Patent decision

BL number

O/258/00

Concerning rights in

GB9526008.9

Hearing Officer

Mr M G Wilson

Decision date

27 July 2000

Person(s) or Company(s) involved

Lionweld Kennedy Ltd

Provisions discussed

PA 1977 sections 18 and 20

Keywords

Section 20 period

Related Decisions

None

Summary

The applicants had failed to reply to the first examination report within the time period set. Eventually, the standard warning letter from the Office was sent, saying that the Office intended to treat the application as refused on the imminent expiry of the s.20 period. This provoked a response to be filed, including amendments to the specification and a request for an extension of time to the period for reply to the examination report. The applicants stated that their failure to respond in time was due to complications associated with changes in the management structure of the company. The examiner did not consider this a sufficient explanation to account for a failure at least to request an extension of time before the expiry of the period for reply, and offered a hearing. In the event, the applicants did not respond, and the hearing officer refused the application.

Full decision O/258/00 13Kb