Intellectual Property Act 2014

12 Use of directions by the registrar

(1) After section 31 of the Registered Designs Act 1949 insert—

“31A Power to require use of forms

(1) The registrar may require the use of such forms as the registrar may direct for—

(a) an application for the registration of a design;

(b) representations or specimens of designs or other documents which may be filed at the Patent Office.

(2) The forms, and any directions by the registrar about their use, are to be published in the prescribed manner.”

(2) In section 3(1) of that Act (application for registration), omit “shall be made in the prescribed form and”.

(3) In section 36(1A) of that Act (matters which may be covered in rules), for paragraph (a) substitute—

“(a) requiring the furnishing of copies of such representations or specimens of designs or other documents as may be filed at the Patent Office;”.

(4) In section 39(1) of that Act (hours of business and excluded days)—

(a) for “Rules made by the Secretary of State under this Act may specify” substitute “The registrar may give directions specifying”, and

(b) for “and may specify” substitute “and specifying”.

(5) Despite the repeal made by subsection (2), any rules made in reliance on section 3(1) of that Act which are in force immediately before the commencement of that repeal continue in force until such time as directions about forms of the kind which had been prescribed by the rules take effect.

(6) Despite the amendment made by subsection (3), any rules made in reliance on section 36(1A)(a) of that Act which are in force immediately before the commencement of that amendment continue in force until such time as directions about forms of the kind which had been prescribed by the rules take effect.

(7) In subsections (5) and (6), “directions” means directions given under section 31A of that Act (as inserted by subsection (1)).

(8) Despite the amendment made by subsection (4), any rules made in reliance on section 39(1) of that Act which are in force immediately before the commencement of that amendment continue in force until such time as directions about the matter specified by the rules take effect.

(9) In subsection (8), “directions” means directions given under section 39(1) of that Act (as amended by subsection (4)).