(1)Rules under this Act may authorise the comptroller to refuse to recognise as agent in respect of any business under this Act any person whose name has been erased from the register of patent agents, or who is proved to the satisfaction of the Board of Trade, after being given an opportunity of being heard, to have been convicted of such an offence or to have been guilty of such misconduct as would have rendered him liable, if his name had been on the register of patent agents, to have his name erased therefrom, and may authorise the comptroller to refuse to recognise as agent in respect of any business under this Act any company which, if it had been an individual, the comptroller could refuse to recognise as such agent.
(2)Where a company or firm acts as agents, such rules as aforesaid may authorise the comptroller to refuse to recognise the company or firm as agent, if any person whom the comptroller could refuse to recognise as an agent acts as director or manager of the company or is a partner in the firm.
(3)The comptroller shall refuse to recognise as agent in respect of any business under this Act any person who neither resides nor has a place of business in the United Kingdom or the Isle of Man.