply to the hearing in the opposition proceeding.]

86. Payment of unpaid renewal fees. (1) Where the Controller decides in favour of the applicant, the applicant shall pay the unpaid renewal fees and the additional fee specified in the First Schedule, within a month from the date of the order of the Controller allowing the application for restoration.

(2) The Controller shall 134[publish his decision.]

SURRENDER OF PATENTS

135[87. Surrender of Patents. (1) The Controller shall publish the notice of an offer given under Section 63.

(2) Any person interested may, within three months from the date of publication of the notice, give notice of opposition to the Controller in Form 14 in duplicate.

(3) The procedure specified in Rules 57 to 63 relating to the filing of written statement, reply statement, leaving evidence, hearing and costs shall, so far as may be, apply to the hearing of the opposition under Section 63 as they apply to the hearing in opposition proceeding.

(4) If the Controller accepts the patentee's offer to surrender the patent, he may direct the patentee to return the patent, and on receipt of such patent, the Controller shall by order revoke it and publish the revocation of the patent.]

REGISTER OF PATENTS

88. Register of patents under Section 67. (1) Upon the 136[grant] of a patent, the Controller shall enter in the register of patents at each appropriate office, the name, address and nationality of the grantee as the patentee thereof, the title of the invention (including the categories to which the invention relates), the date of the patent and the date of 137[grant] thereof together with the address for service of the patentee.

(2) The Controller shall also enter in the register of patents particulars regarding proceedings under the Act before the Controller or 138[Appellate Board or] the courts in respect of every patent.

(3) Where the register of patents or any part thereof is in computer floppies, diskettes or any other electronic form it shall be maintained and accessed only by the person who is duly authorised by the Controller and no entry or alteration of any entry or rectification of any entry in the said register shall be made by any person who is not so authorised by the Controller.

89. Registration of documents under Section 68. 139[* * *]

90. Registration of title and interest in patents. (1) An application referred to in sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) of Section 69 shall be made in 140[Form 16].

(2) An application for an entry in the register of patents of any other document purporting to affect the proprietorship of the patent by the person benefiting under the document shall be made in 141[Form 16].

91. Presentation of assignment, etc. of patent to Controller. Every assignment and every other document giving effect to or being evidence of the transfer of a patent or affecting the proprietorship thereof or creating an interest therein as claimed in such application, shall, unless the Controller otherwise directs, be presented to him together with the application which shall be accompanied by two copies of the assignment or other document certified to be true copies by the applicant or his agent and the Controller may call for such other proof of title or written consent as he may require.

92. Registration of title or interest in a patent. After the receipt of an application under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) of Section 69, the controller shall register the title of the person concerned or his interest in a patent, as the case may be, and an entry in the following form shall be made in the register, namely:

In pursuance of an application received on the

Proprietor Assignment

registered as licencee by virtue of licence

Mortgagee, etc. Mortgage deed, etc.

dated and made between

of the one part and of the other part .

142[93. Entry of Renewal fee. Upon receipt of the payment of the prescribed renewal fee in respect of a patent, the Controller shall enter in the register of patents the fact that the fee has been paid and the date of payment of such fee and issue a certificate of renewal of the patent.]

94. Alteration of address. (1) A patentee may make a request in writing along with fee payable to the Controller for the alteration of his name, nationality, address or address for service as entered in the register of patents in respect of any patent granted to him. The Controller may require such proof of the alteration as he may think fit before acting on a request to alter the name or nationality.

(2) If the Controller allows a request made under sub-rule (1), he shall cause the entries in the register to be altered accordingly.

(3) If a patentee makes a request in writing along with fee payable for entering an additional address for service in India and if the Controller is satisfied that the request should be allowed, he shall have the additional address for service entered in the register.

95. Inspection of register of patents under Section 72 and fees payable therefor. (1) The register of patents shall be open for public inspection during office hours on payment of the fees specified therefor in the First Schedule.

(2) When register of patents or any part thereof is in computer floppies, diskettes or any other electronic form the person authorised by the Controller under sub-rule (3) of Rule 88 shall provide access to the computer floppies, diskettes or other electronic form or printouts of the records thereof.

COMPULSORY LICENCE AND REVOCATION OF PATENT

143[96. Application for compulsory licence etc. An application to the Controller for an order under Section 84, Section 85, Section 91 or Section 92 or Section 92-A shall be in Form 17, or Form 19, as the case may be. Except in the case of an application made by the Central Government, the application shall set out the nature of the applicant's interest and terms and conditions of the licence the applicant is willing to accept.]

97. When a prima facie case is not made out. (1) If, upon consideration of the evidence, the Controller is satisfied that a prima facie case has not been made out for the making of an order under any of the sections referred to in Rule 96, he shall notify the applicant accordingly, and unless the applicant requests to be heard in the matter, within one month from the date of such notification, the Controller shall refuse the application.

(2) If the applicant requests for a hearing within the time allowed under sub-rule (1), the Controller shall, after giving the applicant an opportunity of being heard, determine whether the application may be proceeded with or whether it shall be refused.

98. Notice of opposition under Section 87(2). (1) A notice of opposition under sub-section (2) of Section 87 shall be given in Form 14 and shall be sent to the Controller within two months from the date of the 144[publication] of the application under sub-section (1) of the said section.

(2) The notice of opposition referred to in sub-rule (1) shall include the terms and conditions of the licence, if any, the opponent is prepared to grant to the applicant and shall be accompanied by evidence in support of the opposition.

(3) The opponent shall serve a copy of his notice of opposition and evidence on the applicant and notify the Controller when such service has been effected.

(4) No further statement or evidence shall be delivered by either party except with the leave of or on requisition by the Controller.

(5) The Controller shall forthwith fix a date and time for the hearing of the case and shall give the parties not less then ten days' notice of such hearing.

(6) The procedure specified in sub-rules (2) to (5) of Rule 62, shall, so far as may be, apply to the procedure for hearing under this rule as they apply to the hearing 145[in opposition proceedings].

146[99. Manner of publication of the revocation order. The Controller shall publish the order made by him under sub-section (3) of Section 85 revoking a patent.]

100. Application under Section 88(4). (1) An application under sub-section (4) of Section 88 for the revision of the terms and conditions of a licence which have been settled by the Controller shall be in 147[Form 20] and shall state the facts relied upon by the applicant and the relief he seeks and shall be accompanied by evidence in support of the application.

(2) If the Controller is satisfied that a prima facie case has not been made out for the revision of the terms and conditions of the licence, he may notify the applicant accordingly and unless within a month the applicant requests to be heard in the matter, the Controller may refuse the application.

(3) The Controller, after giving the applicant an opportunity of being heard, shall determine whether the application shall be proceeded with or whether the application shall be refused.

101. Procedure to be followed in case of applications under Section 88(4). (1) If the Controller allows the application to be proceeded with, he shall direct the applicant to serve copies of the application and of the evidence in support thereof upon the patentee or any other person appearing in the register to be interested in the patent or upon any other person on whom, in his opinion, such copies should be so served.

(2) The applicant shall inform the Controller the date on which the service of copies of application and of the evidence on the patentee and other persons referred to in sub-rule (1) has been effected.

(3) The patentee or any other person on whom copies of the application and of the evidence have been served, may give to the Controller notice of opposition in Form 14 within one month from the date of such service. Such notice shall contain the grounds relied upon by the opponent and shall be accompanied by evidence in support of the opposition.

(4) The opponent shall serve copies of the notice of opposition and his evidence on the applicant and inform the Controller the date on which such service has been effected.

(5) No further evidence or statement shall be filed by either party except with special leave of or on requisition by the Controller.

(6) On completion of the above proceedings, the Controller shall forthwith fix a date and the time for the hearing of the case and shall give the parties not less than ten days' notice of such hearing.

(7) The procedure specified in sub-rules (2) to (5) of Rule 62 shall, so far as may be, apply to the procedure for hearing under this rule as they apply to the hearing 148[in opposition proceeding].

(8) If the Controller decides to revise the terms and conditions of licence he shall forthwith amend the licence granted to the applicant in such manner, as he may deem necessary.

102. Application for termination of compulsory licence under Section 94. (1) An application for termination of compulsory licence under Section 94(1) shall be made in 149[Form 21] by the patentee or any other person deriving title or interest in the patent. The application shall be accompanied by the evidence in support of the application.

(2) The applicant shall serve a copy of the application and evidence on the holder of the compulsory licence and shall inform the Controller the date on which the service has been effected.

(3) The holder of the compulsory licence may file his objection along with evidence, if any, to the application within one month from the date of receipt of the application and evidence by him to the Controller and serve a copy thereof to the applicant.

(4) No further evidence or statement shall be filed by either party except with special leave of or on requisition by the Controller.

(5) On completion of the above proceedings, the Controller shall forthwith fix a date and the time for the hearing of the case and shall give the parties not than ten days' notice of such hearing.

(6) The procedure specified in sub-rules (2) to (5) of Rule 62 so far as may be, apply to the procedure for hearing under this rule as they apply to the hearing 150[in opposition proceeding].

(7) If the Controller decides to terminate the compulsory licence he shall forthwith issue an order giving terms and conditions, if any, of such termination and serve copies of the order to both the parties.

SCIENTIFIC ADVISERS

103. Roll of scientific advisers. (1) The Controller shall maintain a roll of scientific advisers for the purpose of Section 115. The roll shall be updated annually. The roll shall contain the 151[names, addresses, specimen signatures and photographs] of scientific advisers, their designations, information regarding their educational qualifications, the disciplines of their specialisation and their technical, practical and research experience.

(2) A person shall be qualified to have his name entered in the roll of scientific advisers, if he

(i) holds a degree in science, engineering, technology or equivalent;

152[(ii) has at least fifteen years' technical, practical or research experience; and]

(iii) holds or has held a responsible post in a scientific or technical department of the Central or State Government or in any organisation.

153[103-A. Disqualifications for inclusion in the roll of scientific advisers. A person shall not be eligible to be included in the roll of scientific advisors, if he

(i) has been adjudged by a competent court to be of unsound mind;

(ii) is an undischarged insolvent;

(iii) being a discharged insolvent, has not obtained from the court a certificate to the effect that his insolvency was caused by misfortune without any misconduct on his part;

(iv) has been convicted by a competent court, whether within or outside India of an offence to undergo a term of imprisonment, unless the offence of which he has been convicted has been pardoned or unless on an application made by him, the Central Government has, by order in this behalf, removed the disability; or

(v) has been guilty of professional misconduct.]

154[104. Manner of application for inclusion in the roll of scientific advisers. Any interested person may apply to the Controller for inclusion of his name in the roll of scientific advisers by furnishing his bio-data.]

105. Inclusion of the name of any other person in the roll of scientific advisers. The Controller may, notwithstanding anything contained in Rules 103 and 104, enter the name of any person in the roll of scientific advisers, if he is of the opinion after such inquiry as he deems fit, that such person should be entered in the roll of scientific advisers.

106. Power to relax. Where the Controller is of the opinion that it is necessary or expedient so to do, he may, by order, for reasons to be recorded in writing, relax any of the qualifications specified in sub-rule (2) of Rule 103 with respect to any person, if such person is otherwise well qualified.

107. Removal of names from the roll of scientific advisers. The Controller may remove the name of any person from the roll of scientific advisers, if

(a) such person makes a request for such removal; or

(b) the Controller is satisfied that his name has been entered in the roll by error or on account of misrepresentation or suppression of any material fact; or

155[(c) such person has been convicted of an offence and sentenced to a term of imprisonment or has been guilty of misconduct in his professional capacity and the Controller is of the opinion that his name should be removed from the roll; or

(d) such person is dead:

Provided that except in the cases falling under clauses (a) and (d) above, before removing the name of any person from the roll of scientific advisers under this rule, such person shall be given a reasonable opportunity of being heard.]

PATENT AGENTS

108. Particulars to be contained in the register of patent agents. 156[(1) The register of patent agents maintained under Section 125 shall contain the name, nationality, address of the principal place of business, addresses of branch offices, if any, the qualifications, the date of registration of every registered patent agent and the details of their renewal of registration and any other particulars so specified by the Controller.]

(2) Where the register of patent agents is in computer floppies, diskettes or any other electronic form, it shall be maintained and accessed only by the person who is duly authorised by the Controller and no entry or alteration of any entry or rectification of any entry in the said register shall be made by any person who is not so authorised by the Controller.

157[(3)(i) Copies of register of patent agents shall be maintained in each of the branch offices;

(ii) The register of patent agents shall also contain specimen signatures and photographs of the persons registered as patent agents.]

109. Application for registration of patent agents. (1) Every person who desires to be registered as patent agent shall make an application in 158[Form 22].

(2) The applicant shall furnish such other information as may be required by the Controller.

159[(3) A person desirous to appear in the qualifying examination under Rule 110 shall make a request to the Controller along with the fee specified in the First Schedule after announcement of such examination and within the period as may be specified in the announcement.]

110. Particulars of the qualifying examination for patent agents. (1) The qualifying examination referred to in clause (c)(ii) of sub-section (1) of Section 126 shall consist of a written test and a viva voce examination.

(2) The qualifying examination shall consist of the following papers and marks, namely:

161[(3) A candidate shall be required to secure a minimum of fifty marks in Paper I and Paper II and shall be declared to have passed the examination only, if he obtains an aggregate of sixty per cent of the total marks.]

111. Registration of patent agents. After a candidate passes the qualifying examination specified in Rule 110 and after obtaining any further information which the Controller considers necessary he shall, on receipt of the fee specified therefor in the First Schedule, enter the candidate's name in the register of patent agents and issue to him a certificate of registration as a patent agent.

162[111-A. Issue of duplicate certificate of patent agents. The Controller may issue a duplicate certificate of registration as patent agent on a request made by the person so registered as patent agent along with fee specified in the First Schedule and contain a statement setting out the circumstances in which the original certificate issued under Rule 111 was lost, destroyed and can not be produced.]

112. Details to be included in an application for the registration of a patent agent. An application by a person entitled to be registered as a patent agent under sub-section (2) of Section 126 shall also be made in 163[Form 22].

113. Registration of patent agents under Section 126(2). On receipt of an application for the registration of a person as a patent agent under Rule 112, the Controller may, if he is satisfied that the said person fulfils the conditions specified in sub-section (2) of Section 126 enter his name in the register of patent agents.

114. Disqualifications for registration as a patent agent. A person shall not be eligible to be registered as a patent agent, if he

(i) has been adjudged by a competent court to be of unsound mind;

(ii) is an undischarged insolvent;

(iii) being a discharged insolvent, has not obtained from the court a certificate to the effect that his insolvency was caused by misfortune without any misconduct on his part;

(iv) has been convicted by a competent court, whether within or outside India of an offence to undergo a term of imprisonment, unless the offence of which he has been convicted has been pardoned or unless on an application made by him, the Central Government has, by order in this behalf, removed the disability;

(v) being a legal practitioner has been guilty of professional misconduct; or

(vi) being a chartered accountant, has been guilty of negligence or misconduct.

115. Payment of fees. The continuance of a person's name in the register of patent agents shall be subject to the payment of the fees specified therefor in the First Schedule.

116. Removal of a name from the register of patent agents. (1) The Controller may delete from the register of patent agents, the name of any patent agent

(a) from whom a request has been received to that effect; or

(b) when he is dead; or

(c) when the Controller has removed the name of a person under sub-section (1) of Section 130; or

164[(d) if he has defaulted in the payment of fees specified in Rule 115, by more than three months after they are due; or

(e) if he ceases to be a citizen of India:

Provided that except under clause (a) and (b), before removing the name of any person from the register of patent agents under this rule, such person shall be given a reasonable opportunity of being heard.]

(2) The removal of the name of any person from the register of patent agents shall be 165[published] and shall be, where relevant forthwith communicated to the person concerned.

117. Restoration of name of persons removed from the register of patent agents. (1) An application for the restoration of the name of any person removed from the register of patent agents under sub-section (2) of Section 130 shall be made in 166[Form 23] within two months from the date of such removal.

(2) If the name of a person is restored to the register of patent agents, his name shall be continued therein for a period of one year from the date on which his last annual fee became due.

167[(3) The restoration of a name to the register of patent agents shall be communicated to the patent agent and also published on the official website.]

118. Alteration of names etc. in the register of patent agents. 168[(1) A patent agent may apply for the alteration of his name, address of the principal place of business and branch offices, if any, or the qualifications entered in the register of patent agents, e-mail address, telephone number, fax number or any other particulars under sub-section (1) of Section 125. On receipt of such application and the fee specified therefor in the First Schedule for such request for alteration of particulars, the Controller shall cause the necessary alterations to be made in the register of patent agents.]

(2) Every alteration made in the register of patent agents shall be 169[published].

119. Refusal to recognise as patent agent. If the Controller is of the opinion that any person should not be recognised as a patent agent in respect of any business under the Act as provided in sub-section (1) of Section 131 thereof, he shall communicate his reasons to that person and direct him to show cause why he should not refuse to recognise him as such agent, within such time as he may allow, and after considering the reply, if any, of that person and giving him an opportunity of being heard, the Controller may pass such orders as he may deem fit.

120. Publication of the names of patent agents, registered under the Act. The names and addresses of persons registered as patent agents shall from time to time be published 170[* * *].

MISCELLANEOUS

171[121. Period within which copies of specification etc. are to be filed. The period within which copies of specification or corresponding documents to be filed by the applicant under sub-section (1) of Section 138 shall be three months from the date of communication by the Controller.

121-A. Address of communications. All communications in relation to any proceeding under the Act or these rules shall be addressed to the Controller at the appropriate office.]

122. Correction of clerical errors. A request for the correction of a clerical error in any document referred to in Section 78 shall be accompanied by a copy of the document highlighting the corrections clearly along with the fees payable therefor as specified in the First Schedule.

123. Manner of advertisement of the proposed correction of any error. Where the Controller requires a notice of the nature of the proposed correction to be advertised, the request and the nature of the proposed correction shall be published 172[* * *] and the person making the request shall also serve copies of the request and the copies of the document showing the proposed correction to such persons who, in the opinion of the Controller, may be interested.

124. Manner and time of opposition to the making of corrections. (1) Any person interested may, at any time, within three months from the date of the advertisement of the request for correction 173[* * *] give notice of opposition to the Controller in Form 14 in duplicate.

(2) Such notice of opposition shall be accompanied by a statement in duplicate setting out the nature of the opponent's interest, the facts on which he relies and the relief which he seeks.

(3) A copy of the notice and of the statement shall be sent by the Controller to the person making the request.

(4) The procedure specified in Rules 58 to 63 relating to the filing of reply statement, leaving evidence, hearing and costs shall, so far as may be, apply to the hearing of the opposition under Section 78 as they apply 174[in the hearing of the opposition proceeding].

125. Notification of corrections. The Controller shall notify the person making a request for the correction and the opponent, if any, of the corrections made in the relevant document.

126. Form, etc. of affidavits. (1) The affidavits required by the Act or these rules to be filed at the patent office or furnished to the Controller shall be duly sworn to in the manner as prescribed in sub-rule (3).

(2) Affidavits shall be confined to such facts as the deponent is able, of his own knowledge, to prove except in interlocutory matters, where statements of belief of the deponent may be admitted, provided that the grounds thereof are given.

(3) Affidavits shall be sworn to as follows:

(a) in India before any court or person having by law authority to receive evidence, or before any officer empowered by such court as aforesaid to administer oaths or to take affidavits;

(b) in any country or place outside India before a diplomatic or consular officer, within the meaning of the Diplomatic and Consular Officers (Oaths and Fees) Act, 1948 (41 of 1948) in such country or place or before a notary of the country or place, recognised by the Central Government under Section 14 of the Notaries Act, 1952 (53 of 1952), or before a Judge or Magistrate of the country or place.

(4) Alterations and interlineations shall, before an affidavit is sworn to or affirmed be authenticated by the initials of the person before whom the affidavit is sworn to.

127. Exhibits. Where there are exhibits to be filed in an opposition or any other proceedings, a copy or impression of each exhibit shall be supplied to the other party at his request and expense; if copies or impressions of the exhibits cannot conveniently be furnished, the originals shall be left with the Controller for inspection by the person interested by prior appointment. The exhibits in original if not already left with the Controller shall be produced at the hearing.

128. Directions not otherwise prescribed. (1) Where for the proper prosecution or completion of any proceedings under the Act or these rules, the Controller is of the opinion that it is necessary for a party to such proceedings to perform an act, file a document or produce evidence, for which provision has not been made in the Act or these rules, he may, by notice in writing, require such party to perform the act, file the document or produce the evidence specified in such notice.

(2) Where an applicant or a party to a proceeding desires to be heard or not heard, the Controller may, at any time, require him to submit his statement in writing giving such information as the Controller may deem necessary within the time specified by him.

175[129. Exercise of discretionary power by the Controller. Before exercising any discretionary power under the Act or these rules which is likely to affect an applicant for a patent or a party to a proceeding adversely, the Controller shall give such applicant or party, a hearing, after giving him or them, ten days notice of such hearing ordinarily.]

176[129-A. Adjournment of hearing. An applicant for patent or a party to a proceeding may make a request for adjournment of the hearing with reasonable cause along with the prescribed fee prescribed in First Schedule, at least three days before the date of hearing and the Controller, if he thinks fit to do so, and upon such terms as he may direct, may adjourn the hearing and intimate the parties accordingly:

Provided that no party shall be given more than two adjournments and each adjournment shall not be for more than thirty days.]

130. Application for review of decisions or setting aside of orders of the Controller. (1) An application to the Controller for the review of his decision under clause (f) of sub-section (1) of Section 77 shall be made in 177[Form 24] within one month from the date of communication of such decision to the applicant or within such further period not exceeding one month thereafter as the Controller may on a request made in Form 4 allow and shall be accompanied by a statement setting forth the grounds on which the review is sought. Where the decision in question concerns any other person in addition to the applicant, the Controller shall forthwith transmit a copy of each of the application and the statement to the other person concerned.

(2) An application to the Controller for setting aside an order passed by him ex parte under clause (g) of sub-section (1) of Section 77 shall be made in 178[Form 24] within one month from the date of communication of such order to the applicant or within such further period not exceeding one month as the Controller may on a request made in Form 4 allow and shall be accompanied by a statement setting forth the grounds on which the application is based. Where the order concerns any other person in addition to the applicant, the Controller shall, forthwith transmit a copy each of the application and the statement to the other person concerned.

131. Form and manner in which statements required under Section 146(2) to be furnished. (1) The statements shall be furnished by every patentee and every licencee under sub-section (2) of Section 146 in 179[Form 27] which shall be duly verified by the patentee or the licencee or his authorised agent.

(2) The statements referred to in sub-rule (1) shall be furnished in respect of every calendar year within three months of the end of each year.

(3) The Controller may publish the information received by him under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) of Section 146 180[* * *].

132. Form of application for the issue of a duplicate patent. An application for the issue of a duplicate patent under Section 154 shall contain a statement setting out the circumstances in which the patent was lost or destroyed or cannot be produced together with the fee as specified therefor in the First Schedule.

181[133. Supply of certified copies and certificates under Sections 72 and 147. (1) Certified copies of any entry in the register, or certificates of, or extracts from patents, specifications and other public documents in the patent office, or from registers and other records including records in computer floppies, diskettes or any other electronic form kept there, may be furnished by the Controller on a request therefor made to him and on payment of the fee specified therefor in the First Schedule:

Provided that certified copies shall be issued in the order in which the request is filed.

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-rule (1), certified copies shall be furnished within a period of one week if such request is made along with the fee specified therefore in the First Schedule.]

134. Request for information under Section 153. (1) A request for information in respect of the following matters relating to any patent or application for patent shall be admissible, namely:

(a) as to when a complete specification following a provisional specification has been filed or an application for patent has been deemed to have been abandoned;

182[(aa) as to when the information under Section 8 has been filed;]

(b) as to when publication of application has been made under Section 11-A;

(c) as to when an application has been withdrawn under Section 11-B;

(d) as to when a request for examination has been made under Section 11-B;

(e) as to when the examination report has been issued under Section 12;

(f) as to when 183[* * *] an application for patent has been refused;

(g) as to when a patent has been 184[granted];

(h) as to when a renewal fee has been paid;

(i) as to when a term of a patent has expired or shall expire;

(j) as to when an entry has been made in the register or application has been made for the making of such entry; or

(k) as to when any application is made or action taken involving an entry in the register, 185[publication] in the 186[Official Journal] 187[or otherwise], if the nature of the application or action is specified in the request.

(2) Separate request shall be made in respect of each item of information required.

(3) The fee payable on a request to be made under Section 153 shall be as set out in the First Schedule.

135. Agency. 188[(1) The authorisation of an agent for the purposes of the Act and these rules shall be filed in Form 26 or in the form of a power of attorney within a period of three months from the date of filing of such application or document, failing which no action shall be taken on such application or documents for further processing till such deficiency is removed.]

(2) Where any authorisation has been made under sub-rule (1), service upon the agent of any document relating to any proceeding or matter under the Act or these rules shall be deemed to be service upon the person so authorising him and all communications directed to be made to a person in respect of any proceeding or matter may be addressed to such agent, and all appearances before the Controller relating thereto may be made by or through such agent.

(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-rules (1) and (2), the Controller may, if it is considered necessary, require the personal signature or presence of an applicant, opponent or party to such proceeding or matter.

136. Scale of costs. (1) In all proceedings before the Controller, he may, subject to Rule 63, award costs as he considers reasonable, having regard to all the circumstances of the case:

Provided that the amount of costs awarded in respect of any matter set forth in the Fourth Schedule shall not exceed the amount specified therein.

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-rule (1), the Controller may, in his discretion award a compensatory cost in any proceeding before him which in his opinion is false or vexatious.

137. Powers of Controller generally. Any document for the amendment of which no special provision is made in the Act may be amended and any irregularity in procedure which in the opinion of the Controller may be obviated without detriment to the interests of any person, may be corrected if the Controller thinks fit and upon such terms as he may direct.

189[138. Power to extend time prescribed. (1) Except for the time prescribed in clause (i) of sub-rule (4) of Rule 20, sub-rule (6) of Rule 20, Rule 21, sub-rules (1), (5) and (6) of Rule 24-B, sub-rules (10) and (11) of Rule 24-C, sub-rule (4) of Rule 55, sub-rule (1-A) of Rule 80 and sub-rules (1) and (2) of Rule 130, the time prescribed by these rules for doing of any act or the taking of any proceeding thereunder may be extended by the Controller for a period of one month, if he thinks it fit to do so and upon such terms as he may direct.

(2) Any request for extension of time prescribed by these rules for the doing of any act or the taking of any proceeding thereunder shall be made before the expiry of such time prescribed in these rules.]

139. Hearing before the Controller to be in public in certain cases. Where the hearing before the Controller of any dispute between two or more parties relating to an application for a patent or to any matter in connection with a patent takes place after the date of the publication of the complete specification, the hearing of the dispute shall be in public unless the Controller, after consultation with the parties to the dispute who appear in person or are represented at the hearing, otherwise directs.