Part 1Design
Registered designs
9The register: changes of ownership and inspection of documents
I11
In section 19 of the Registered Designs Act 1949 (registration of assignments, etc.), omit subsection (3A) (which, where design right subsists in a registered design, prohibits the registrar from registering an interest unless satisfied that the person who has the interest has a corresponding interest in the design right).
2
In section 22 of that Act (the title to which becomes “
Inspection of registered designs and associated documents
”
), in subsection (1), after paragraph (a) insert
and
aa
every document kept at the Patent Office in connection with that design.
3
In that subsection, for “subsection (4)” substitute “
subsections (4) to (7)
”
.
4
After subsection (4) of that section insert—
5
For the purposes of subsection (1), a document is not to be regarded as open for inspection unless (in addition to being open for inspection in hard copy) it is made available by electronic transmission in such a way that members of the public may access it at a place and time individually chosen by them.
5
After subsection (5) insert—
6
The Secretary of State may by rules specify cases or circumstances in which a document kept at the Patent Office in connection with a registered design may not be inspected.
7
Rules made under subsection (6) may confer a discretion on the registrar.
6
In section 37 of that Act (rules and orders), in subsection (2), after “section 15” insert “
or 22(6)
”
.