Patents Act, 1992

International applications for patents.

127.—(1) An international application for a patent designating the State shall be deemed to be an application for a European patent designating the State.

(2) The Office may, without prejudice to Article 151 of the European Patent Convention, act as a receiving office within the meaning of Article 2 (xv) of the Treaty for persons making international applications, provided such applications are in English.

(3) Applications filed at the Office, as receiving office, shall be accompanied by the prescribed transmittal fee.

(4) The Minister may by rules make provisions with respect to international applications consequent upon the Office acting as a receiving office for applicants making such applications.

(5) Any application referred to in subsection (1) which is published under the Treaty shall be treated for the purposes of section 11 (3) as published when, and only when, a copy of the application has been supplied to the European Patent Office in English, French or German and the relevant fee has been paid under the European Patent Convention.

(6) Any application referred to in subsection (1) which is published under the Treaty in a language other than English, French or German shall be treated for the purposes of section 56 as published when, and only when, it is re-published in English, French or German by the European Patent Office under the European Patent Convention.