The Contracting Out (Functions in Relation to Applications for Patents) Order 2002

Article 3

SCHEDULE 1 FUNCTIONS OF THE COMPTROLLER ENABLED TO BE CONTRACTED OUT

1.  Functions conferred by or under any of the following provisions of the Patents Act:

(a) section 14(7) (consideration and reframing of abstract);

(b) section 19(2) (amendment of an application for a patent before grant);

(c) section 21(1) (consideration of observations by third parties on patentability); and

(d) section 117 (correction of errors) except insofar as it relates to correction of errors in any specification of a patent or any document filed in connection with a patent.

2.  Functions conferred by or under any of the following provisions of the Patents Rules:

(a) rule 19(4) (publication of figures characterising the invention);

(b) rule 36(2) and (6) (amendment of application before grant); and

(c) rule 37 (observations on patentability).