PART 7PROCEEDINGS HEARD BEFORE THE COMPTROLLER

Conduct of hearings

Hearings in public84.

(1)

Subject to paragraphs (3) and (4), any hearing before the comptroller in proceedings relating to an application for a patent, or a patent, shall be held in public.

(2)

Any party to the proceedings may apply to the comptroller for a hearing to be held in private.

(3)

The comptroller may grant an application under paragraph (2) where—

(a)

he considers there is good reason for the hearing to be 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 must be held in private.

(4)

Any hearing—

(a)

of an application under paragraph (2); or

(b)

relating to an application for a patent which has not been published,

shall be held in private.

(5)

For the purposes of this rule a reference to a hearing includes any part of a hearing.