20.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (3) and (4), any hearing before the registrar of proceedings between two or more parties relating to an application for a registered design or a registered design, shall be held in public.
(2) Any party to the proceedings may apply to the registrar for the hearing to be held in private.
(3) The registrar shall only grant an application under paragraph (2) where—
(a)it is in the interests of justice for the hearing to be in held in private; and
(b)all the parties to the proceedings have had an opportunity to be heard on the matter,
and where the application is granted the hearing shall be in private.
(4) Any hearing of an application under paragraph (2) shall be held in private.
(5) In this rule a reference to a hearing includes any part of a hearing.
F1(6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Textual Amendments
F1Rule 20(6) omitted (3.11.2008) by virtue of The Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 (Transitional and Consequential Provisions) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/2683), art. 1, Sch. 1 para. 318
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1Rule 20 applied (6.4.2015) by The Appointed Person (Designs) Rules 2015 (S.I. 2015/169), rules 1, 7(5)