IPA patent volume-7-oppositions-disputes-and-extensions — IP Australia Patent Manual of Practice and Procedure – Volume 7. Oppositions, Disputes and Extensions

Key Topics in this Volume 7.1 Role and Powers of the Commissioner in Hearings ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ 7.2 Oppositions, Disputes and other proceedings-Procedural summaries 7.2.1 Oppositions to grant of a standard patent-Section 59 oppositions 7.2.1.1 Commencing the Opposition - Filing a Notice of Opposition 7.2.1.2 Filing the Statement of Grounds and Particulars 7.2.1.3 Evidence and Evidentiary Periods 7.2.1.4 Finalising the Opposition 7.2.2 Opposition to Innovation Patents-Section 101M Oppositions 7.2.2.1 Commencing the Opposition - Filing the Opposition Documents 7.2.2.2 Evidence and Evidentiary Periods 7.2.2.3 Finalising the Opposition 7.2.3 Oppositions to an Extension of Term of a Pharmaceutical Patent (Section 75(1) Oppositions) 7.2.3.1 Commencing the Opposition - Filing a Notice of Opposition 7.2.3.2 Filing the Statement of Grounds and Particulars 7.2.3.3 Evidence and Evidentiary Periods 7.2.3.4 Finalising the Opposition 7.2.4 Oppositions to Request to Amend an Application or Other Filed Document (Section 104(4) Oppositions) 7.2.4.1 Commencing the Opposition - Filing a Notice of Opposition 7.2.4.2 Filing the Statement of Grounds and Particulars 7.2.4.3 Evidence and Evidentiary Periods 7.2.4.4 Finalising the Opposition 7.2.5 Oppositions to Extensions of Time Under Section 223 (Section 223(6) Oppositions 7.2.5.1 Commencing the Opposition - Filing a Notice of Opposition 7.2.5.2 Filing the Statement of Grounds and Particulars 7.2.5.3 Evidence and Evidentiary Periods 7.2.5.4 Finalising the Opposition 7.2.6 Oppositions to Grant of a Licence (Regulation 22.21(4) Oppositions) 7.2.6.1 Commencing the Opposition - Filing a Notice of Opposition 7.2.6.2 Filing the Statement of Grounds and Particulars 7.2.6.3 Evidence and Evidentiary Periods 7.2.6.4 Finalising the Opposition 7.2.7 Disputes Between Applicants and Co-Owners (Directions Under Section17 and Determinations Under Section 32) 7.2.7.1 Procedure 7.2.7.2 Finalising the Proceedings 7.2.7.3 Relevant Cases 7.2.8 Entitlement Disputes (Applications Under Sections 33-36 and 191A) 7.2.8.1 Procedure - Requests for the Commissioner to Make a Determination of Entitlement 7.2.8.2 Finalising the Request 7.2.8.3 Remedies Where Declaration Made 7.2.8.4 Patent Applications under Sections 33 to 36 7.2.8.5 Relevant Law - Entitlement/Inventorship 7.3 Directions 7.3.1 Directions in Opposition Proceedings 7.3.1.1 Direction to Stay an Opposition Pending Another Action 7.3.1.2 Further and Better Particulars 7.3.1.3 Time for Filing Evidence in a Substantive Opposition 7.3.1.4 Time for Filing Evidence in a Procedural Opposition 7.3.1.5 General Conduct of Proceedings 7.3.1.6 Further Directions 7.3.2 Directions that an Application Proceed in Different Name(s) - Section 113 7.4 Opposition Documents, Requirements and Amendments ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​7.4.1 Notice of Opposition 7.4.2 Statement of Grounds and Particulars 7.4.3 Amending Opposition Documents 7.4.4 Filing of Opposition Documents 7.5 Evidence 7.5.1 Presentation of Evidence 7.5.1.1 Written Evidence and Declarations 7.5.1.2 Oral Evidence 7.5.1.3 Physical Evidence - Special Considerations 7.5.2 Admissibility of Evidence 7.5.3 Evidence Filed Out of Time 7.6 Production of Documents, Summonsing Witnesses 7.6.1 Requests for Commissioner to Exercises Powers Under Section 210(1)(a) ＆ 210(1)(c) 7.6.2 Basis for Issuing a Summons 7.6.3 Basis for Requiring Production of Documents or Articles 7.6.4 Reasonable Expenses 7.6.5 Complying with the Summons or Notice to Produce, Reasonable Excuses 7.6.6 Sanctions for Non-Compliance 7.6.7 Schedule to Requests for Summons or Notice to Produce 7.7 Withdrawal and Dismissal of Oppositions 7.7.1 Withdrawal of an Opposition 7.7.1.1 Withdrawal of Section 59 and 101M Oppositions 7.7.1.2 Withdrawal of Other Oppositions 7.7.2 Dismissal of an Opposition 7.7.2.1 Requests for Dismissal 7.7.2.2 Dismissal on the Initiative of the Commissioner 7.7.2.3 Reasons for Dismissal 7.7.3 Withdrawal of an Opposed Application 7.8 Hearings and Decisions 7.8.1 Setting Down Hearings 7.8.1.1 Setting of Hearing 7.8.1.2 Location and Options for Appearing 7.8.1.3 Hours of a Hearing 7.8.1.4 Hearing Fee 7.8.1.5 Who May Appear at a Hearing? 7.8.1.6 Relevant Court Actions Pending 7.8.2 Hearings Procedure 7.8.2.1 Overview of Proceedings 7.8.2.2 Adjournment of Hearings 7.8.2.3 Contact with Parties Outside of Hearing 7.8.2.4 Hearings Involving Confidential Material 7.8.2.5 Consultation with Other Hearing Officers 7.8.2.6 Hearings and the Police 7.8.3 Ex Parte Hearings 7.8.3.1 Overview of Proceedings 7.8.3.2 Hearings Near the Final Date for Acceptance 7.8.4 Natural Justice and Bias 7.8.4.1 Rules 7.8.4.2 Waiving of Objection of Bias by Standing by until Decision Issued 7.8.4.3 Bias as a Result of Contact with Parties Outside of Hearing 7.8.4.4 Bias as a Result of Other Proceedings Involving the Same Parties 7.8.5 Principles of Conduct 7.8.5.1 Lawfulness 7.8.5.2 Fairness 7.8.5.3 Rationality 7.8.5.4 Openness 7.8.5.5 Diligence and Efficiency 7.8.5.6 Courtesy and Integrity 7.8.6 Decisions 7.8.6.1 Written Decisions 7.8.6.2 Time for Issuing a Decision 7.8.6.3 Publication of Decisions 7.8.6.4 Rectification of Errors or Omissions in Decisions 7.8.6.5 Revocation of Decisions 7.8.7 Further Hearings 7.8.8 Final Determinations 7.8.8.1 Overview of Proceedings 7.8.8.2 Applicant Does Not Propose Amendments 7.8.8.3 Opponent Withdraws the Opposition 7.8.9 Quality 7.8.9.1 Quality Requirements 7.8.9.2 Peer Review 7.8.10 Appointment of Hearing Officers and Assistant Hearing Officers, Hearing Officer Standards Panel, Hearing Officer Delegations 7.8.10.1 Hearing Officers 7.8.10.2 Assistant Hearing Officers 7.8.10.3 Hearing Officer Standards Panel 7.8.10.4 Hearing Officer Delegations 7.9 Costs 7.9.1 Principles in Awarding Costs 7.9.2 Scale of Costs, Variation of the Scale 7.9.3 Awarding Costs, Taxation 7.9.4 Security for Costs 7.9.5 Exemplary Situations in Awarding Costs 7.10 The Register of Patents 7.10.1 What is the Register 7.10.2 Recording Particulars in the Register 7.10.2.1 Recording New Particulars in the Register 7.10.2.2 Change of Ownership 7.10.2.2.1 Assignment 7.10.2.2.2 Change of Name 7.10.2.2.3 Bankruptcy 7.10.2.2.4 Winding Up of Companies 7.10.2.2.5 Death of Patentee 7.10.2.3 Security Interests 7.10.2.4 Licences 7.10.2.5 Court Orders 7.10.2.6 Equitable Interests 7.10.2.7 Effect of Registration or Non-Registration 7.10.2.8 Trusts 7.10.2.9 False Entries in the Register 7.10.3 Amendment of the Register 7.10.3.1 Procedure on Receipt of an Application for Recitification 7.10.3.2 Amendment of Errors (excluding Entitlement Disputes) - Subsection 191A(1) 7.10.3.2.1 Types of Errors that can be Recitified 7.10.3.2.2 Discretionary Considerations 7.10.3.3 Entitlement Disputes - Subsection 191A(2) 7.10.3.4 Section 192 7.11 Extensions of Time and Restoration of Priority 7.11.1 Extensions of Time - Section 223 7.11.1.1 Relevant Act 7.11.1.2 Subsection 223(1) - Office Error 7.11.1.2.1 Extensions under Subsection 223(1) to Gain Acceptance Annex A - Section 223(1) Extension of Time for Acceptance File Note 7.11.1.3 Subsection 223(2) - Error or Omission and Circumstances Beyond Control 7.11.1.3.1 The Law 7.11.1.3.2 Subsection 223(2)(a) - Error or Omission 7.11.1.3.3 Section 223(2)(b) - Circumstances Beyond Control 7.11.1.3.4 Filing a Request under Subsection 223(2) 7.11.1.3.5 The Commissioner's Discretion 7.11.1.4 Subsection 223(2A) - Despite Due Care 7.11.1.4.1 Filing a Request under Subsection 223(2A) 7.11.1.5 Common Deficiencies in Requests under Section 223(2) or (2A) 7.11.1.6 Advertising an Extension - Subsection 223(4) 7.11.1.7 Extension of Time for an Extension of Term 7.11.1.8 Grace Period Extensions 7.11.1.9 Extension of Time to Gain Acceptance 7.11.1.10 Examination Report Delayed or Not Received 7.11.1.11 Co-pending Section 104 Application - Budapest Treaty Details 7.11.1.12 Payment of Continuation or Renewal Fees Pending a Section 223 Applicaiton 7.11.1.13 Person Concerned: Change of Ownership 7.11.1.14 Date of a Patent Where an Extension of Time is Granted to Claim Priority ​​​​​​​ 7.11.2 Extensions of Time - Reg 5.9 7.11.2.1 Requesting an Extension of Time 7.11.2.2 Application of the Law 7.11.2.2.1 Application of Regulation 5.9 7.11.2.3 Justification for the Extension 7.11.2.4 Discretionary Matters 7.11.2.5 Period of an Extension 7.11.2.6 A Hearing in Relation to an Extension 7.11.2.7 Parties Involved in Negotiations 7.11.2.8 Review of a Decision to Grant or Refuse an Extension 7.11.2.9 ＂Out of Time＂ Evidence 7.11.3 Restoration of the Right of Priority under the PCT 7.12 Extensions of Term of Standard Patents Relating to Pharmaceutical Substances 7.12.1 Section 70 Considerations 7.12.1.1 Pharmaceutical Substance per se 7.12.1.2 Meaning of Pharmaceutical Substance 7.12.1.3 Meaning of ＂when produced by a process that involves the use of recombinant DNA technology＂ 7.12.1.4 Meaning of ＂mixture or compound of substances＂ 7.12.1.5 Meaning of ＂in substance disclosed＂ 7.12.1.6 Meaning of ＂in substance fall within the scope of the claim＂ 7.12.1.7 Included in the Goods 7.12.1.8 First Regulatory Approval Date 7.12.2 Applying for an Extension of Term 7.12.2.1 Documentation Required 7.12.2.2 Time for Applying 7.12.2.3 Extension of Time to Apply for an Extension of Term 7.12.3 Processing an Application for an Extension of Term 7.12.3.1 Initial Processing 7.12.3.2 Consideration of the Application 7.12.3.3 Grant of Application for Extension of Term 7.12.3.3.1 Renewal Fees 7.12.3.4 Refusal of Application for Extension of Term 7.12.4 Calculating the Length of the Extension of Term 7.12.5 Patents of Addition 7.12.6 Divisional Applications 7.12.7 Oppositions to an Extension of Term 7.12.8 Relevant Court Proceedings Pending 7.12.9 Rectification of the Register 7.13 Orders for Inspection of non OPI Documents 7.13.1 Documents not-OPI by direction of the Commissioner - Regulation 4.3(2)(b) 7.13.2 Inspection of non-OPI Documents 7.14 Appeals ART, ADJR, The Courts 7.14.1 Appeals to the Federal Court 7.14.2 ART Review 7.14.3 Judicial Review (ADJR) 7.14.4 Other Court Actions Involving the Commissioner 7.14.5 Section 105 Amendments 7.15 Computerised Decisions 7.15.1 Power to Make Computerised Decisions 7.15.2 Substituting Computerised Decisions 7.15.3 Existing Computerised Decisions