94.—(1) Where a document other than a Patents Form is filed at, or sent to, the Patent Office, and the person filing or sending it or any party to the proceedings to which the document relates so requests, giving his reasons, within fourteen days of the filing or sending of the document, the comptroller may direct that it be treated as confidential, and the document shall not be open to public inspection while the matter is being determined by the comptroller.
(2) Where such a direction has been given and not withdrawn, nothing in this rule shall be taken to authorise or require any person to be allowed to inspect the document to which the direction relates except by leave of the comptroller.
(3) The comptroller shall not withdraw any direction given under this rule nor shall he give leave for any person to inspect any document to which a direction which has not been withdrawn relates without prior consultation with the person at whose request the direction was given, unless the comptroller is satisfied that such prior consultation is not reasonably practicable.
(4) Where such a direction is given or withdrawn a record of the fact shall be filed with the document to which it relates.
(5) Where the period referred to in paragraph (1) above is extended under rule 110, the relevant document shall not be, or, if the period is extended after it has expired, shall cease to be, open to public inspection until the expiry of the extended period, and if a request for a direction is made the document shall not be open to public inspection while the matter is being determined by the comptroller.