Article 32 Searches under section 17(6) and (8)

Where an examiner conducts a search under section 17(6) in relation to the first only of two or more inventions specified in the claims of an application, the Patent Office shall notify the applicant of that fact.

If the applicant desires a search to be conducted under section 17(6) in relation to a second or subsequent invention specified in the claims, he shall, before the expiry of the period specified for the making of observations on the report made under section 18(3), request the Patent Office on Patents Form 9/77 to conduct such a search and pay the search fee for each invention in respect of which the search is to be made.

The fee for a supplementary search under section 17(8) shall be accompanied by Patents Form 9/77.

The comptroller may, if he thinks fit, send to the applicant a copy of any document (or any part thereof) referred to in the examiner’s report under section 17 pursuant to subsection (6) or (8) thereof.