9The register: changes of ownership and inspection of documents
(1)In section 19 of the Registered Designs Act 1949 (registration of assignments, etc.), omit subsection (3A) (which, where design right subsists in a registered design, prohibits the registrar from registering an interest unless satisfied that the person who has the interest has a corresponding interest in the design right).
(2)In section 22 of that Act (the title to which becomes “Inspection of registered designs and associated documents”), in subsection (1), after paragraph (a) insert “and
(aa)every document kept at the Patent Office in connection with that design.”
(3)In that subsection, for “subsection (4)” substitute “subsections (4) to (7)”.
(4)After subsection (4) of that section insert—
“(5)For the purposes of subsection (1), a document is not to be regarded as open for inspection unless (in addition to being open for inspection in hard copy) it is made available by electronic transmission in such a way that members of the public may access it at a place and time individually chosen by them.”
(5)After subsection (5) insert—
“(6)The Secretary of State may by rules specify cases or circumstances in which a document kept at the Patent Office in connection with a registered design may not be inspected.
(7)Rules made under subsection (6) may confer a discretion on the registrar.”
(6)In section 37 of that Act (rules and orders), in subsection (2), after “section 15” insert “or 22(6)”.