The Patents Rules 2007

Copies of documents and corrections in relation to the register

Copies of documents

48.—(1) A person may apply to the comptroller for a certified copy of any relevant document and, on payment of the prescribed fee, he shall be entitled to such a copy.

(2) A person may apply to the comptroller for an uncertified copy of any relevant document and, on payment of the prescribed fee, he shall be entitled to such a copy.

(3) But a person is not entitled to a copy of a relevant document where—

(a) it is not available for inspection under section 118; or

(b) making or providing such a copy would infringe copyright.

(4) For the purposes of this rule a relevant document is any of the following—

(a) an application for a patent which has been published;

(b) a specification of a patent;

(c) any other document, or extract from any such document, kept at the Patent Office.

(5) An application under paragraph (1) or (2) must be made on Patents Form 23.

Correction of name, address and address for service

49.—(1) Any person may request that a correction be entered in the register or made to any application or other document filed at the Patent Office in respect of any of the following—

(a) his name;

(b) his address;

(c) his address for service.

(2) A request under paragraph (1)(a) to correct a name must be made on Patents Form 20.

(3) Any other request under paragraph (1) must be made in writing.

(4) If the comptroller has reasonable doubts about whether he should make the correction—

(a) he must inform the person making the request of the reason for his doubts; and

(b) he may require that person to file evidence in support of the request.

(5) If the comptroller has no doubts (or no longer has doubts) about whether he should make the correction, he must enter the correction in the register or make it to the application or document.

(6) For the purposes of this rule a request for a correction includes a correction made for the purposes of section 117.

Request for correction of error

50.—(1) Subject to rule 49, any person may request the correction of an error in the register or in any document filed at the Patent Office in connection with registration.

(2) The request must be—

(a) made in writing; and

(b) accompanied by sufficient information to identify the nature of the error and the correction requested.

(3) If the comptroller has reasonable doubts about whether there is an error—

(a) he shall inform the person making the request of the reason for his doubts; and

(b) he may require that person to furnish a written explanation of the nature of the error or evidence in support of the request.

(4) If the comptroller has no doubts (or no longer has doubts) about whether an error has been made he shall make such correction as he may agree with the proprietor of the patent (or, as the case may be, the applicant).