SCHEDULES
SCHEDULE 5 Patents: miscellaneous amendments
Supplementary searches
4
In section 18 of the Patents Act 1977 (substantive examination and grant or refusal of patent), after subsection (1) insert—
1A
If the examiner forms the view that a supplementary search under section 17 above is required for which a fee is payable, he shall inform the comptroller, who may decide that the substantive examination should not proceed until the fee is paid; and if he so decides, then unless within such period as he may allow—
a
the fee is paid, or
b
the application is amended so as to render the supplementary search unnecessary,
he may refuse the application.