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IPA manuals logo Manual of Practice and Procedure
  • Introduction
    • Procedures for updating this manual
      • The Manual
      • Processing Proposals for Changes to the Manual
      • Initiating Changes to the Manual
      • Authorisation of Changes
      • Process for Actioning Changes
      • Communication of Changes
      • Review Process
      • Attachment A - Editor and Sub-Editors of the Manual
      • Attachment B - Request for Approval of Changes to the Manual of Practice and Procedure
      • Attachment C - Review Schedule
    • Using this Manual
      • Navigating the Online Manual
      • Printing the Online Manual
      • Searching Techniques
      • Keyboard Shortcuts
      • Useful Tips
    • Disclaimer
    • History
    • Glossary
    • P&PBR Technical Working Group (PTWG)
  • Quality
    • Quality Management at IP Australia
      • Quality in IP Rights
      • Monitoring and Measuring Quality at IP Australia
    • Quality Policy
    • Product Quality Standards
      • Product Quality Standards Printable Version
      • Quality Standard 1
      • Quality Standard 2
      • Quality Standard 3
      • Quality Standard 4
      • Quality Standard 5
      • Quality Standard 6
      • Quality Standard 7
      • Patents Product Quality Commitments
  • 1. International
    • 1.1 International Searching
      • 1.1.2 Introduction
        • 1.1.2.1 Introduction Background
        • 1.1.2.2 Introduction International Examination
        • 1.1.2.3 General Procedures
        • 1.1.2.4 Extent of Search
        • 1.1.2.5 Minimum Documentation
        • 1.1.2.6 Examination Section Procedures
        • 1.1.2.7 Searching Examiner
        • 1.1.2.8 Other Considerations
        • 1.1.2.9 Copending Applications
      • 1.1.3 Search Allocation and Preliminary Classification
        • 1.1.3.1 Allocation
        • 1.1.3.2 Preliminary Classification
      • 1.1.4 Unity of Invention
        • 1.1.4.1 Unity of Invention Background
        • 1.1.4.2 Determining Lack of Unity
        • 1.1.4.3 Combinations of Different Categories of Claims
        • 1.1.4.4 Markush Practice
        • 1.1.4.5 Intermediate and Final Products in Chemical Applications
        • 1.1.4.6 Biotechnological Inventions
        • 1.1.4.7 Single General Inventive Concept
        • 1.1.4.8 A Priori and A Posteriori Lack of Unity
        • 1.1.4.9 Issuing the Invitation to Pay Additional Search Fees
        • 1.1.4.10 Unsupported Unclear Long
        • 1.1.4.11 Payment of Additional Search Fees Under Protest
        • 1.1.4.12 Completing the Search Report
        • 1.1.4.13 Time for Completing the Search Report
        • 1.1.4.14 Reported Decisions
        • 1.1.4.15 Other Decisions from the EPO
      • 1.1.5 Abstract and Title
        • 1.1.5.1 Abstract
        • 1.1.5.2 Title
      • 1.1.7 Claim Interpretation, Broad Claims, PCT Article 5 and 6
        • 1.1.7.1 Claim Interpretation According to the PCT Guidelines
          • 1.1.7.1.1 PCT Guideline References and Flow Chart
          • 1.1.7.1.2 Overview of the Hierarchy
          • 1.1.7.1.3 Special Meaning, Ordinary Meaning, Everyday Meaning
          • 1.1.7.1.4 Closed and Open Definitions and Implications for Interpretation
          • 1.1.7.1.5 Implications of the Hierarchy on Searching
          • 1.1.7.1.6 PCT GL Appendix Paragraphs 5.20[1] and 5.20[2]
          • 1.1.7.1.7 Interpretation of Citations - Inherency
        • 1.1.7.2 Broad Claims
          • 1.1.7.2.1 Introduction
          • 1.1.7.2.2 Types of Broad Claims
        • 1.1.7.3 PCT Articles 5 and 6
        • 1.1.7.4 Claims Lacking Clarity and Excessive/Multitudinous Claims
        • 1.1.7.5 Procedure for Informal Communication with the Applicant
      • 1.1.8 Search Strategy
        • 1.1.8.1 Introduction
        • 1.1.8.2 The Three Person Team (3PT)
        • 1.1.8.3 Area of Search
        • 1.1.8.4 Search Considerations
      • 1.1.11 Search Procedure
        • 1.1.11.1 Overview - Novelty / Inventive Step
        • 1.1.11.2 Inventive Step
        • 1.1.11.3 Searching Product by Process Claims
        • 1.1.11.4 Dates Searched
        • 1.1.11.5 Conducting the Search
        • 1.1.11.6 Useful Techniques ("piggy back/forward" searching)
        • 1.1.11.7 Obtaining Full Copies
        • 1.1.11.8 (reserved)
        • 1.1.11.9 Considering and Culling the Documents
        • 1.1.11.10 Ending the Search
        • 1.1.11.11 Categorising the Citations
        • 1.1.11.12 Grouping the Claims
      • 1.1.12 Search Report and Notification Form Completion
        • 1.1.12.5 Documents Considered to be Relevant
          • 1.1.12.5.1 Selection of Documents Considered to be Relevant
          • 1.1.12.5.2 Citation Category
          • 1.1.12.5.3 Citation of Prior Art Documents
          • 1.1.12.5.4 Citation of URLs
          • 1.1.12.5.5 Citation Examples
          • 1.1.12.5.6 Citing Patent Documents Retrieved from EPOQUE
          • 1.1.12.5.7 Relevant Claim Numbers
        • 1.1.12.1 Background Search Report and Notification Form Completion
        • 1.1.12.2 Applicant Details
        • 1.1.12.3 General Details
        • 1.1.12.4 Fields Searched
        • 1.1.12.6 Family Member Identification
        • 1.1.12.7 Date of Actual Completion of the Search
        • 1.1.12.8 Refund Due
        • 1.1.12.9 Contents of Case File at Completion
      • 1.1.15 Foreign Patent Search Aids and Documentation
        • 1.1.15.1 Background Patent Search Aids and Documentation
        • 1.1.15.2 Hard Copy Documentation
      • 1.1.18. Nucleotide and/or Amino Acid Sequence Listings
        • 1.1.18.1 Background Nucleotide and/Or Amino Acid Sequence Listings
        • 1.1.18.2 Office Practice
        • 1.1.18.3 Summary
      • 1.1.19 Annexes
        • Annex V - Internet Searching
          • Internet searching 1
          • Internet Searching 2
        • Annex A - Blank ISR
        • Annex B - Completed ISR
        • Annex C - Completed ISR
        • Annex D - Declaration of Non-Establishment of ISR
        • Annex E - Completed Invitation to pay additional fees
        • Annex F - Completed ISR with unity observations
        • Annex H - Searching Broad Claims
        • Annex I - Completed notification of change of abstract
        • Annex J - Completed notification of decision concerning request for rectification
        • Annex K - The role of the 3 Person Team in Searching
        • Annex S - Refund of Search Fees
        • Annex U - ISR Quality Checklist
        • Annex W - Obtaining full text from internet
        • Annex Z - USPTO kind codes
        • Annex AA - Markush Claims
        • Annex BB - Article 5/6 Comparisons
      • 1.1.1 Procedural Outline - PCT International Search
      • 1.1.6 Subjects to be Excluded from the Search
      • 1.1.9 Basis of the Search
      • 1.1.10. Non-Patent Literature
      • 1.1.13 Reissued, Amended or Corrected ISRs and ISOs
      • 1.1.14 Priority Document
      • 1.1.16 Assistance with Foreign Languages
      • 1.1.17 Rule 91 Obvious Mistakes in Documents
    • 1.2 International Type Searching
      • 1.2.10 Annexes
        • Annex A - 15(5) request acknowledgement letter
        • Annex B - Search statement request letter
        • Annex C - Blank Art 15(5) search form
      • 1.2.1 Procedural Outline International Type Search Report
      • 1.2.2 Introduction - International Type Searching
      • 1.2.3 Classification and Search Indication
      • 1.2.4 Unity of Invention
      • 1.2.5 Subjects to be Excluded from the Search
      • 1.2.6 Obscurities, Inconsistencies or Contradictions
      • 1.2.7 Abstract and Title
      • 1.2.8 Search Report
      • 1.2.9 Completing Search Report and Opinion Form
    • 1.3 International Examination
      • 1.3.3 The Demand and IPRPII
        • 1.3.3.1 The Demand and IPRPII
        • 1.3.3.2 Timeframe for Demand and IPRPII
      • 1.3.4 Top-up Search
        • 1.3.4.1 Demand and Top-up Search
        • 1.3.4.2 Determining Cost of a Top-up Search on EPOQUE
      • 1.3.5 First IPE action
        • 1.3.5.1 First IPE Action
        • 1.3.5.2 Supplementary International Search Report
        • 1.3.5.3 PCT Third Party Observations
      • 1.3.6 Response to Opinion
        • 1.3.6.1 Response to Opinion
        • 1.3.6.2 Extensions of Time to Respond to Opinions
      • 1.3.8 Completing ISO, IPEO and IPRPII Forms
        • 1.3.8.1 Front Page and Notification Application Details
        • 1.3.8.2 Box I Basis of Opinion/Report for ISOs, IPEOs and IPRPs
        • 1.3.8.3 Box II Priority
        • 1.3.8.4 Box III Non-establishment of Opinion
        • 1.3.8.5 Box IV Unity of Invention
        • 1.3.8.6 Box V Reasoned Statement Regarding Novelty, Inventive Step & Industrial Applicability
          • 1.3.8.6.1 Novelty
          • 1.3.8.6.2 Inventive Step
          • 1.3.8.6.3 Industrial Applicability
        • 1.3.8.7 Box VI Certain Documents Cited
        • 1.3.8.8 Box VII Certain Defects
        • 1.3.8.9 Box VIII Certain Observations
      • 1.3.9 General Considerations
        • 1.3.9.1 Article 19 or Article 34(2)(b) Amendments
        • 1.3.9.2 Formalities
        • 1.3.9.3 General Notes on Form Completion
        • 1.3.9.4 Rule 91 Obvious Mistakes in Documents
      • 1.3.10 Annexes
        • Annex A Sub-Annexes
          • Annex AA - Best Practice Example 1
          • Annex AB - Best Practice Example 2
          • Annex AC - Best Practice Example 3
          • Annex AD - Best Practice Example 4
        • Annex A - Written Opinion-ISA
        • Annex B - Written Opinion-IPEO
        • Annex C - Notification of Transmittal of IPERII
        • Annex D - IPRPII
        • Annex E - IPRPII Clear Novel and Inventive Box V Only
        • Annex F - Invitation to Restrict/Pay Additional Fees - Unity
        • Annex G - Extension of Time Limit
        • Annex H - IPE Quality Checklist
        • Annex I - Examples of Inventive Step Objections
        • Annex J - Examples of Objections under PCT Articles 5 and 6
        • Annex K - Example of PCT Third Party Observations
        • Annex L - Blank Written Opinion - ISA
        • Annex M - Blank Written Opinion - IPEO
        • Annex N - Blank IPRPII
        • Annex O - ISO/ISR with Omnibus Claims
        • Annex P - PCT Timeline
      • 1.3.1 Procedural Outline Written Opinion
      • 1.3.2 Introduction International Examination
      • 1.3.7 IPRPII and Notification
    • 1.4 Fiji Applications
      • 1.4.8 Annexes
        • Annex A - Fiji search report
        • Annex B - Fiji search report
      • 1.4.1 Introduction
      • 1.4.2 Completion Time and Priority
      • 1.4.3 Initial Processing
      • 1.4.4 Search Procedure
      • 1.4.5 Search Report and Advisory Opinion
      • 1.4.6 Further Advisory Opinion
      • 1.4.7 Final Processing
    • 1.5 Thai Applications
      • 1.5.1 Introduction Thai
      • 1.5.2 Completion Time and Priority Thai
      • 1.5.3 Initial Processing Thai
      • 1.5.4 Search Procedure Thai
      • 1.5.5 Search Report Thai
      • 1.5.6 Final Processing Thai
      • 1.5.7 Annex A - Thai Search Report
    • 1.6 WIPO Searches
      • 1.6.7 Annexes
        • Annex A.1 - WIPO search request guidelines
        • Annex A.2 - WIPO search request
        • Annex A.3 - WIPO search request
      • 1.6.1 Introduction
      • 1.6.2 Completion Time and Priority
      • 1.6.3 Initial Processing
      • 1.6.4 Search Procedure
      • 1.6.5 Search Report
      • 1.6.6 Final Processing
    • 1.10 Miscellaneous
      • 1.10.1 Current Allocation of PCT Related Duties
      • 1.10.2 International Online Specialists
      • 1.10.3 Authorised Officer
      • 1.10.4 Minimum Levels of Responsibility
      • 1.10.5 Examiners with Foreign Language Capabilities
      • 1.10.6 Current Status of APO AS AN RO ISA and IPEA
    • 1.7 Other Countries
    • 1.8 (reserved)
    • 1.9 PCT Articles, Regs and Guidelines et al
    • Printable Version
  • 2. National
    • 2.2 Other Examination Considerations
      • 2.2.4 Communication of Report
        • 2.2.4.1 Emailing Reports to Applicants or Attorneys, Sending Urgent Reports
        • 2.2.4.2 Delayed or Non-Receipt of the Report by the Applicant or Attorney
        • 2.2.4.3 Correction of Reports
      • 2.2.7 Communication with Applicants and Attorneys Outside the Reporting Process and Recording of Case Notes
        • 2.2.7.1 Introduction
        • 2.2.7.2 Communication with Applicants or Attorneys by Phone
        • 2.2.7.3 Communication with Applicants or Attorneys by Email
        • 2.2.7.4 Dealing with Applicants or Attorneys in Person
        • 2.2.7.5 Recording of Case Notes
      • 2.2.1 Abbreviations Used in this Volume
      • 2.2.2 "Private Applicant" Cases
      • 2.2.3 Poor Translations
      • 2.2.5 Work Priorities and Case Allocation
      • 2.2.6 Responsibility for Furthers, Voluntary Section 104 Amendments
      • 2.2.8 Summary of IP Reform Changes
    • 2.3 Definitions
      • 2.3.1 Definitions in the Patents Act
      • 2.3.2 Effect of the Acts Interpretation Act
      • 2.3.3 Some Examples of Intended Ambits
      • 2.3.4 Reckoning of Time
    • 2.4 Novelty
      • 2.4.3 Applying the Test for Novelty
        • 2.4.3.1 Introduction
        • 2.4.3.2 Testing a Claim Against a Citation
      • 2.4.4 Relevant Prior Art
        • 2.4.4.1 Prior Art Information
        • 2.4.4.1A Prior Art Information
        • 2.4.4.2 Meaning of Document
        • 2.4.4.3 Publicly Available
        • 2.4.4.4 Mosaics and Related Documents
        • 2.4.4.5 Resiling from Acknowledged Prior Art
        • 2.4.4.6 Exclusions
          • 2.4.4.6A Exclusions
          • 2.4.4.6.1 Exhibitions
          • 2.4.4.6.2 Learned Societies
          • 2.4.4.6.3 Grace Period
          • 2.4.4.6.3A Grace Period
          • 2.4.4.6.4 Unauthorised Disclosures
          • 2.4.4.6.5 Reasonable Trial
      • 2.4.5 Construing the Citation
        • 2.4.5.2 Principles for Construing the Citation
          • 2.4.5.2.1 Construe As For Any Other Document
          • 2.4.5.2.2 Date for Construing Citation
          • 2.4.5.2.3 Use of Common General Knowledge
          • 2.4.5.2.4 Errors in the Citation
          • 2.4.5.2.5 Claims as a Disclosure
          • 2.4.5.2.6 Photographs as a Disclosure
        • 2.4.5.1 Introduction
      • 2.4.6 Level of Disclosure Required
        • 2.4.6.1 Practical Utility
        • 2.4.6.2 Non-Literal Disclosure
        • 2.4.6.3 Clear and Unmistakable Directions
        • 2.4.6.4 Mere Paper Anticipations
        • 2.4.6.5 Enabling Disclosures
        • 2.4.6.6 General Disclosures, Selections
          • 2.4.6.6.1 Selection Criteria
          • 2.4.6.6.2 Selection Specification Must Describe Advantage
          • 2.4.6.6.3 Mere Choice Does Not Make a Selection
          • 2.4.6.6.4 Level of Disclosure in a Citation
          • 2.4.6.6.5 Mechanical or Electrical Selection
      • 2.4.8 Not All Features of Claim Disclosed in Citation
        • 2.4.8.1 Introduction
        • 2.4.8.2 Features of a Claim prima facie Essential
        • 2.4.8.3 Mere Presence in Claim Does Not Ensure Essential
        • 2.4.8.4 Materially Affects the Way the Invention Works
        • 2.4.8.5 Collocations Kits
        • 2.4.8.6 Objects of the Invention, Statements of Prior Art
        • 2.4.8.7 Words and Phrases
        • 2.4.8.8 Conflicting Statements
        • 2.4.8.9 Consideration of Independent and Dependent Claims
      • 2.4.11 "Whole of Contents"
        • 2.4.11.1 Introduction
        • 2.4.11.2 Basis of the Whole of Contents Objection
        • 2.4.11.2A Basis of the "Whole of Contents" Objection
        • 2.4.11.3 Priority Date Considerations
        • 2.4.11.4 Publication Considerations
        • 2.4.11.4A Publication Considerations
        • 2.4.11.5 Citation Must be a Single Document
        • 2.4.11.6 Citation an International Application under the PCT
        • 2.4.11.7 Citation Not OPI
        • 2.4.11.8 Citation a Secret Case
        • 2.4.11.9 Citation cannot be a Provisional Specification
        • 2.4.11.10 Level of Disclosure
      • 2.4.12 Novelty - Some Specific Examples
        • 2.4.12.1 Chemical Compounds
          • 2.4.12.1.1 Construction - Implicit Degree of Purity
          • 2.4.12.1.2 Essential Features of Compound Inventions
          • 2.4.12.1.3 Enabling Disclosure
          • 2.4.12.1.4 Generic Disclosures as Citations
          • 2.4.12.1.5 Optical Isomers
          • 2.4.12.1.6 Constitutional and Geometric Isomers
          • 2.4.12.1.7 Tautomers
          • 2.4.12.1.8 Derivatives
          • 2.4.12.1.9 Purposive Construction of Compound Claims
          • 2.4.12.1.10 Reach-Through Claims
        • 2.4.12.2 Range of Variables
          • 2.4.12.2.1 Examples Needed for Clear and Unmistakable Directions
      • 2.4.1 Introduction
      • 2.4.2 Test for Novelty
      • 2.4.7 All Features Disclosed in Citation
      • 2.4.9 Doctrine of Mechanical Equivalents
      • 2.4.10 All Essential Features Disclosed in Citation
    • 2.5 Inventive Step
      • 2.5.1 Overview
        • 2.5.1.4 Comparison between Novelty and Inventive Step
          • 2.5.1.4.1 Prior Art Base
          • 2.5.1.4.1A Prior Art Base
          • 2.5.1.4.2 Operation of Section 7
          • 2.5.1.4.2A Operation of Section 7
        • 2.5.1.1 Introduction
        • 2.5.1.2 The Statutory Basis for Inventive Step
        • 2.5.1.2A The Statutory Basis for Inventive Step
        • 2.5.1.3 Precedent, and the Meaning of Obvious
        • 2.5.1.5 Tests for Inventive Step
        • 2.5.1.6 Assessing Inventive Step in Examination
        • 2.5.1.6A Assessing Inventive Step in Examination
        • 2.5.1.7 Ex Post Facto Analysis
      • 2.5.2 Identifying the Relevant Facts
        • 2.5.2.1 Common General Knowledge
          • 2.5.2.1.1 Introduction
          • 2.5.2.1.1A Introduction
          • 2.5.2.1.2 What is Common General Knowledge?
          • 2.5.2.1.3 Evidence of Common General Knowledge
          • 2.5.2.1.4 Acknowledged Prior Art
          • 2.5.2.1.5 Common General Knowledge in Australia
          • 2.5.2.1.5A Common General Knowledge not Limited to Being in Australia
          • 2.5.2.1.6 Patent Specifications as Indicators of Common General Knowledge
          • 2.5.2.1.7 Considerations at Further Reports
        • 2.5.2.3 Determining the Problem
          • 2.5.2.3.1 Introduction
          • 2.5.2.3.1A Introduction
          • 2.5.2.3.2 Problem Determined by Reference to Common General Knowledge and Prior Art Information
          • 2.5.2.3.3 Claim Does Not Solve the Identified Problem
          • 2.5.2.3.4 Amendment of the Problem
        • 2.5.2.2 Non-Essential Features of the Invention Claimed
        • 2.5.2.4 Identifying the Person Skilled in the Art (PSA)
        • 2.5.2.4A Identifying the Person Skilled in the Art
        • 2.5.2.5 Could the Person Skilled in the Art be Reasonably Expected to have Ascertained, Understood, Regard as Relevant and, Where Applicable, Combined the Prior Art Information?
          • 2.5.2.5.1 Ascertained
          • 2.5.2.5.2 Understood
          • 2.5.2.5.3 Regarded as Relevant
            • 2.5.2.5.3.1 Document Discusses the Same, or a Similar, Problem
            • 2.5.2.5.3.2 Document Discusses a Different Problem
            • 2.5.2.5.3.3 Age of the Document
            • 2.5.2.5.3.4 Would the Person Skilled in the Art Have used the Document to Solve the Problem
          • 2.5.2.5.4 Does the Document Constitute a Single Source of Information
          • 2.5.2.5.5 Could the Person Skilled in the Art Consider it Obvious
          • 2.5.2.5.5A Could the Person Skilled in the Art be Reasonably Expected to Have Combined the Prior Art Information to Solve the Problem?
          • 2.5.2.5.6 Inventive Step Objections Involving a Combination of Documents
        • 2.5.2.5A Prior Art Information
        • 2.5.2.6 Evidentiary Requirements
      • 2.5.3 Tests for Inventive Step
        • 2.5.3.1 Introduction
        • 2.5.3.2 Technical Equivalents
        • 2.5.3.3 Workshop Improvements
          • 2.5.3.3.1 Single Solution to the Problem
          • 2.5.3.3.2 Bonus Effect
          • 2.5.3.3.3 Several Solutions to the Problem
          • 2.5.3.3.4 Selections
          • 2.5.3.3.5 Obvious to Try
        • 2.5.3.4 Special Inducements, Obvious Selections
          • 2.5.3.4.1 Examples of Special Inducement
        • 2.5.3.5 Obvious Combinations of Features of Common General Knowledge
        • 2.5.3.6 Invention in Identifying the Real Nature of the Problem
        • 2.5.3.7 Invention in the Idea
        • 2.5.3.8 Invention in the Purpose
        • 2.5.3.9 Sub-Tests of Inventive Step
          • 2.5.3.9.1 Prior Art, or Common General Knowledge, Teaches Away From the Solution
          • 2.5.3.9.2 Practical Difficulties Overcome
          • 2.5.3.9.3 Enabling Disclosures SubTests
        • 2.5.3.10 Indicators of Inventive Step
          • 2.5.3.10.1 Long Felt Need
          • 2.5.3.10.2 Failure of Others
          • 2.5.3.10.3 Complexity of Work
          • 2.5.3.10.4 Whether or Not a Worthwhile Line of Development
          • 2.5.3.10.5 Copying of Invention in Preference to Prior Art
          • 2.5.3.10.6 Commercial Success
      • 2.5.4 Inventive Step - Some Specific Examples
        • 2.5.4.1 Chemical Situations
          • 2.5.4.1.1 Problem in Compound per se Claims
          • 2.5.4.1.2 Anticipation by Generic Disclosures
          • 2.5.4.1.3 Optical Isomers
    • 2.7 Micro-Organisms and Other Life Forms
      • 2.7.2 Full Written Description of a Life Form
        • 2.7.2.1 General Requirements of the Description
        • 2.7.2.1A General Requirements of the Description
        • 2.7.2.2 Some Specific Requirements for the Written Description of Plant Varieties
        • 2.7.2.3 Best Method of Performance of an Invention Involving a Life Form
        • 2.7.2.4 The Issue of Repeatability
      • 2.7.3 The Budapest Treaty
        • 2.7.3.1 Introduction
        • 2.7.3.1A Introduction
        • 2.7.3.2 Full Description of a Micro-Organism by Satisfying the Deposit Requirements
        • 2.7.3.2A Enabling Disclosure of a Micro-Organism by Satisfying the Deposit Requirements
        • 2.7.3.3 Inventions Involving the Use
        • 2.7.3.4 Deposit Requirements in Modified Examination
        • 2.7.3.5 Deposit Requirements Affecting the Priority Date of a Divisional Application
      • 2.7.4 The Deposit Requirements
        • 2.7.4.1 Types of Deposits Under the Budapest Treaty
        • 2.7.4.2 Deposit Requirements Under Section 6
          • 2.7.4.2.1 The Section 6 Provisions Explained
          • 2.7.4.2.2 Section 6 Examination Practice
        • 2.7.4.3 Deposit Receipt and Notice of Entitlement to Rely on Deposit
          • 2.7.4.3.1 Contents of the Receipt
      • 2.7.5 Amendments to Insert Section 6(c) Information and Extensions of Time Therefor
        • 2.7.5.1 Sections 104 and 223 - Insertion of Section 6(c) Information
        • 2.7.5.1A Sections 104 and 223 - Insertion of Section 6(c) Information
        • 2.7.5.2 Article 34 Amendments Concerning Section 6(c) Information
        • 2.7.5.3 Amendment Procedure When a Request for Certification for Release is Pending
        • 2.7.5.4 Amendment Procedure When Deposit Requirements Cease to be Satisfied
      • 2.7.7 Deposit Requirements Cease to be Satisfied
        • 2.7.7.1 Notification that Deposit Requirements have Ceased to be Satisfied
        • 2.7.7.2 The New Deposit
      • Annexes
        • Annex A - Form BP/12
        • Annex B - Notification Regarding Release
        • Annex C - Letter to Person Making Request for Certification
        • Annex D - Notification to Applicant of Request for Release
      • 2.7.1 General Considerations and Definitions
      • 2.7.6 Release of a Sample of Deposit
        • 2.7.6.1 Request for Release
        • 2.7.6.2 Consideration of Request for Release
        • 2.7.6.3 Grant of Certification Authorising Release
        • 2.7.6.4 Restrictive Access Provision
    • 2.8 Abstracts
      • 2.8.1 Introduction
      • 2.8.2 Contents and Form
      • 2.8.3 Amendment of Abstract
      • 2.8.3A Amendment of Abstract
    • 2.9 Patentability Issues
      • 2.9.2 Patentable Subject Matter (Manner of Manufacture)
        • 2.9.2.1 Legal Principles
        • 2.9.2.2 Reserved
        • 2.9.2.3 Alleged Invention
        • 2.9.2.4 Fine Arts
        • 2.9.2.5 Discoveries, Ideas, Scientific Theories, Schemes and Plans
        • 2.9.2.6 Nucleic Acids and Genetic Information
        • 2.9.2.7 Computer Implemented Inventions - Schemes and Business Methods
        • 2.9.2.8 Printed Matter
        • 2.9.2.9 Games and Gaming Machines
        • 2.9.2.10 Mathematical Algorithms
        • 2.9.2.11 Methods of Testing, Observation and Measurement
        • 2.9.2.12 Mere Working Directions
        • 2.9.2.13 Treatment of Human Beings
        • 2.9.2.14 Micro-Organisms and Other Life Forms
        • 2.9.2.15 Agriculture and Horticulture
        • 2.9.2.16 Combinations, Collocations, Kits, Packages and Mere Admixtures
          • 2.9.2.16.1 Collocations
          • 2.9.2.16.2 Kits and Packages
          • 2.9.2.16.3 Admixtures
          • 2.9.2.16.4 Tips on Claim Construction
        • 2.9.2.17 New Uses
          • 2.9.2.17.1 New Use of a Known Substance
          • 2.9.2.17.2 New Use of an Old Contrivance
          • 2.9.2.17.3 Analogous Use
        • 2.9.2.18 Ethics and Social Policy
      • 2.9.3 Other Issues
        • 2.9.3.1 Contrary to Law
        • 2.9.3.2 Food or Medicines, Being Mere Admixtures
        • 2.9.3.3 General Inconvenience
        • 2.9.3.4 Useful (Utility)
        • 2.9.3.4A Useful (Utility)
          • 2.9.3.4.1A Assessing the Claims for Lack of Usefulness
            • 2.9.3.4.1.1A Does the Invention Achieve the Promised Benefit?
            • 2.9.3.4.1.2A Specific, Substantial and Credible Use
          • 2.9.3.4.2A Consideration of Specific Claim Types
          • 2.9.3.4.3A Therapeutic or Pharmacological Use
          • 2.9.3.4.4A Contravention of Laws of Nature
        • 2.9.3.5 Human Beings and Biological Processes for Their Generation
          • 2.9.3.5.1 Stem Cells
      • 2.9.1 Overview
      • 2.9 Annex A - History of Manner of Manufacture
    • 2.10 Divisional Applications (Sections 79B and 79C)
      • 2.10.1 Application
      • 2.10.1A Application
      • 2.10.2 Priority Entitlement
      • 2.10.2A Priority Entitlement
      • 2.10.3 Time Limits for Filing Applications
      • 2.10.3A Time Limits for Filing Applications
      • 2.10.4 Status of Parent
      • 2.10.5 Subject Matter
      • 2.10.5A Subject Matter
      • 2.10.6 Acceptance
      • 2.10.7 Continuation Fees
      • 2.10.8 Dividing From a Provisional Application
      • 2.10.9 Considering Relative Cases During Examination
        • 2.10.9.1 Supervision of Divisional Applications with Great Grandparent or Earlier Ancestors
      • 2.10.10 Amendment of Patent Request - Conversion of Application to a Divisional
      • 2.10.10A Amendment of Patent Request - Conversion of Application to a Divisional
      • 2.10.11 Case Management of Divisional Applications
      • Annex A - Procedural Outline to Divisional Application Examination
    • 2.11 Section 40 - Specifications
      • 2.11.1 Overview
      • 2.11.1A Overview
      • 2.11.2 Construction of Specifications
        • 2.11.2.3 Construction of Claims
          • 2.11.2.3.1 The Claims are Construed as a Legal Document
          • 2.11.2.3.2 A Presumption is Made Against Redundancy
          • 2.11.2.3.3 "For Use", "When Used", etc
          • 2.11.2.3.3A "For Use", "When Used", etc
          • 2.11.2.3.4 "Comprises", "Includes", "Consists of" and "Contains"
          • 2.11.2.3.5 Reference Numerals in Claims
          • 2.11.2.3.6 Appendancies
          • 2.11.2.3.7 Relative Terms
          • 2.11.2.3.8 "Substantially" and "About"
          • 2.11.2.3.9 Omnibus Claims
          • 2.11.2.3.9A Omnibus Claims
          • 2.11.2.3.10 Swiss Claims
          • 2.11.2.3.11 Product by Process Claims
          • 2.11.2.3.12 Parametric Claims
        • 2.11.2.1 The Addressee
          • 2.11.2.1.1 Multiple Addressees
          • 2.11.2.1.2 The Examiner as Addressee
        • 2.11.2.2 Rules of Construction
          • 2.11.2.2.1 Construction of Patent Specifications a Question of Law
          • 2.11.2.2.2 Words are Given their Plain Meaning
          • 2.11.2.2.3 Read the Specification as a Whole
          • 2.11.2.2.3A Read the Specification as a Whole
          • 2.11.2.2.4 Purposive Construction
          • 2.11.2.2.5 Dictionary Principle
          • 2.11.2.2.6 Reject the Absurd
          • 2.11.2.2.7 The Description Construed as a Technical Document
          • 2.11.2.2.8 Errors, Mistakes, Omissions
        • 2.11.2.4 What is the Invention?
          • 2.11.2.4.1 General Considerations
          • 2.11.2.4.2 Approach in Lockwood v Doric
          • 2.11.2.4.3 Consistory Clause
          • 2.11.2.4.3A Consistory Clause
          • 2.11.2.4.4 Requirement for Critical Analysis
          • 2.11.2.4.5 "Essential Features" of the Invention
        • 2.11.2.4A What is the Invention?
      • 2.11.3 Full Description, Best Method
        • 2.11.3.1 Date for Determining Full Description
        • 2.11.3.2 Can the Nature of the Invention be Ascertained?
        • 2.11.3.3 Compliance with Subsection 40(2) is a Question of Fact
        • 2.11.3.4 Enabling Disclosures
        • 2.11.3.5 Effort Required to Perform the Invention
        • 2.11.3.6 Different Aspects Claimed in Different Claims
        • 2.11.3.7 Inclusion of References
        • 2.11.3.8 Trade Marks in Specifications
        • 2.11.3.9 Colour Drawings and Photographs
        • 2.11.3.10 Claims as Basis of Disclosure
        • 2.11.3.11 Contravention of Laws of Nature - e.g. Perpetual Motion Machines
        • 2.11.3.12 Relative Terms
        • 2.11.3.13 Starting Materials
        • 2.11.3.14 Cyclic Inventions
        • 2.11.3.15 Biological Inventions and the Budapest Treaty
        • 2.11.3.16 Distinction Between Lack of Full Description, Inutility and False Suggestion
        • 2.11.3.17 Best Method of Performing the Invention
        • 2.11.3.18 At Least One Method Must be Disclosed
        • 2.11.3.19 Only One Preferred Embodiment is Required
      • 2.11.3A Clear Enough and Complete Enough Disclosure
        • 2.11.3.1A Date for Determining Clear Enough and Complete Enough Disclosure
        • 2.11.3.3A Compliance with Subsection 40(2) is a Question of Fact
        • 2.11.3.4A Principles for Examination
          • 2.11.3.4.1A Clarity of Disclosure
          • 2.11.3.4.2A Section 40 Enabling Disclosures
          • 2.11.3.4.3A Undue Burden
        • 2.11.3.7A Inclusion of References
        • 2.11.3.8A Trade Marks in Specifications
        • 2.11.3.9A Colour Drawings, Graphics and Photographs
        • 2.11.3.10A Claims as Basis of Disclosure
        • 2.11.3.11A Contravention of Laws of Nature - e.g. Perpetual Motion Machines
        • 2.11.3.12A Relative Terms
        • 2.11.3.14A Cyclic Inventions
        • 2.11.3.15A Biological Inventions and the Budapest Treaty
        • 2.11.3.17A Best Method of Performing the Invention
        • 2.11.3.18A At Least One Method Must be Disclosed
        • 2.11.3.19A Only One Preferred Embodiment is Required
      • 2.11.4 Claims Define the Invention
      • 2.11.4A Claims Define the Invention
      • 2.11.5 Claims are Clear
        • 2.11.5.1 Length of Claim
        • 2.11.5.2 One Sentence
        • 2.11.5.3 Redundant Claims
        • 2.11.5.4 Different Combinations of Integers
        • 2.11.5.5 Dictionary Definitions
        • 2.11.5.6 Cross-References
        • 2.11.5.6A Cross-References
        • 2.11.5.7 Trade marks in claims
        • 2.11.5.7A Trade Marks in Claims
        • 2.11.5.8 Disclaimers
        • 2.11.5.9 Imprecise Terms - e.g. "About"
        • 2.11.5.10 Appendancy Issues
      • 2.11.6 Claims are Succinct
      • 2.11.7 Claims are Fairly Based
        • 2.11.7.1 General Principles
        • 2.11.7.2 Sub-Tests for Fair Basis
        • 2.11.7.3 Relationship Between the Invention Described and the Invention Claimed
        • 2.11.7.4 Only Disclosure is in a Claim
        • 2.11.7.5 Alternatives in a Claim
        • 2.11.7.6 Claiming by Result
        • 2.11.7.7 Reach-Through Claims
        • 2.11.7.8 Claims to Alloys
      • 2.11.7A Support for the Claims
        • 2.11.7.1A Principles for Examination
          • 2.11.7.1.1A Contribution to the Art
        • 2.11.7.2A Subsection 40(2)(a) 'Clear and Complete Disclosure' v Subsection 40(3) 'Support'
        • 2.11.7.3A Inconsistency Between the Invention Disclosed and the Invention Claimed
        • 2.11.7.4A Support in View of Proposed Amendments
        • 2.11.7.5A Alternatives in a Claim
        • 2.11.7.6A Claiming by Result
        • 2.11.7.7A Reach-Through Claims
        • 2.11.7.8A Claims to Alloys
        • 2.11.7.9A Broad or Speculative Claims
        • 2.11.7.10A Support Required for Pharmaceutical Inventions and Methods of Treatment
      • 2.11.8 Claims Relate to One Invention Only - Lack of Unity
      • 2.11.9 Title of the Specification
        • 2.11.9.1 Consistency of Title in the Documents
      • 2.11.10 Provisional Specifications
      • 2.11.10A Provisional Specifications
      • 2.11.11 Complete Applications Associated with Provisional Applications
      • 2.11.11A Complete Applications Associated with Provisional Applications
      • 2.11.12 Complete Application Treated as a Provisional
      • 2.11A Annex A - Examples: Subsections 40(2)(a) and 40(3)
      • 2.11A Annex B - Summary of the Clear Enough and Complete Enough Disclosure, Support and Useful (Utility) Provisions
    • 2.12 Priority Dates and Filing Dates
      • 2.12.1 Priority Dates
        • 2.12.1.1 Priority Date of Claims
        • 2.12.1.1A Priority Date of Claims
        • 2.12.1.2 Priority Date Issues Specific to Associated Applications
        • 2.12.1.2A Priority Date Issues Specific to Associated Applications
        • 2.12.1.3 Priority Date Issues Specific to Convention Applications
        • 2.12.1.3A Priority Date Issues Specific to Convention Applications
        • 2.12.1.4 Priority Date Issues Relating to Amended Claims
        • 2.12.1.4A Priority Date Issues Relating to Amended Claims
      • 2.12.2 Filing Dates
        • 2.12.2.1 Filing Dates
        • 2.12.2.2 Effect of Hours of Business, Time Zones and Public Holidays
        • 2.12.2.3 Effect of Errors in PAMS
    • 2.15 Acceptance of Standard Patent Applications
      • 2.15.7 Exending the Time for Acceptance
        • 2.15.7.1 Objections Based on "Whole of Contents"
        • 2.15.7.2 Objections Based on a Section 27 Notice
        • 2.15.7.3 Request for Corrected Translation or Certificate of Verification
        • 2.15.7.4 Request for Basic Specification
        • 2.15.7.5 Entitlement Disputes During Examination
        • 2.15.7.6 Action by a Court or Tribunal
      • 2.15.1 Introduction
      • 2.15.2 Misleading Unfair or Derogatory References
      • 2.15.3 Processes Operated Outside the Jurisdiction of Australian Law
      • 2.15.4 Clear Reports
      • 2.15.5 Revocation of Acceptance
      • 2.15.6 Time for Acceptance
      • 2.15.8 Postponement of Acceptance
    • 2.17 Publications
      • 2.17.1 Significance of Publication
      • 2.17.2 Date of Publication
      • 2.17.3 OPI Notified by Error
      • 2.17.4 Obtaining OPI Date
      • 2.17.5 Published Documents
      • 2.17.6 Publication Date of PCT and Foreign Specifications for Citation Purposes
    • 2.18 Multiple Applications (Sections 64(2) and 101B)
      • 2.18.3 Examination Reports
        • 2.18.3.1 Application for a Standard Patent
        • 2.18.3.2 Innovation Patent
      • 2.18.1 Introduction
      • 2.18.2 Practice
      • 2.18.4 Requirement that Inventors be the Same
      • 2.18.5 Inventions Claimed in a Claim
      • 2.18.6 Same Invention
      • 2.18.7 Priority Dates
      • 2.18.8 Additionals/Divisionals
      • 2.18.9 Omnibus Claims
      • Annex A - Bar-to-Grant Letter
    • 2.19 Patents of Addition (Chapter 7)
      • 2.19.1 Applications for Patents of Addition
        • 2.19.1.1 Introduction
        • 2.19.1.2 Neither Can be an Innovation Patent
        • 2.19.1.3 Conditions of Filing
        • 2.19.1.4 Patent Must be in Force
        • 2.19.1.5 Fees
        • 2.19.1.6 Authorisation From Parent Application
        • 2.19.1.7 Main Invention Ownership Change
        • 2.19.1.8 One Parent Only
        • 2.19.1.9 Plural Additional Applications
        • 2.19.1.10 Additional to an Additional
        • 2.19.1.11 May be Both an Additional and Divisional
      • 2.19.2 Examination Procedure
        • 2.19.2.1 Examination Practice
        • 2.19.2.2 Grant Requirements
      • 2.19.3 Improvement and Modification
      • 2.19.4 Amendments Add
      • 2.19.5 Timing Provisions
      • 2.19.6 Differentiation From the Parent
      • 2.19.7 Considering Parent File During Examination
      • Annex A - Procedural Outline to Patents of Addition Examination
    • 2.20 National Phase Applications
      • 2.20.3 Patent Request and Entitlement
        • 2.20.3.1 Patent Request Form
        • 2.20.3.2 Entitlement
      • 2.20.4 Complete Specification in a Foreign Language
        • 2.20.4.1 General Considerations
        • 2.20.4.2 Translation Supplied by the Applicant
        • 2.20.4.3 Translation Supplied by the International Bureau
      • 2.20.5 Priority Considerations
        • 2.20.5.1 Priority Sources
        • 2.20.5.1A Priority Sources
        • 2.20.5.2 Obtaining and Considering Priority Documents
      • Annexes
        • Annex A - Examination of National Phase Applications: Indicators of Special or Different Considerations
        • Annex B - Applicant and Inventor Details as Shown on PCT Pamphlet Front Page
        • Annex C - Declaration Under Rule 4.17
        • Annex D - Verification of Translation
        • Annex E - PCT Pamphlet Front Page
        • Annex F - Amended Claims Format
      • 2.20.1 Introduction
        • 2.20.1.1 Definitions of Terms
        • 2.20.1.2 Key Features of the Legislation
        • 2.20.1.2A Key Features of the Legislation
        • 2.20.1.3 National Phase Preliminaries
        • 2.20.1.3A National Phase Preliminaries
        • 2.20.1.4 Formality Requirements
        • 2.20.1.4A Formalities Check
      • 2.20.2 Classification
      • 2.20.6 National Examination Where the ISR is Available
      • 2.20.7 National Examination Where the ISR is Missing
      • 2.20.8 Use of IPRP
      • 2.20.9 According International Filing Dates and Article 25 Applications
      • 2.20.10 Amendments and Corrections Prior to Examination
        • 2.20.10.1 Determining Whether Amendments Made Under Articles and Rules of the PCT are Considered During Examination
          • 2.20.10.1.1 General Provisions
          • 2.20.10.1.1A General Provisions
          • 2.20.10.1.2 Determining Whether Article 19 and Article 34 Amendments are Considered During Examination
          • 2.20.10.1.2A Determining Whether Article 19 and Article 34 Amendments are Considered During Examination
          • 2.20.10.1.3 The IASR
          • 2.20.10.1.4 The IASF
        • 2.20.10.2 Formality Considerations
        • 2.20.10.3 Article 19 Amendments
        • 2.20.10.4 Article 34 Amendments
        • 2.20.10.5 Translation of Amendments
        • 2.20.10.6 Amendments Resulting in a Claim to New Matter
        • 2.20.10.7 Rule 91 Amendments
        • 2.20.10.8 Rule 92bis Amendments
        • 2.20.10.9 Corrected Versions of Pamphlet and IPRPII
      • 2.20.11 Amendments During Examination
      • 2.20.11A Amendments During Examination
      • 2.20.12 Chapter 15 Applications (Sections 147 to 153)
    • 2.21 Convention Applications
      • 2.21.2 Convention Countries
        • 2.21.2.1 Convention Country Listing
        • 2.21.2.1A Convention Country Listing
        • 2.21.2.2 Basic Applications Filed Before Intergovernmental Organisations
        • 2.21.2.3 Convention Country Status Change
        • 2.21.2.3A Convention Country Status Change
      • 2.21.3 Making Convention Applications
        • 2.21.3.1 General Requirements
        • 2.21.3.2 Who May Apply
        • 2.21.3.3 Basic Applications
        • 2.21.3.4 Timing Provisions Convention
        • 2.21.3.5 Basic Application Outside 12 Month Convention Period
        • 2.21.3.5A Basic Application Outside 12 Month Convention Period
        • 2.21.3.6 Basic Applications Having a Parent Application
        • 2.21.3.7 Patent Requests and Entitlement
        • 2.21.3.8 Basic Specifications
        • 2.21.3.9 Converting Convention Applications to Non-Convention, and Vice Versa
        • 2.21.3.10 Translation Requirements
        • 2.21.3.11 Date of Basic Application
        • 2.21.3.12 Convention Priority Dates
        • 2.21.3.12A Convention Priority Dates
      • 2.21.1 Introduction
    • 2.22 Re-Examination
      • 2.22.3 When Re-Examination Applies
        • 2.22.3.1 Between Acceptance and Grant (Applications for Standard Patents)
        • 2.22.3.2 Post-Grant (Standard and Innovation Patents)
        • 2.22.3.3 Re-examination of Standard Applications and Innovation Patents
      • 2.22.4 Re-Examination Consideration
        • 2.22.4.1 Scope of the Consideration
        • 2.22.4.2 Re-Examination Request
        • 2.22.4.3 Material Considered During Re-Examination
        • 2.22.4.4 Re-Examination in Light of the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL)
      • 2.22.5 Re-Examination Report
        • 2.22.5.1 Initial Report
        • 2.22.5.2 Statement under Section 99 or Section 101H
        • 2.22.5.3 Copy of the Statement under Section 99 or Section 101H
        • 2.22.5.4 Subsequent Adverse Reports
        • 2.22.5.5 Proposed Amendments are Allowable
        • 2.22.5.6 Proposed Amendments are not Allowable
        • 2.22.5.7 Supervision of Reports
      • 2.22.6 Completion of Re-Examination Process
        • 2.22.6.1 Completion of Re-Examination in an Opposition Proceeding
        • 2.22.6.2 Conclusion of Re-Examination Otherwise
      • 2.22.8 Refusal to Grant a Patent Following Re-examination
        • 2.22.8.1 Decision by the Commissioner
        • 2.22.8.2 Appeal by the Applicant
      • 2.22.9 Revocation of Patent Following Re-examination
        • 2.22.9.1 Decision by the Commissioner
        • 2.22.9.2 Where Proceedings are Pending
        • 2.22.9.3 Appeal by the Patentee
        • 2.22.9.4 Appeal by a Third Party
      • 2.22.1 Introduction
      • 2.22.2 Transitional Provisions
      • 2.22.7 Copy of Report on Re-Examination
      • Annex A - Re-examination Processing
      • Annex B - Intention to Re-Examine Letter
      • Annex C - Re-Examination Checklist
    • 2.23 Amendments
      • 2.23.2 General Provisions - Section 104 Amendments
        • 2.23.2.1 Who May Request Amendment
        • 2.23.2.2 When Amendment May Be Requested
        • 2.23.2.3 What Documents Can Be Amended
        • 2.23.2.4 Withdrawal of Amendment Request
        • 2.23.2.5 Multiple Requests for Amendment
        • 2.23.2.6 National Phase Applications
        • 2.23.2.7 Priority in Reporting on Voluntary Requests to Amend
        • 2.23.2.8 Unfinalised Proposed Amendments Prior to Examination
      • 2.23.3 Formalities
        • 2.23.3.1 Form of Request to Amend
        • 2.23.3.2 The Document to be Amended
        • 2.23.3.3 When Amendments are OPI
        • 2.23.3.4 Amendments Arising Out of Decisions or Directions Under Appeal
        • 2.23.3.5 Relevant Proceedings Pending
        • 2.23.3.6 Consent of Exclusive Licensee or Mortgagee Required
        • 2.23.3.7 Requirements in Relation to Providing Reasons for Proposed Amendments
        • 2.23.3.8 Form Amendments Should Take
        • 2.23.3.9 Amending a Complete Specification Under Section 104 to Comply with a Regulation 3.2A Direction
        • 2.23.3.10 Incorporating Amendments into the Specification
        • 2.23.3.11 Amendments to Amino Acid and/or Nucleotide Sequences in Electronic Form
      • 2.23.4 Fees
        • 2.23.4.1 Fees Required for Amendment Requests
        • 2.23.4.2 Request to Amend Where Patent/Application is not in Force
      • 2.23.5 Granting Leave to Amend/Allowing the Amendments
        • 2.23.5.1 Granting Leave to Amend
        • 2.23.5.2 Publishing a Notice of the Granting of Leave to Amend
        • 2.23.5.3 Allowing Amendments After Granting Leave
        • 2.23.5.4 Allowing Amendments Upon Acceptance of a Patent Request and Complete
        • 2.23.5.5 Allowing Amendments Immediately Prior to OPI
        • 2.23.5.6 Revocation of Leave to Amend
      • 2.23.9 Allowability Under Section 102(2) etc
        • 2.23.9.1 General Comments
        • 2.23.9.1A General Comments
        • 2.23.9.2 Meaning of fall within the scope of the claims
        • 2.23.9.3 Allowability Under Section 102(2)(a)
        • 2.23.9.4 Broadening the Scope of the Claims
        • 2.23.9.5 Allowability and Omnibus Claims
        • 2.23.9.5A Allowability and Omnibus Claims
        • 2.23.9.6 Allowability Under Section 102(2)(b)
      • 2.23.10 "Clerical Error" and "Obvious Mistake"
        • 2.23.10.1 General Comments
        • 2.23.10.2 Clerical Error
        • 2.23.10.3 Obvious Mistake
        • 2.23.10.4 Evidence Required to Prove a Clerical Error or Obvious Mistake
      • 2.23.11 Amendments After the Grant of a Patent
        • 2.23.11.1 General Comments
        • 2.23.11.2 Allowability Criteria
        • 2.23.11.3 Quality Assurance Processes
      • 2.23.12 Other Allowability Issues Concerning Amendments to Complete Specifications
        • 2.23.12.1 Amendments Relating to Micro-Organisms
        • 2.23.12.2 Amendments Otherwise not Allowable to a Complete Specification
      • 2.23.14 Amendments During Section 59 Opposition and Section 101M Opposition Proceedings
        • 2.23.14.4 Considering the Amendments
          • 2.23.14.4.1 Task Priority
          • 2.23.14.4.2 Proposed Amendments are Allowable
          • 2.23.14.4.3 Proposed Amendments are not Allowable
          • 2.23.14.4.4 Further Proposed Amendments
          • 2.23.14.4.5 Dealing with Comments
        • 2.23.14.1 General Comments
        • 2.23.14.2 Issuing the Invitation
        • 2.23.14.3 (reserved)
        • 2.23.14.5 Amendments as a Result of a Decision
        • 2.23.14.6 Opposing Allowance of the Amendments
        • 2.23.14.7 Amendments Where Opposition Decision is Being Appealed
      • 2.23.15 Opposition to Amendments
        • 2.23.15.1 Standard Patents
        • 2.23.15.1A Standard Patents
        • 2.23.15.2 Innovation Patents
      • Annexes
        • Annex A - Section 104 Amendments During Opposition Proceedings: Check Sheet
        • Annex B - Guidelines for Completing the Voluntary Section 104 Allowance Form
      • 2.23.1 Introduction
      • 2.23.6 Amendments to Complete Specifications
      • 2.23.7 Allowability of Amendments to Complete Specifications
      • 2.23.7A Allowability of Amendments to Complete Specifications
      • 2.23.8 Allowability under Section 102(1)
        • 2.23.8.1 The Section 102(1) Provisions Explained
        • 2.23.8.2 Section 102(1) Examination Practice
      • 2.23.8A Allowability Under Section 102(1)
        • 2.23.8.1A The Section 102(1) Provisions Explained
        • 2.23.8.2A Section 102(1) Examination Practice
      • 2.23.13 Amendment of a Patent Request or of Other Filed Documents
        • 2.23.13.1 Amendment of Patent Request
        • 2.23.13.2 Amending a Standard Patent Request to an Innovation Patent
        • 2.23.13.3 Amending a Non-Convention Patent Request to a Convention Patent Request
        • 2.23.13.4 Amending a Convention Patent Request to a Non-Convention Patent Request
        • 2.23.13.5 Amending Convention Particulars on a Patent Request
        • 2.23.13.6 Adding a Second or Subsequent Basic Application to a Convention
        • 2.23.13.7 Amending a Patent Request to a Patent Request for a Patent of Addition
        • 2.23.13.8 Amendments to a Provisional Specification
        • 2.23.13.8A Amendments to a Provisional Specification
        • 2.23.13.9 Amending a Request for Examination
        • 2.23.13.10 Amendments to "other filed documents"
      • 2.23.16 Amendment of Refused Application
    • 2.24 Requesting and Directing Examination, Withdrawal, Lapsing, Extension of Term
      • 2.24.1 Requesting and Directing Examination
        • 2.24.1.1 Request for Examination
        • 2.24.1.2 Direction to Request Examination
      • 2.24.2 Withdrawal of Applications (Section 141, Regulation 13.1A)
        • 2.24.2.1 Withdrawal Opportunity and Effect
        • 2.24.2.2 The Request for Withdrawal
          • 2.24.2.2.1 Reversing Withdrawal of an Application
        • 2.24.2.3 PCT Application
        • 2.24.2.4 Stated Disinterest in Proceeding with the Application
        • 2.24.2.5 Indexing if Withdrawn After OPI
        • 2.24.2.6 Amendments Proposed After Withdrawn
        • 2.24.2.7 Related Applications
      • 2.24.3 Lapsing of an Application
        • 2.24.3.1 Lapsing Under Section 142
        • 2.24.3.2 Lapsing for Non-payment of Continuation Fee
        • 2.24.3.3 Lapsing Under Section 148
        • 2.24.3.4 Lapsing Under Regulations 3.2A(5) and 3.2B(3)
        • 2.24.3.5 Lapsing under Regulation 22.2B
      • 2.24.4 Extension of Term (Chapter 6, Part 3)
      • 2.24.5 Dealing with Lapsed, Withdrawn, Refused, Revoked, Ceased and Expired Cases
    • 2.25 The Register of Patents (Chapter 19)
      • 2.25.1 The Register
      • 2.25.2 Entries in the Register
      • 2.25.3 Registration of, and Amendment to, Particulars
      • 2.25.4 Correction of the Register
      • 2.25.5 Obtaining Information from Register
    • 2.26 Employees, Delegations, Administration
      • 2.26.1 Restrictions on Patent Office Staff (Sections 182-185)
        • 2.26.1.1 Trafficking in Inventions, Trafficking Exemptions
        • 2.26.1.2 Provision of Advice
        • 2.26.1.3 Helping to Prepare Documents
        • 2.26.1.4 Use of Search Material and Information
      • 2.26.2 Conflict of Interest
      • 2.26.3 Information Obtainable From the Commissioner (Section 194)
      • 2.26.4 Delegations (Section 209)
        • 2.26.4.1 Statutory Provisions
          • 2.26.4.1.1 Patents Act 1990
          • 2.26.4.1.2 Acts Interpretation Act
        • 2.26.4.2 Types of Delegations Made by the Commissioner
          • 2.26.4.2.1 General Delegations
          • 2.26.4.2.2 Specific Delegations
        • 2.26.4.3 Remaking Delegations
        • 2.26.4.4 Revoking Delegations
        • 2.26.4.5 General Issues Regarding Delegations
        • 2.26.4.6 Preparation of Delegations
        • 2.26.4.7 Implied Delegations
      • 2.26.5 Secret Cases
    • 2.27 Payment of Fees (Section 227)
      • 2.27.1 Prescribed Fees
      • 2.27.2 Fee Payment Basis
      • 2.27.3 Fees Not Paid or Requested
      • 2.27.4 When Refund or Transfer Not Available
      • 2.27.5 Actioning of Requests for Refund or Exemption
      • 2.27.6 Mention of Fee Treatment in Examiner's Report
      • 2.27.7 Error or Omission in the Patent Office
      • 2.27.8 Continuation Fee Timing
      • 2.27.9 Exemption From Fees
      • 2.27.10 Refund of Certain Fees Regulation 22.7(1)
    • 2.28 Transitional and Savings Provisions
      • 2.28.1 Introduction
      • 2.28.2 Provisions of the Patents Act 1990 (as in Force Immediately Before 15 April 2013)
      • 2.28.3 Patent Applications Filed, and Patents Granted, Under the Patents Act 1952
    • 2.30 Patent Deed
      • 2.30.1 Sealing of Duplicate Patent
    • 2.31 Innovation Patents
      • 2.31.1 Features of the System
        • 2.31.1.1 Introduction
        • 2.31.1.2 Filing
        • 2.31.1.3 Formalities Check
        • 2.31.1.4 Acceptance and Grant
        • 2.31.1.5 Examination
        • 2.31.1.6 Certification
        • 2.31.1.7 Opposition
        • 2.31.1.8 Re-Examination
        • 2.31.1.9 Ceasing/Expiring
        • 2.31.1.10 Amendments
        • 2.31.1.11 Notification by Third Parties
      • 2.31.2 Types of Innovation Patent Application
        • 2.31.2.1 Section 79B and Section 79C Divisional Applications
        • 2.31.2.2 Association with Provisional Applications
        • 2.31.2.3 Patents of Addition Innovation
        • 2.31.2.4 Convention Applications
        • 2.31.2.5 International (PCT) Applications
        • 2.31.2.6 Parallel Applications
      • 2.31.3 Formalities Check for Innovation Patents
        • 2.31.3.1 Introduction
        • 2.31.3.2 Formalities to be Checked
      • 2.31.4 Examination
        • 2.31.4.5 Ground (2): Subsection 18(1A)
          • 2.31.4.5.1 Requirements
          • 2.31.4.5.2 Patentable Subject Matter (Manner of Manufacture)
          • 2.31.4.5.3 Novelty
          • 2.31.4.5.4 Innovative Step
            • 2.31.4.5.4.1 Indicators of Innovative Step
            • 2.31.4.5.4.2 Examples
          • 2.31.4.5.4A Innovative Step
            • 2.31.4.5.4.1 Indicators of Innovative Step
            • 2.31.4.5.4.2 Examples
        • 2.31.4.1 Introduction
        • 2.31.4.2 Period for Examination to be Carried Out
        • 2.31.4.3 Grounds of Examination
        • 2.31.4.3A Grounds of Examination
        • 2.31.4.4 Ground (1): Section 40
        • 2.31.4.6 Ground (3): Subsections 18(2) and (3)
        • 2.31.4.7 Amendments
      • Annex A - Procedural Outline for Innovation Patent Application Formalities Check by Examiners
      • Annex B - Procedural Outline for Examination of an Innovation Patent
      • Annex C - Key Features of Innovation Patent System
    • 2.1 General Approach to Examination
      • 2.1.6 Examination and Report Requirements
        • 2.1.6.2 Examination and Level of Report Detail
          • 2.1.6.2.1 Clarity
          • 2.1.6.2.2 Full Description
          • 2.1.6.2.2A Clear Enough and Complete Enough Disclosure
          • 2.1.6.2.3 Fair Basis
          • 2.1.6.2.3A Support
          • 2.1.6.2.4 Lack of Unity
          • 2.1.6.2.5 Patentability Issues Including Patentable Subject Matter (Manner of Manufacture)
          • 2.1.6.2.6 Novelty and Inventive Step
        • 2.1.6.1 Overview
      • 2.1.7 Citations
        • 2.1.7.1 Discussion of Citations
        • 2.1.7.2 Identifying Citations
        • 2.1.7.3 Assertion of Common General Knowledge and Mosaicing
        • 2.1.7.4 Citing Many Citations
        • 2.1.7.5 Non-Patent Literature
        • 2.1.7.6 Providing Copies of Patent Documents
        • 2.1.7.7 Unavailable or Untranslatable Citations
      • 2.1.9 Guidelines for Using IPRPI/IPRPIIs and Other Foreign Examination Reports (FERs) in Examination
        • 2.1.9.4 FERs and Report Formulation
          • 2.1.9.4.1 Objections Based on FER
          • 2.1.9.4.2 Identifying Citations, Multiple Citations
          • 2.1.9.4.3 New Citations at Further Report
        • 2.1.9.1 Introduction
        • 2.1.9.2 FER Retrieval
        • 2.1.9.3 FER Validation
          • 2.1.9.3.1 Claim Comparison
          • 2.1.9.3.2 Not All Claims Previously Searched and/or Examined
          • 2.1.9.3.2A Not All Claims Previously Searched and/or Examined
          • 2.1.9.3.3 Validation of Novelty and Inventive Step Findings
          • 2.1.9.3.4 Law and Practice Differences
          • 2.1.9.3.4A Law and Practice Differences
          • 2.1.9.3.5 Other Considerations Independent of FER Validity
        • 2.1.9.5 FERs and Lack of Unity
        • 2.1.9.6 FERs and Complex Cases
      • 2.1.1 Introduction
      • 2.1.2 Searching and Use of IPRPI/IPRPIIs and Other Foreign Examination Reports
      • 2.1.3 Flexible Approach for Complex Cases
      • 2.1.4 Restriction of the Extent of the Report
      • 2.1.4A Restriction of the Extent of the Report
      • 2.1.5 Inconsistent or Piecemeal Examination
      • 2.1.8 Furthers
      • Annex A - Open Patent Services (OPS) FER Process
    • 2.6 Applicants and Nominated Persons, Patent Requests, Entitlement
      • 2.6.2 Patent Requests
        • 2.6.2.1 The Request
        • 2.6.2.2 Amendment of a Request
        • 2.6.2.3 Name of the Applicant and Inventor
        • 2.6.2.4 Address for Correspondence
        • 2.6.2.5 Address for Service
        • 2.6.2.6 Details of Related Applications
      • 2.6.3 Entitlement
        • 2.6.3.1 Notices of Entitlement
        • 2.6.3.2 Identification of the Application
        • 2.6.3.3 Who Can Make the Notice
        • 2.6.3.4 Statements of Devolution
        • 2.6.3.5 Section 15(1)(b) - Service Agreements
      • 2.6.4 Changing the Applicant or Nominated Person
        • 2.6.4.1 General Considerations
        • 2.6.4.2 Section 113 Amendments (Assignment, Agreement or Operation of Law)
        • 2.6.4.3 Section 104 Amendments
      • 2.6.1 Applicants and Nominated Persons
        • 2.6.1.1 Who May be Granted a Patent?
        • 2.6.1.2 Address of Applicant
        • 2.6.1.3 Death of Applicant
      • Annex A - Examples of Legal Persons
      • Annex B - Examples of Organisations of Uncertain Status as Legal Persons
    • 2.13 Examination
      • 2.13.2 Applications in a State of Lapse, or Lapsed
        • 2.13.2.1 Forms of Lapsing
        • 2.13.2.2 Lapsing Prior to Issuing First Report
        • 2.13.2.3 Lapsing at Further Report
      • 2.13.4 Request for Examination
        • 2.13.4.1 Request Procedures
        • 2.13.4.2 Order of Examination
        • 2.13.4.3 Expedited Examination
        • 2.13.4.4 Expedited Examination Under the Global Patent Prosecution Highway
        • 2.13.4.5 Expedited Examination Under the IP Australia-European Patent Office Patent Prosecution Highway
      • 2.13.5 Stringency of Tests During Examination
        • 2.13.5.1 Introduction
        • 2.13.5.1A Introduction
        • 2.13.5.2 Balance of Probabilities
        • 2.13.5.2A Balance of Probabilities
        • 2.13.5.3 Benefit of Doubt
      • 2.13.7 Amendments
        • 2.13.7.1 Amendments in Anticipation
        • 2.13.7.2 Notice of Incoming Amendments
        • 2.13.7.3 Amendments in Partial Response to a Report
        • 2.13.7.4 Suggesting Amendments
        • 2.13.7.5 Late Filing of Amendments and Responses
      • 2.13.11 Notices Under Section 27
        • 2.13.11.1 Notifications
        • 2.13.11.2 Action by Examiner
      • 2.13.13 Examining Cases Subject to a Prohibition Order
        • 2.13.13.1 Statutory Basis
        • 2.13.13.2 Initial Handling
        • 2.13.13.3 Allocation and Handling of Cases
        • 2.13.13.4 Searching Prohibited Cases
        • 2.13.13.5 Recording Search/Classification Details
      • 2.13.15 Preliminary Search and Opinion (PSO)
        • 2.13.15.5 Opinion
          • 2.13.15.5.1 Novelty and Inventive Step
          • 2.13.15.5.2 Patentable Subject Matter
          • 2.13.15.5.3 Other Issues
        • 2.13.15.1 Introduction
        • 2.13.15.2 Applicant Requested PSO
        • 2.13.15.3 Amendments
        • 2.13.15.4 Search Procedure
          • 2.13.15.4.1 Lack of Unity
          • 2.13.15.4.2 Non-Patentable Subject Matter
        • 2.13.15.6 PSO Form Completion
        • 2.13.15.7 Response to PSO
      • Annexes
        • Annex A - Procedural Outline for Full Examination of a Standard Patent Application
        • Annex B - Guidelines for Completing the Final Report Form
      • 2.13.1 Initial Considerations
      • 2.13.3 Pending Section 223 Actions
      • 2.13.6 Matters of Form
      • 2.13.8 Review of Classification
      • 2.13.9 Searching
      • 2.13.10 (reserved)
      • 2.13.12 Other Prescribed Matters
      • 2.13.14 Copying of Material and Copyright Implications
    • 2.14 Modified Examination
    • 2.16 Petty Patents
    • 2.29 Formalities and Forms
      • 2.29.1 Introduction
      • 2.29.2 Fitness for Reproduction
      • 2.29.3 Numbering of Pages
      • 2.29.4 Substitute Pages of Specifications
      • 2.29.5 Substitute Documents
      • 2.29.6 Units and Terminology
      • 2.29.7 Forms
      • 2.29.8 Return or Deletion of Filed Documents
      • 2.29.9 Requirements for Amino Acids and Nucelotide Sequences on Compact Disc
      • 2.29.10 Signature Requirements for Received Documents
      • 2.29.11 Drawings, Graphics and Photographs
      • 2.29.12 Scandalous Matter
      • 2.29.13 Numbering of Claims
    • Printable Version
  • 3. Oppositions, Disputes and Extensions
    • 3.1 Role and Powers of the Commissioner in Hearings
    • 3.2 Opposition, Disputes and Other Proceedings - Procedural Summaries
      • 3.2.1 Section 59 - Opposition to Grant of a Standard Patent
        • 3.2.1.1 Commencing the Opposition - Filing a Notice of Opposition
        • 3.2.1.2 Filing the Statement of Grounds and Particulars
        • 3.2.1.3 Evidence and Evidentiary Periods
        • 3.2.1.4 Finalising the Opposition
      • 3.2.2 Section 101M - Opposition to an Innovation Patent
        • 3.2.2.1 Commencing the Opposition - Filing the Opposition Documents
        • 3.2.2.2 Evidence and Evidentiary Periods
        • 3.2.2.3 Finalising the Opposition
      • 3.2.3 Section 75(1) - Opposition to an Extension of Term of a Pharmaceutical Patent
        • 3.2.3.1 Commencing the Opposition - Filing a Notice of Opposition
        • 3.2.3.2 Filing the Statement of Grounds and Particulars
        • 3.2.3.3 Evidence and Evidentiary Periods
        • 3.2.3.4 Finalising the Opposition
      • 3.2.4 Section 104(4) - Opposition to a Request to Amend a Filed Document
        • 3.2.4.1 Commencing the Opposition - Filing a Notice of Opposition
        • 3.2.4.2 Filing the Statement of Grounds and Particulars
        • 3.2.4.3 Evidence and Evidentiary Periods
        • 3.2.4.4 Finalising the Opposition
      • 3.2.5 Section 223(6) - Opposition to an Extension of Time under Subsection 223(2) or 223(2A)
        • 3.2.5.1 Commencing the Opposition - Filing a Notice of Opposition
        • 3.2.5.2 Filing the Statement of Grounds and Particulars
        • 3.2.5.3 Evidence and Evidentiary Periods
        • 3.2.5.4 Finalising the Opposition
      • 3.2.6 Reg 22.21(4) - Opposition to Grant of a Licence
        • 3.2.6.1 Commencing the Opposition - Filing a Notice of Opposition
        • 3.2.6.2 Filing the Statement of Grounds and Particulars
        • 3.2.6.3 Evidence and Evidentiary Periods
        • 3.2.6.4 Finalising the Opposition
      • 3.2.7 Sections 17 & 32 - Disputes Between Applicants and Co-Owners
        • 3.2.7.1 Procedure
        • 3.2.7.2 Finalising the Proceedings
        • 3.2.7.3 Relevant Cases
      • 3.2.8 Entitlement - Sections 33, 34, 35, 36 and 191A
        • 3.2.8.1 Procedure - Requests for the Commissioner to Make a Determination of Entitlement
        • 3.2.8.2 Finalising the Request
        • 3.2.8.3 Remedies Where Declaration Made
        • 3.2.8.4 Patent Applications under Sections 33 to 36
        • 3.2.8.5 Relevant Cases
    • 3.3 Directions
      • 3.3.1 Directions in Opposition Proceedings
        • 3.3.1.1 Direction to Stay an Opposition Pending Another Action
        • 3.3.1.2 Further and Better Particulars
        • 3.3.1.3 Time for Filing Evidence in a Substantive Opposition
        • 3.3.1.4 Time for Filing Evidence in a Procedural Opposition
        • 3.3.1.5 General Conduct of Proceedings
        • 3.3.1.6 Further Directions
      • 3.3.2 Directions that an Application Proceed in Different Name(s) - Section 113
    • 3.4 Opposition Documents - Requirements and Amendments
      • 3.4.1 The Notice of Opposition
      • 3.4.2 The Statement of Grounds and Particulars
      • 3.4.3 Amending Opposition Documents
      • 3.4.4 Filing Opposition Documents
    • 3.5 Evidence
      • 3.5.1 Presentation of Evidence
        • 3.5.1.1 Written Evidence and Declarations
        • 3.5.1.2 Oral Evidence
        • 3.5.1.3 Physical Evidence - Special Considerations
      • 3.5.2 Admissibility of Evidence
      • 3.5.3 Evidence Filed Out of Time
        • 3.5.3.1 Further Evidence
    • 3.6 Production of Documents, Summonsing Witnesses
      • 3.6.1 Requests for the Commissioner to Exercise Powers under Section 210(a) and (c)
      • 3.6.2 Basis for Issuing a Summons
      • 3.6.3 Basis for Requiring Production
      • 3.6.4 Reasonable Expenses
      • 3.6.5 Complying with the Notice or Summons, Reasonable Excuses
      • 3.6.6 Sanctions for Non-Compliance
      • 3.6.7 Schedule to Requests for Summons or Notice to Produce
    • 3.7 Withdrawal and Dismissal of an Opposition
      • 3.7.1 Withdrawal of an Opposition
        • 3.7.1.1 Withdrawal of Section 59 and 101M Oppositions
        • 3.7.1.2 Withdrawal of Other Oppositions
      • 3.7.2 Dismissal of an Opposition
        • 3.7.2.1 Requests for Dismissal
        • 3.7.2.2 Dismissal on the Initiative of the Commissioner
        • 3.7.2.3 Reasons for Dismissal
      • 3.7.3 Withdrawal of an Opposed Application
    • 3.8 Hearings and Decisions
      • 3.8.2 Hearings Procedure
        • 3.8.2.1 Overview of Proceedings
        • 3.8.2.2 Adjournment of Hearings
        • 3.8.2.3 Contact with Parties Outside of Hearing
        • 3.8.2.4 Hearings Involving Confidential Material
        • 3.8.2.5 Consultation with Other Hearing Officers
        • 3.8.2.6 Hearings and the Police
      • 3.8.3 Ex Parte Hearings
        • 3.8.3.1 Overview of Proceedings
        • 3.8.3.2 Hearings Near the Final Date for Acceptance
      • 3.8.4 Natural Justice and Bias
        • 3.8.4.1 Rules
        • 3.8.4.2 Waiving of Objection of Bias by Standing by until Decision Issued
        • 3.8.4.3 Bias as a Result of Contact with Parties Outside of Hearing
        • 3.8.4.4 Bias as a Result of Other Proceedings Involving the Same Parties
      • 3.8.6 Decisions
        • 3.8.6.1 Written Decisions
        • 3.8.6.2 Time for Issuing a Decision
        • 3.8.6.3 Publication of Decisions
        • 3.8.6.4 Rectification of Errors or Omissions in Decisions
        • 3.8.6.5 Revocation of Decisions
      • 3.8.8 Final Determinations
        • 3.8.8.1 Overview of Proceedings
        • 3.8.8.2 Applicant Does Not Propose Amendments
        • 3.8.8.3 Opponent Withdraws the Opposition
      • 3.8.9 Quality
        • 3.8.9.1 Quality Requirements
        • 3.8.9.2 Peer Review
      • 3.8.10 Appointment of Hearing Officers and Assistant Hearing Officers, Hearing Officer Standards Panel, Hearing Officer Delegations
        • 3.8.10.1 Hearing Officers
        • 3.8.10.2 Assistant Hearing Officers
        • 3.8.10.3 Hearing Officer Standards Panel
        • 3.8.10.4 Hearing Officer Delegations
      • 3.8.1 Setting Down Hearings
        • 3.8.1.1 Setting of Hearing
        • 3.8.1.2 Location and Options for Appearing
        • 3.8.1.3 Hours of a Hearing
        • 3.8.1.4 Hearing Fee
        • 3.8.1.5 Who May Appear at a Hearing?
        • 3.8.1.6 Relevant Court Actions Pending
      • 3.8.5 Principles of Conduct
        • 3.8.5.1 Lawfulness
        • 3.8.5.2 Fairness
        • 3.8.5.3 Rationality
        • 3.8.5.4 Openness
        • 3.8.5.5 Diligence and Efficiency
        • 3.8.5.6 Courtesy and Integrity
      • 3.8.7 Further Hearings
    • 3.9 Costs
      • 3.9.1 Principles in Awarding Costs
      • 3.9.2 Scale of Costs, Variation of the Scale
      • 3.9.3 Awarding Costs, Taxation
      • 3.9.4 Security for Costs
      • 3.9.5 Exemplary Situations in Awarding Costs
    • 3.10 The Register of Patents
      • 3.10.1 What is the Register?
      • 3.10.2 Recording Particulars in the Register
        • 3.10.2.1 Recording New Particulars in the Register
        • 3.10.2.2 Change of Ownership
          • 3.10.2.2.1 Assignment
          • 3.10.2.2.2 Change of Name
          • 3.10.2.2.3 Bankruptcy
          • 3.10.2.2.4 Winding Up of Companies
          • 3.10.2.2.5 Death of Patentee
        • 3.10.2.3 Security Interests
        • 3.10.2.4 Licences
        • 3.10.2.5 Court Orders
        • 3.10.2.6 Equitable Interests
        • 3.10.2.7 Effect of Registration or Non-Registration
        • 3.10.2.8 Trusts
        • 3.10.2.9 False Entries in the Register
      • 3.10.3 Amendment of the Register
        • 3.10.3.1 Procedure on Receipt of an Application for Recitification
        • 3.10.3.2 Amendment of Errors (excluding Entitlement Disputes) - Subsection 191A(1)
          • 3.10.3.2.1 Types of Errors that can be Recitified
          • 3.10.3.2.2 Discretionary Considerations
        • 3.10.3.3 Entitlement Disputes - Subsection 191A(2)
        • 3.10.3.4 Section 192
    • 3.11 Extensions of Time and Restoration of the Right of Priority
      • 3.11.1 Extensions of Time - Section 223
        • 3.11.1.1 Relevant Act
        • 3.11.1.2 Subsection 223(1) - Office Error
          • 3.11.1.2.1 Extensions under Subsection 223(1) to Gain Acceptance
          • Annex A - Section 223(1) Extension of Time for Acceptance File Note
        • 3.11.1.3 Subsection 223(2) - Error or Omission and Circumstances Beyond Control
          • 3.11.1.3.1 The Law
          • 3.11.1.3.2 Subsection 223(2)(a) - Error or Omission
          • 3.11.1.3.3 Section 223(2)(b) - Circumstances Beyond Control
          • 3.11.1.3.4 Filing a Request under Subsection 223(2)
          • 3.11.1.3.5 The Commissioner's Discretion
        • 3.11.1.4 Subsection 223(2A) - Despite Due Care
          • 3.11.1.4.1 Filing a Request under Subsection 223(2A)
        • 3.11.1.5 Common Deficiencies in Requests under Section 223(2) or (2A)
        • 3.11.1.6 Advertising an Extension - Subsection 223(4)
        • 3.11.1.7 Extension of Time for an Extension of Term
        • 3.11.1.8 Grace Period Extensions
        • 3.11.1.9 Extension of Time to Gain Acceptance
        • 3.11.1.10 Examination Report Delayed or Not Received
        • 3.11.1.11 Co-pending Section 104 Application - Budapest Treaty Details
        • 3.11.1.12 Payment of Continuation or Renewal Fees Pending a Section 223 Applicaiton
        • 3.11.1.13 Person Concerned: Change of Ownership
        • 3.11.1.14 Date of a Patent Where an Extension of Time is Granted to Claim Priority
      • 3.11.2 Extensions of Time - Reg 5.9
        • 3.11.2.1 Requesting an Extension of Time
        • 3.11.2.2 Application of the Law
          • 3.11.2.2.1 Application of Regulation 5.9
        • 3.11.2.3 Justification for the Extension
        • 3.11.2.4 Discretionary Matters
        • 3.11.2.5 Period of an Extension
        • 3.11.2.6 A Hearing in Relation to an Extension
        • 3.11.2.7 Parties Involved in Negotiations
        • 3.11.2.8 Review of a Decision to Grant or Refuse an Extension
        • 3.11.2.9 "Out of Time" Evidence
      • 3.11.3 Extensions of Time - Reg 5.10 (as in force immediately before 15 April 2013)
        • 3.11.3.1 Extensions under Reg 5.10(1)
        • 3.11.3.2 Extensions under Reg 5.10(2)
          • 3.11.3.2.1 Requests under Reg 5.10(2)
          • 3.11.3.2.2 Applicable Law
          • 3.11.3.2.3 Justification for the Extension
          • 3.11.3.2.4 The Private and Public Interests
          • 3.11.3.2.5 Period of Extensions to be Granted
          • 3.11.3.2.6 Parties Involved in Negotiations
      • 3.11.4 Restoration of the Right of Priority under the PCT
    • 3.12 Extension of Term of Standard Patents Relating to Pharmaceutical Substances
      • 3.12.3 Processing an Application for an Extension of Term
        • 3.12.3.1 Initial Processing
        • 3.12.3.2 Consideration of the Application
        • 3.12.3.3 Grant of Application for Extension of Term
          • 3.12.3.3.1 Renewal Fees
        • 3.12.3.4 Refusal of Application for Extension of Term
      • 3.12.1 Section 70 Considerations
        • 3.12.1.1 Pharmaceutical Substance per se
        • 3.12.1.2 Meaning of Pharmaceutical Substance
        • 3.12.1.3 Meaning of "when produced by a process that involves the use of recombinant DNA technology"
        • 3.12.1.4 Meaning of "mixture or compound of substances"
        • 3.12.1.5 Meaning of "in substance disclosed"
        • 3.12.1.6 Meaning of "in substance fall within the scope of the claim"
        • 3.12.1.7 Included in the Goods
        • 3.12.1.8 First Regulatory Approval Date
      • 3.12.2 Applying for an Extension of Term
        • 3.12.2.1 Documentation Required
        • 3.12.2.2 Time for Applying
        • 3.12.2.3 Extension of Time to Apply for an Extension of Term
      • 3.12.4 Calculating the Length of the Extension of Term
      • 3.12.5 Patents of Addition
      • 3.12.6 Divisional Applications
      • 3.12.7 Opposition to Extension of Term
      • 3.12.8 Relevant Court Proceedings Pending
      • 3.12.9 Rectification of the Register
    • 3.13 Documents not OPI - Orders for Inspection
      • 3.13.1 Documents not-OPI by direction of the Commissioner - Regulation 4.3(2)(b)
      • 3.13.2 Inspection of non-OPI documents
    • 3.14 Appeals, AAT and Judicial Review, Other Court Actions Involving the Commissioner, Section 105 Amendments
      • 3.14.1 Appeals to the Federal Court
      • 3.14.2 AAT Review
      • 3.14.3 Judicial Review
      • 3.14.4 Other Court Actions Involving the Commissioner
      • 3.14.5 Section 105 Amendments
    • Printable Version
  • 4. Classification, Searching and Information Technology
    • 4.1 Searching
      • Annexes
        • Annex A - Comparison: Major Patent Document Database Content
        • Annex D - Search Information Statement
        • Annex E - Examples and Instructions for completing the SIS for Sequence and Chemical Structure Searches
        • Annex F - When to Complete the Search Information Statement (SIS)
        • Annex G - Japanese Translations
        • Annex H - (reserved)
        • Annex L - Establishing Publication Dates and Capturing Internet Citations
        • Annex M - Guidelines for using the IEEE Enterprise Subscription
        • Annex N - Guidelines for Searching Indian TKDL
        • Annex O - Guidelines for Searching DeepDyve
        • Annex P - The Role of the Three Person Team (3PT) in Searching
        • Annex Q - Google Patents
        • Annex R - Espacenet Guide
        • Annex S - Japanese Classification
      • 4.1.1 Objectives of the Search
      • 4.1.2 Search Theory
      • 4.1.3 Initial Search Considerations
        • 4.1.3.1 Construction and the Inventive Concept
        • 4.1.3.2 Earlier Search Results
        • 4.1.3.3 Additional Searching
        • 4.1.3.4 Top-Up Searching
        • 4.1.3.5 Preliminary Search
        • 4.1.3.6 Applicant and/or Inventor Name Searching
      • 4.1.4 Development of the Search Strategy
        • 4.1.4.1 Three Person Team (3PT)
        • 4.1.4.2 Search Strategy Considerations
          • 4.1.4.2.1 Independent Claims
          • 4.1.4.2.2 Dependent Claims
          • 4.1.4.2.3 Broad Claims
          • 4.1.4.2.4 Reserving the Search
          • 4.1.4.2.5 Controlled Language
        • 4.1.4.3 Search Area
          • 4.1.4.3.1 Patent Literature
          • 4.1.4.3.2 Searching Using Classification
            • 4.1.4.3.2.1 How to Find Classification Symbols for a Search
            • 4.1.4.3.2.2 How to Use Classification Symbols in Searching
            • 4.1.4.3.2.3 Japanese FI/F-Term Classification
          • 4.1.4.3.3 Non-Patent Literature
      • 4.1.5 Conducting the Search
        • 4.1.5.1 Analysis of the Results
        • 4.1.5.2 Cessation of Search
      • 4.1.6 Recording the Search Details
    • 4.3 IPC Distribution
      • 4.3.1 IPC Sub-Class and Examination Sections
      • 4.3.2 Section CHEM 1 - Technology Examined
      • 4.3.3 Section CHEM 2 - Technology Examined
      • 4.3.4 Section CHEM 3 - Technology Examined
      • 4.3.5 Section CHEM 4 - Technology Examined
      • 4.3.6 Section CHEM 5 - Technology Examined
      • 4.3.7 Section ELEC 1 - Technology Examined
      • 4.3.8 Section ELEC 2 - Technology Examined
      • 4.3.9 Section ELEC 3 - Technology Examined
      • 4.3.10 Section ELEC 4 - Technology Examined
      • 4.3.11 Section MECH 1 - Technology Examined
      • 4.3.12 Section MECH 2 - Technology Examined
      • 4.3.13 Section MECH 3 - Technology Examined
      • 4.3.14 Section MECH 4 - Technology Examined
      • 4.3.15 Section MECH 5 - Technology Examined
    • 4.6 Patent Family Member Searching
      • 4.6.1 Introduction
      • 4.6.2 Finding Patent Family Members
      • 4.6.3 Patent Family Member Queries Examples
    • 4.7 PATADMIN
      • 4.7.4 Senior Examination and Supervising Examiner Menu
        • 4.7.4.1 Examination History Details
        • 4.7.4.2 Outstanding Furthers
      • 4.7.1 Introduction
      • 4.7.2 Starting
      • 4.7.3 Menu Items Details
    • 4.8 STN
      • 4.8.1 STN Express Online Searching Procedures
      • 4.8.2 STN Manual
    • 4.9 INTESS User Guide
      • 4.9.3 INTESS Basics: Getting started, Workflow Diagram, Checklists and Searches
        • 4.9.3.1 Workflow Diagrams
          • 4.9.3.1.1 INTESS Workflow Diagram for New Work
          • 4.9.3.1.2 INTESS Workflow Diagram for Further Work
        • 4.9.3.2 Getting Started
          • 4.9.3.2.5 Objects
            • 4.9.3.2.5.1 Objects - General Information
            • 4.9.3.2.5.2 Names, Priority and RO/AU Admin Objects
            • 4.9.3.2.5.3 PCT Search Object
            • 4.9.3.2.5.4 PCT Exam Object
          • 4.9.3.2.1 Logging On
          • 4.9.3.2.2 PPBRG International Patent Case Management Folder
          • 4.9.3.2.3 Alert Folder
          • 4.9.3.2.4 Handy Folder
          • 4.9.3.2.6 Keyboard Shortcuts
        • 4.9.3.3 Checklists
          • 4.9.3.3.1 International Distributor Process Checklist (New Work/Furthers)
          • 4.9.3.3.2 INTESS Process Checklist
          • 4.9.3.3.3 INTESS Checklist - Saving documents to INTESS for Canberra Users
          • 4.9.3.3.4 INTESS Checklist - Saving documents to INTESS for Viper Users
          • 4.9.3.3.5 What Catalogue fields do I need to fill out?
        • 4.9.3.4 Searches in INTESS
          • 4.9.3.4.1 Searching Overview
          • 4.9.3.4.2 User Searches
          • 4.9.3.4.3 Examiner Searches
          • 4.9.3.4.4 Section Searches
          • 4.9.3.4.5 Other Searches
      • 4.9.4 International Work Distribution
        • 4.9.4.1 Work Distribution
        • 4.9.4.2 Updating Catalogue Fields for International Distribution
        • 4.9.4.3 Notification by dropping an eCase Alias into the Alert Folder
      • 4.9.5 Examiner Actions in INTESS
        • 4.9.5.1 Basic Actions when Assigned a New or Further eCase
          • 4.9.5.1.1 INTESS Procedure Overview when Assigned a New or Further eCase
          • 4.9.5.1.2 Updating Catalogue Fields for a New Action
          • 4.9.5.1.3 Updating Catalogue Fields for a Further Action
        • 4.9.5.2 Document Storage
          • 4.9.5.2.1 What documents are to be stored on INTESS?
        • 4.9.5.3 Saving Documents to Objective
        • 4.9.5.4 Sending Documents to the PCT Unit for Processing and Dispatch
        • 4.9.5.5 Document Naming Conventions in INTESS
      • 4.9.6 Further Actions, New Material and Additional Correspondence (e.g. Invitation to Pay)
        • 4.9.6.1 Further Actions and New Material
        • 4.9.6.2 Invitation to Pay Additional Search/Exam fees
        • 4.9.6.3 Refund of Fees
        • 4.9.6.4 Request for Sequence Listing
        • 4.9.6.5 Non-Establishment of ISR
        • 4.9.6.6 SIS, Rule 91, Change in Abstract and other documents
      • 4.9.7 FAQs
        • 4.9.7.1 How do I add columns in the viewing window in INTESS?
        • 4.9.7.2 How do I export folders/documents to the LAN drive?
        • 4.9.7.3 (reserved)
        • 4.9.7.4 How do I edit an existing document in INTESS?
        • 4.9.7.5 How do I delete a document which has a corporate value?
        • 4.9.7.6 What do I do with the eCase alias when I have finished with the eCase?
        • 4.9.7.7 How do I add a note and transfer eCases to another section?
        • 4.9.7.8 (reserved)
        • 4.9.7.9 How do I email a link to an eCase?
        • 4.9.7.10 How do I save a Corrected or Amended version of a previously issued document to INTESS
        • 4.9.7.11 How do I add an email to the eCase file?
        • 4.9.7.12 How can I check if my work has been processed?
        • 4.9.7.13 How do I navigate to an eCase or document?
        • 4.9.7.14 What do I do with Annexes (Article 19, Article 34 or Rule 91) when sending an IPRPII
      • 4.9.8 Tech Sort
        • 4.9.8.3 Assessing US PCT Applications
          • 4.9.8.3.1 US PCT - Examined Technology
          • 4.9.8.3.2 US PCT - Excluded Technology
        • 4.9.8.1 Overview of the Technology Sort Process
          • 4.9.8.1.1 Tech Sort Process Checklist
        • 4.9.8.2 Assessing Non-US PCT Applications
      • 4.9.1 INTESS Contact Information
      • 4.9.2 INTESS Overview
    • 4.10 ISYS Database and Hearing Database
      • 4.10.1 Contents of the ISYS Database
      • 4.10.2 File Reliability
      • 4.10.3 File Naming Convention
      • 4.10.4 Directory Structure for the Database
      • 4.10.5 Maintaining the ISYS Database
      • 4.10.6 Using the Database
      • 4.10.7 Hearings Database
      • 4.10.8 Maintenance of the Hearings Database
    • 4.11 Using DocGen
      • 4.11.3 First Further
        • 4.11.3.1 Creating a new First or Further Report – Full Examination
        • 4.11.3.2 (reserved)
        • 4.11.3.3 (reserved)
        • 4.11.3.4 Creating a new First or Further Report – Voluntary Amendment
        • 4.11.3.5 Creating a new First or Further Report – Innovation Patent
          • 4.11.3.5.1 Creating a Cover Letter for Examiner's Adverse Report to 3rd Party
        • 4.11.3.6 Creating a new First or Further Report - Re-examination
          • 4.11.3.6.1 Non-Adverse Re-examination Report
        • 4.11.3.7 Editing an Existing First or Further Report
      • 4.11.4 Article 15(5) Searches
        • 4.11.4.1 Creating an Art 15(5) Search Report
        • 4.11.4.2 Editing an Existing Article 15(5) Report
      • 4.11.5 PCT/ISA
        • 4.11.5.1 Creating an International Search Report (PCT210) and Written Opinion of the International Searching Authority (PCT237) and SIS
        • 4.11.5.2 Creating a Declaration of Non-establishment of ISR (PCT203) and Written Opinion (PCT237)
        • 4.11.5.3 Creating a Notification of Change in Abstract (PCT205)
        • 4.11.5.4 Creating an Invitation to Pay Additional Fees (PCT206)
        • 4.11.5.5 Creating a Notification of Decision on Protest (PCT 212)
        • 4.11.5.6 Creating a Notification of Refund of Search Fee (PCT213)
        • 4.11.5.7 Creating an Invitation to Request Rectification (PCT216)
        • 4.11.5.8 Creating a Notification of Decision Concerning Request for Rectification (PCT217)
        • 4.11.5.9 Creating a Communication in Cases for which No Other Form is Applicable (PCT224)
        • 4.11.5.10 Creating an Invitation to Furnish Nucleotide and/or Amino Acid Sequence Listing (PCT225)
        • 4.11.5.11 Editing an Existing International Report or Statement
      • 4.11.6 PCT/IPEA
        • 4.11.6.1 Creating an Invitation to Restrict or Pay Additional Fees (PCT405)
        • 4.11.6.2 Creating an IPE Written Opinion (PCT408)
        • 4.11.6.3 Creating an International Preliminary Report on Patentability (IPRPII) (PCT409)
        • 4.11.6.4 Creating a Communication in Cases for which No Other Form is Applicable (PCT424)
        • 4.11.6.5 Creating a Notification of Decision Concerning Request for Rectification (PCT412)
        • 4.11.6.6 Creating a Communication Regarding Amendments Not Taken into Account (PCT432)
        • 4.11.6.7 Editing an existing PCT/IPEA (2004) Report
      • 4.11.7 WIPO/Fiji/Thai/PNG
        • 4.11.7.1 Creating a WIPO Search Report
        • 4.11.7.2 Creating a Fiji Search Report and Advisory Opinion
        • 4.11.7.3 Creating a Fiji Further Advisory Opinion
        • 4.11.7.4 Creating a Thai Search Request for Search Statement
        • 4.11.7.5 Creating a Thai Search Report
        • 4.11.7.6 Creating a PNG Search and Exam Report
        • 4.11.7.7 Editing an Existing WIPO/Fiji/Thai/PNG Report
      • 4.11.8 Preliminary Search and Opinion (PSO)
        • 4.11.8.1 Preparing a Preliminary Search and Opinion (PSO)
      • 4.11.1 Overview
      • 4.11.2 DocGen Screens and Features
        • 4.11.2.8 Doc Gen Workflow User Guides
          • 4.11.2.8.1 Doc Gen Workflow for Examination Users
          • 4.11.2.8.2 Doc Gen Workflow for Examination Managers
        • 4.11.2.1 How to Navigate through a Template
        • 4.11.2.2 Add, Fill Down and Delete buttons
        • 4.11.2.3 Using PERP Codes
        • 4.11.2.4 Adding Images to a Report
        • 4.11.2.5 Re-assigning a Template
        • 4.11.2.6 Saving a Report
          • 4.11.2.6.1 Opening a Saved Report
        • 4.11.2.7 Preview Button
        • 4.11.2.9 Citation Data Re-use
        • 4.11.2.10 Supervision and QA
        • 4.11.2.11 Doc Gen Frequently Asked Questions
      • 4.11.9 Allowing Voluntary s104 Amendments
      • 4.11.10 File Notes
      • 4.11.11 QA Form
    • 4.12 EPOQUE User Reference Guide
      • 4.12.2 EPOQUE What's New
        • 4.12.2.1 EPOQUE V3.0
        • 4.12.2.2 EPOQUE V3.11A
        • 4.12.2.3 EPOQUE V3.20A
        • 4.12.2.4 EPOQUE V3.30
        • 4.12.2.5 EPOQUE V3.50
        • 4.12.2.6 EPOQUE V3.60
        • 4.12.2.7 EPOQUE V3.70
        • 4.12.2.8 EPOQUE V4.5
        • 4.12.2.9 EPOQUE V5.20
      • 4.12.3 Accessing EPOQUE
        • 4.12.3.1 Starting EPOQUE
          • 4.12.3.1.1 EPOQUE Password
        • 4.12.3.2 Working with EPOQUE
        • 4.12.3.3 Exiting EPOQUE
      • 4.12.9 Miscellaneous
        • 4.12.9.1 Databases
        • 4.12.9.2 Programming Function Keys in INTERNAL Module
        • 4.12.9.3 Sending Searches from One Examiner to Another
          • 4.12.9.3.1 Manually Locating and Sending Worklist Files
          • 4.12.9.3.2 Sending Worklist through Export/Import Feature in EPOQUE
        • 4.12.9.4 Viewing STN Search Results in EPOQUE
        • 4.12.9.5 Saving Full Documents as PDFs and Saving them to V Drive
        • 4.12.9.6 File Management - Naming Files
        • 4.12.9.7 Downtimes
          • 4.12.9.7.1 Other Known Issues
        • 4.12.9.8 Printing
          • 4.12.9.8.1 Printer Selection
          • 4.12.9.8.2 LAN Printing
          • 4.12.9.8.3 BNS Printing
        • 4.12.9.10 Slow Computer Response during File Save/Loading
          • 4.12.9.10.1 Deleting /Archiving of Private Preparations and Worklists
          • 4.12.9.10.2 Extracting Files from an Archived File
        • 4.12.9.11 EPOQUE Usage Costs
          • 4.12.9.11.1 A Sample Calculation for a Search
          • 4.12.9.11.2 Tips for Saving EPOQUE Usage Costs
        • 4.12.9.12 EPOXY
          • 4.12.9.12.1 Useful Topics
        • 4.12.9.13 Search History - Where it is Saved
        • 4.12.9.14 Searching Alloys in EPOQUE
      • 4.12.1 EPOQUE Quick Reference Guide
      • 4.12.4 EPOQUE Modules
      • 4.12.5 A Quick Search in EPOQUE
      • 4.12.6 Searching in EPOQUE
        • 4.12.6.1 Searching using INTERNAL
          • 4.12.6.1.1 Simple Steps to Search INTERNAL
          • 4.12.6.1.2 Menus in INTERNAL Module
          • 4.12.6.1.3 Useful INTERNAL System Commands
          • 4.12.6.1.4 Truncation Operators
          • 4.12.6.1.5 Proximity Operators
          • 4.12.6.1.6 How to Search for Special Characters or Reserved Terms
          • 4.12.6.1.7 Co-occurrence or Content Operators
          • 4.12.6.1.8 Relational Operators
          • 4.12.6.1.9 Searching within Fields
          • 4.12.6.1.10 Common Field Qualifiers
          • 4.12.6.1.11 Recommended EPOQUE Practices
        • 4.12.6.2 Searching using X-Full Module
          • 4.12.6.2.1 X-Full Menu
          • 4.12.6.2.2 Overview of Searching in X-Full
          • 4.12.6.2.3 Search EPODOC to Create a Result Set
          • 4.12.6.2.4 Normal Search
          • 4.12.6.2.5 Facet Search
          • 4.12.6.2.6 Searching using Multiple Languages
          • 4.12.6.2.7 Non-Patent Literature Searching in X-Full
          • 4.12.6.2.8 Preview
          • 4.12.6.2.9 Saving and Printing Excerpts
          • 4.12.6.2.10 Interrupted X-Full Sessions
          • 4.12.6.2.11 X-Full Costs
          • 4.12.6.2.12 Generating the Search Strategy from a X-Full Search
      • 4.12.7 VIEWER
        • 4.12.7.4 Navigation
          • 4.12.7.4.1 Vertical Button Bar (VBB)
          • 4.12.7.4.2 Document Parts Availability
          • 4.12.7.4.3 Bar Sections
          • 4.12.7.4.4 BNS Documents
          • 4.12.7.4.5 Visual Indicator for Navigation (VIN) Bar
          • 4.12.7.4.6 Working List Navigation
          • 4.12.7.4.7 Sequential Working List Overview
          • 4.12.7.4.8 Family Navigation
          • 4.12.7.4.9 Document Navigation
          • 4.12.7.4.10 Show Approximate BNS Page
          • 4.12.7.4.11 Thumbnails (MOSAIC)
          • 4.12.7.4.12 Automatic Flipper
          • 4.12.7.4.13 Display of BNS Page
          • 4.12.7.4.14 Go to BNS Page
        • 4.12.7.1 Starting the VIEWER
        • 4.12.7.2 Data Input Window
          • 4.12.7.2.1 Buttons and Functions on the Data Input Window
          • 4.12.7.2.2 Working Lists
        • 4.12.7.3 COMBI in the VIEWER
        • 4.12.7.5 Highlighting and Painting
          • 4.12.7.5.1 Highlighters
          • 4.12.7.5.2 Working List Highlight
          • 4.12.7.5.3 Save/Load Highlights
          • 4.12.7.5.4 Using the Highlighter Feature
          • 4.12.7.5.5 Permanent Paint
        • 4.12.7.6 Drawers
          • 4.12.7.6.1 How to Store Documents on a Drawer
          • 4.12.7.6.2 Actions on the Drawer and Drawer Contents
        • 4.12.7.7 Yellow Sticker
        • 4.12.7.8 Printing from the VIEWER
          • 4.12.7.8.1 BNS Printing
          • 4.12.7.8.2 Local Printing
        • 4.12.7.9 VIEWER Preferences
          • 4.12.7.9.1 Display Order of Family Members and Initial Display
          • 4.12.7.9.2 Fields Display
          • 4.12.7.9.3 Fonts and Colour Selection
          • 4.12.7.9.4 Keyboard Mapping - Shortcut Keys
          • 4.12.7.9.5 View
          • 4.12.7.9.6 General
          • 4.12.7.9.7 Mosaic/Figure Link
          • 4.12.7.9.8 Automatic Flipper
          • 4.12.7.9.9 Pre-Search
          • 4.12.7.9.10 Export Drawer
          • 4.12.7.9.11 Saving User Preferences
        • 4.12.7.10 Closing the VIEWER
      • 4.12.8 Preparations
        • 4.12.8.1 Private Preparations
          • 4.12.8.1.1 Writing a Private Preparation
          • 4.12.8.1.2 Executing a Private Preparation
        • 4.12.8.2 Public Preparations
        • 4.12.8.3 Printing the Search Statements or Saving to Local Hard Disk
          • 4.12.8.3.1 Print the Search Statements to the LAN Printer
          • 4.12.8.3.2 Save the Search Statement to Hard Disk
      • 4.12.10 Help
      • 4.12.11 Definitions
    • 4.2 Classification
      • 4.2.3 Other Classification Information
        • 4.2.3.5 Recording Classification Symbols on Machine-Readable Records
          • 4.2.3.5.1 Recording IPC Symbols
          • 4.2.3.5.2 Recording CPC Symbols (reserved)
        • 4.2.3.1 Sub-Codes - Discontinued
        • 4.2.3.2 The Australian Classification System - Discontinued
        • 4.2.3.3 Indexing According to IPC Edition (2006) - Discontinued
        • 4.2.3.4 Master Classification Database (MDC)
          • 4.2.3.4.1 Access to the MCD Data
          • 4.2.3.4.2 Correction of MCD Data
        • 4.2.3.6 Presentation of Classification Symbols and Indexing Codes on Patent Documents
      • 4.2.1 Patent Classification Systems
        • 4.2.1.1 International Patent Classification (IPC)
          • 4.2.1.1.1 Structure of the IPC
          • 4.2.1.1.2 Headings and Titles
          • 4.2.1.1.3 Definitions, Warnings and Notes
          • 4.2.1.1.4 Function-Oriented and Application-Oriented Places
          • 4.2.1.1.5 References
          • 4.2.1.1.6 Indexing Codes
          • 4.2.1.1.7 IPC Revisions
        • 4.2.1.2 Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC)
          • 4.2.1.2.1 Structure of the CPC and 2000 Series
          • 4.2.1.2.2 Headings and Titles
          • 4.2.1.2.3 Definitions, Notes and Warnings
          • 4.2.1.2.4 Function-Oriented and Application-Oriented Places
          • 4.2.1.2.5 References
          • 4.2.1.2.6 Combination Set (C-set)
          • 4.2.1.2.7 CPC Revisions
      • 4.2.2 Principles of Classification
        • 4.2.2.1 Invention Information and Additional Information
          • 4.2.2.1.1 Application of Indexing Codes/2000 Series
          • 4.2.2.1.2 Classifying in Residual Places
          • 4.2.2.1.3 Places that cannot be the First Symbol
        • 4.2.2.2 Classification Priority Rules
          • 4.2.2.2.1 Common Rule
          • 4.2.2.2.2 First Place Priority Rule
          • 4.2.2.2.3 Last Place Priority rule
          • 4.2.2.2.4 Special Rules
          • 4.2.2.2.5 Classifying a Combination of Technical Subjects
        • 4.2.2.3 Classifying in Function-Oriented and Application-Oriented Places
          • 4.2.2.3.1 Selection of Classification Places
        • 4.2.2.4 Classifying Chemical Compounds
        • 4.2.2.5 CPC Classification Rules
        • 4.2.2.6 Classification using C-Sets
          • 4.2.2.6.1 Information Value of the Allocation
          • 4.2.2.6.2 Allocation of C-Sets to a Document
          • 4.2.2.6.3 C-Sets Syntax Rules
          • 4.2.2.6.4 Guidance about C-Sets Information in Scheme and Definitions
    • 4.4 COMPASS and Citation Storage
      • 4.4.1 Home Screen (landing page)
      • 4.4.2 Application Screen
      • 4.4.3 Retrieving Citations
      • 4.4.4 Citation Storage
      • 4.4.5 The Role of COG and the Library
      • 4.4.6 Creating an Application Folder
      • 4.4.7 Application Folder Naming Convention
      • 4.4.8 Citation Naming Convention
      • 4.4.9 Missing Citations
      • 4.4.10 Annotating Citations
      • 4.4.11 Guidelines for using COMPASS for Storing Citations
    • 4.5 WIPO CASE User Guide
    • 4.13 Tableau Reader Instruction Manual
    • 4.14 Preliminary Search Overview
    • Printable Version
  • 5. PAMS Examiner's Reference
    • 5.2 PAMS Overview
      • 5.2.1 Coverage
      • 5.2.2 History
      • 5.2.3 Technical Detail
      • 5.2.4 Vision
    • 5.3 Getting Started
      • 5.3.5 Navigating PAMS
        • 5.3.5.6 Tree View
          • 5.3.5.6.1 Overview Tree View
          • 5.3.5.6.2 Displaying the Ecase in Tree View
          • 5.3.5.6.3 Structure of Tree View
          • 5.3.5.6.4 Navigation in Tree View
        • 5.3.5.1 PAMS Interface
        • 5.3.5.2 Workstream - Trays and Tasks
        • 5.3.5.3 Ecase
        • 5.3.5.4 Navigating the Bibliographic Data Screens
        • 5.3.5.5 All View
        • 5.3.5.7 Viewing an Ecase
      • 5.3.6 Shortcut Keys
        • 5.3.6.1 PAMS Shortcut Keys
        • 5.3.6.2 Adobe Acrobat Shortcut Keys
        • 5.3.6.3 Windows 7 Shortcuts
      • 5.3.9 In-Trays
        • 5.3.9.2 Examination In-Trays
          • 5.3.9.2.1 Index Arbiter In-Tray
          • 5.3.9.2.2 Preliminary Sort In-Tray
            • 5.3.9.2.2.1 Non Indexed In-Tray
            • 5.3.9.2.2.2 Re-Examination In-Tray
        • 5.3.9.1 My Staff In-Trays
        • 5.3.9.3 Exam Workgroup In-Trays
          • 5.3.9.3.1 Manual In-Tray
          • 5.3.9.3.2 Indexing In-Tray
          • 5.3.9.3.3 Pending Exam In-Tray
        • 5.3.9.4 My Exam Task In-Tray
        • 5.3.9.5 Setting the Highlight Criteria for Exam Workgroup In-Trays
        • 5.3.9.6 Greyed Out Tasks
        • 5.3.9.7 Setting the Exam Request Buffer
      • 5.3.10 PAMS Tables
        • 5.3.10.1 Working with Tables
          • 5.3.10.1.1 Keyboard Functionality
          • 5.3.10.1.2 The Table Menu
          • 5.3.10.1.3 Accessibility Functionality
      • 5.3.1 Windows 7 Environment
      • 5.3.2 Logging on
      • 5.3.3 Creating a shortcut on your desktop
      • 5.3.4 Creating a Shortcut on your Jump List
      • 5.3.7 Full Screen Document Viewer
      • 5.3.8 (reserved)
    • 5.4 Tasks
      • 5.4.1 What is a PAMS Task?
      • 5.4.2 PAMS Tasks
      • 5.4.3 Selecting Work/Tasks
      • 5.4.4 Opening a PAMS Task
      • 5.4.5 Create an Edit Ecase Task
      • 5.4.6 Exam Request
        • 5.4.6.1 Exam Request Routing Rules
        • 5.4.6.2 Foreign Examination Report (FER) Processing
      • 5.4.7 Editing a Task Comment
      • 5.4.8 Assigning and Reassigning Tasks
        • 5.4.8.1 Transferring Tasks between Sections
      • 5.4.9 View Comments without Opening a Task
      • 5.4.10 Trashcan
      • 5.4.11 Exam Response Tasks
        • 5.4.11.1 Forwarding Exam Response Tasks to Examination
        • 5.4.11.2 Urgent and Late Tasks
        • 5.4.11.3 The Comments Screen
        • 5.4.11.4 Completing an Exam Response Task
      • 5.4.12 The Exam Request and Exam Response Verification Screen
        • 5.4.12.1 Alerts and Warnings
      • 5.4.13 Pending Exam Task
        • 5.4.13.1 Pending Exam Routing Rules
      • 5.4.14 Indicators in PAMS for Tasks to be Considered under 2012 Provisions
    • 5.5 Bibliographic Information Screens
      • 5.5.3 Examination Details
        • 5.5.3.1 Introduction
        • 5.5.3.2 Main
        • 5.5.3.3 Exam Request Details
        • 5.5.3.4 Exam Details
        • 5.5.3.5 Deferment of Grant Details
        • 5.5.3.6 Voluntary S.104 Amendment Details
        • 5.5.3.7 Re-Exam Details
      • 5.5.1 Bibliographic Information Screens
      • 5.5.2 Document Preparation
      • 5.5.4 Invention Details
      • 5.5.5 Document Management
      • 5.5.6 Document Metadata
        • 5.5.6.1 Renaming a Document
        • 5.5.6.2 Changing the Document Type
        • 5.5.6.3 Deleting a Document
        • 5.5.6.4 Reinstating a Deleted Document
      • 5.5.7 Patent Family Members
      • 5.5.8 Indexing and Formalities 2
      • 5.5.9 Extension of Term
    • 5.6 Documents/Correspondence
      • 5.6.7 Document Manipulation
        • 5.6.7.1 Overview Document Manipulation
        • 5.6.7.2 Launching a Document in Adobe Acrobat
        • 5.6.7.3 Adobe Acrobat Interface
        • 5.6.7.4 Displaying Thumbnails
        • 5.6.7.5 Zooming
        • 5.6.7.6 Tiling Multiple Documents
        • 5.6.7.7 Replacing, Inserting and Deleting Pages
        • 5.6.7.8 Adding Comments
        • 5.6.7.9 Adding Bookmarks
        • 5.6.7.10 Assembling the Specification
          • 5.6.7.10.1 Verified Translations
          • 5.6.7.10.2 Lack of Continuity of Page Numbering
          • 5.6.7.10.3 Assembly Issues Relating to Sequence Listings
        • 5.6.7.11 Importing Documents into PAMS
        • 5.6.7.12 Naming Assembled Documents
        • 5.6.7.13 Single, Double, Continuous, Continuous-Facing and Facing Views
        • 5.6.7.14 Editing PDF Documents
      • 5.6.1 Creating Correspondence
        • 5.6.1.1 Correspondence Task Screens
        • 5.6.1.2 Examiner Correspondence Screen
        • 5.6.1.3 User Correspondence Screen
        • 5.6.1.4 Drafting and Saving Correspondence
        • 5.6.1.5 Completing Correspondence Tasks
        • 5.6.1.6 Discarding an Examination Correspondence Task
        • 5.6.1.7 Document Naming Conventions
        • 5.6.1.8 Document Type
        • 5.6.1.9 Use General Correspondence to Draft a Letter
        • 5.6.1.10 Add a File Note to the Ecase
        • 5.6.1.11 Exam Correspondence Default Names
      • 5.6.2 Adding a Document
        • 5.6.2.1 Add an Email to the Ecase
      • 5.6.3 Removing a Document
      • 5.6.4 Stamping Ecase Documents
      • 5.6.5 OCRing a Document
      • 5.6.6 Create an Abstract
      • 5.6.8 Printing
      • 5.6.9 Printing Contents of an Ecase
      • 5.6.10 Creating a pdf from a Word Document
    • 5.8 Enquiries
      • 5.8.9 Non-OPI Search Enquiry (NOSE)
        • 5.8.9.1 Background
        • 5.8.9.2 Scope
        • 5.8.9.3 Searching
          • 5.8.9.3.1 Entry Format
          • 5.8.9.3.2 Search Operators
          • 5.8.9.3.3 Search Results
            • 5.8.9.3.3.1 Generating a Search Report
      • 5.8.1 Enquiry Overview
      • 5.8.2 Ecase Enquiry
        • 5.8.2.1 Searching IPC Marks using AusPat
      • 5.8.3 Service Request Enquiry
      • 5.8.4 Task Enquiry
      • 5.8.5 Ecase History Enquiry
      • 5.8.6 Ecase History Incremental Enquiry
      • 5.8.7 Customer Enquiry
      • 5.8.8 Rendezvous Enquiry
    • 5.9 Indexing
      • 5.9.2 Preliminary Sorting Processes
        • 5.9.2.2 Processing Tasks of Non-Indexed Applications
          • 5.9.2.2.1 Sorting Article 15(5) Edit ECase Tasks
          • 5.9.2.2.2 Sorting Other Edit ECase Tasks
        • 5.9.2.1 Tech Sort Task Processing
      • 5.9.3 Examiner Indexing
        • 5.9.3.1 Standard Indexing
        • 5.9.3.2 Innovation Indexing
          • 5.9.3.2.1 Innovation Indexing Fails Formalities 2
          • 5.9.3.2.2 Response to Innovation Formalities 2 Direction Filed
        • 5.9.3.3 Index Arbiter Tasks
        • 5.9.3.4 Preparing Abstracts if not Provided by the Applicant
      • 5.9.1 Overview Indexing
      • 5.9.4 Re-Indexing Applications (including IPC Error Correction Tasks)
    • 5.10 Standard Examination
      • 5.10.12 Response to Examiner's Report
        • 5.10.12.1 General
        • 5.10.12.2 Examination Results in a Further Adverse Report
        • 5.10.12.3 Examination Results in Clear Report
          • 5.10.12.3.1 Removing Postponement of Acceptance
      • 5.10.15 National Phase Issues
        • 5.10.15.1 General Information - National Phase
        • 5.10.15.2 Art 19 Amendments
        • 5.10.15.3 Art 34 Amendments
        • 5.10.15.4 (reserved)
        • 5.10.15.5 (reserved)
        • 5.10.15.6 IPER Not on File
        • 5.10.15.7 Specification in a Foreign Language
        • 5.10.15.8 NOE Not Required
        • 5.10.15.9 Pamphlet Title Change
      • 5.10.19 Acceptance
        • 5.10.19.3 Acceptance Screens
          • 5.10.19.3.1 Introduction Acceptance Screens
          • 5.10.19.3.2 Navigating the Acceptance Task
          • 5.10.19.3.3 Acceptance Summary
          • 5.10.19.3.4 Acceptance Documents
          • 5.10.19.3.5 Bibliographic Amendments
          • 5.10.19.3.6 Acceptance Information
          • 5.10.19.3.7 Amendments Report
          • 5.10.19.3.8 Acceptance Report
          • 5.10.19.3.9 Final Acceptance
          • 5.10.19.3.10 I Intend to Accept
          • 5.10.19.3.11 What Happens After Acceptance
          • 5.10.19.3.12 Verification
          • 5.10.19.3.13 Discard Acceptance
          • 5.10.19.3.14 Continuation Fees
          • 5.10.19.3.15 Creating a Patent Request
          • 5.10.19.3.16 Error/Warning Messages at Acceptance
        • 5.10.19.1 Overview Acceptance
        • 5.10.19.2 Creating an Acceptance Task
      • 5.10.1 Overview Standard Exam
      • 5.10.2 Examination Request Tasks and Standard Examination
      • 5.10.3 Examiner's Notes
      • 5.10.4 Search Results in Standard Examination
      • 5.10.5 (reserved)
      • 5.10.6 (reserved)
      • 5.10.7 Physical Media
      • 5.10.8 Certain Non-OPI Documents to be Stored as "Physical Media"
      • 5.10.9 Commencing Examination
      • 5.10.10 Examination Results in Adverse Report
        • 5.10.10.1 Exam Corro
          • 5.10.10.1.3 Dispatch of Exam Report
            • 5.10.10.1.3.1 Dispatch Management
          • 5.10.10.1.1 General
          • 5.10.10.1.2 Examiner's Adverse Report
          • 5.10.10.1.4 Search Information Statement
        • 5.10.10.2 Bibliographic Information Screens
          • 5.10.10.2.1 Examination Details Screen
          • 5.10.10.2.2 Document Preparation Screen
        • 5.10.10.3 Assembly
      • 5.10.11 Examination Results in Clear Report
        • 5.10.11.1 (reserved)
        • 5.10.11.2 Bibliographic Information Screens
          • 5.10.11.2.1 Examination Details Screen
          • 5.10.11.2.2 Document Preparation Screen
        • 5.10.11.3 Assembly
        • 5.10.11.4 Proceeding to Acceptance
      • 5.10.13 Supervision
      • 5.10.14 Product Quality Review - PQRS
      • 5.10.16 Modified Examination
      • 5.10.17 Divisionals
      • 5.10.18 Additionals
      • 5.10.20 Recording Conversations as a File Note
      • 5.10.21 Recording Prior Art Details in PAMS
      • 5.10.22 21 Month Applications, the FDA and PAMS
      • 5.10.22A 12 Month Applications, the FDA and PAMS
      • 5.10.23 Recording Original Searches and Overtime
      • 5.10.24 Examination report in DocGen for accelerated exam request under Patent Prosecution Highway
    • 5.11 Innovation Examination
      • 5.11.6 Response to Examiner's Report
        • 5.11.6.1 General
        • 5.11.6.2 Examination Results in a Further Adverse Report
        • 5.11.6.3 Examination Results in Clear Report
      • 5.11.1 Overview
      • 5.11.2 Examination Request Tasks and Innovation Examination
      • 5.11.3 Commencing Examination
      • 5.11.4 Examination Results in Adverse Report
        • 5.11.4.1 Exam Corro
          • 5.11.4.1.1 General
          • 5.11.4.1.2 Examiner's Adverse Report to Patentee
          • 5.11.4.1.3 Examiner's Adverse Report to 3rd Party
          • 5.11.4.1.4 (reserved)
          • 5.11.4.1.5 Search Information Statement
        • 5.11.4.2 Bibliographic Information Screens
          • 5.11.4.2.1 Examination Details Screen
          • 5.11.4.2.2 Document Preparation Screen
        • 5.11.4.3 Completing Exam Request Task
      • 5.11.5 Examination Results in Clear Report
        • 5.11.5.1 Exam Corro
        • 5.11.5.2 Bibliographic Information Screens
          • 5.11.5.2.1 Examination Details Screen
          • 5.11.5.2.2 Document Preparation Screen
        • 5.11.5.3 Certification
          • 5.11.5.3.1 Apology Letter for Certified Innovation
      • 5.11.7 Supervision
      • 5.11.8 Certification
      • 5.11.9 Innovation Divisionals
    • 5.12 International Type Searching
      • 5.12.1 Overview International Type Searching
      • 5.12.2 Entering Art 15(5) Examination Details
      • 5.12.3 Requesting a Search Statement
      • 5.12.4 Storing Citations for Art 15(5)
      • 5.12.5 Preparing the Art 15(5) Search Report
      • 5.12.6 (reserved)
      • 5.12.7 (reserved)
      • 5.12.8 QA of Art 15(5)
      • 5.12.9 Reassigning the Art 15(5) Tasks to COG
    • 5.13 Voluntary Amendments
      • 5.13.1 Overview Voluntary Amendments
      • 5.13.2 Examining Voluntary s104 Amendments
      • 5.13.3 Adverse s104 Report
        • 5.13.3.1 Generating the s104 Report
        • 5.13.3.2 The Examination Details Screen (Adverse s104)
      • 5.13.4 Allowing Voluntary s104 Amendments
        • 5.13.4.1 The Examination Details Screen (Clear s104)
        • 5.13.4.2 Apology Letter (Clear s104)
        • 5.13.4.3 Filling in the s104 Allowance Form
        • 5.13.4.4 Re-Assign the s104 Edit Ecase Task to COG
        • 5.13.4.5 s104 Amendments after Acceptance/Certification
      • 5.13.5 Responses to Adverse Reports
      • 5.13.6 How to Check for a Mortgagee or an Exclusive Licensee
    • 5.14 Deferment of Grant
      • 5.14.1 Post-Acceptance Procedure
      • 5.14.2 Post-Grant Procedure
    • 5.15 Re-Examination
      • 5.15.1 Overview Re-Examination
      • 5.15.2 Re-Examination Procedural Outline
        • 5.15.2.1 Pre-Grant Re-Examination
        • 5.15.2.2 Post Grant Re-Examination (Standard and Innovation)
        • 5.15.2.3 Procedure to Initiate Refusal/Revocation
        • 5.15.2.4 Response to Re-Examination Report
        • 5.15.2.5 Further Adverse Re-Examination Report
        • 5.15.2.6 Further Non-Adverse Re-examination Report
        • 5.15.2.7 Allowing Voluntary s104 Amendment Filed During Re-Examination Process
        • 5.15.2.8 Decision not to Re-Examine
    • 5.16 Troubleshooting
      • 5.16.4 FAQs
        • 5.16.4.1 Indexing
          • 5.16.4.1.1 PAMS does not allow me to complete Standard Indexing Task
          • 5.16.4.1.2 How do I stop PAMS creating multiple Indexing tasks if more than one Indexing suggestion is given?
        • 5.16.4.2 Examination
          • 5.16.4.2.1 What do I do when the Search Results have not been prepared
          • 5.16.4.2.2 What should I do when the Patent Request is in XML
          • 5.16.4.2.3 What should I do when an Attorney responds
          • 5.16.4.2.4 (reserved)
          • 5.16.4.2.5 (reserved)
          • 5.16.4.2.6 (reserved)
          • 5.16.4.2.7 Acceptance Error Message – Outstanding Amendment Service Request
          • 5.16.4.2.8 Acceptance Error Message – Inventor Name Not Given
          • 5.16.4.2.9 How do I fix an incorrect Agent’s Reference Number
          • 5.16.4.2.10 What do I do when I accidentally complete an Art 15(5) Search Report Edit Ecase Task
          • 5.16.4.2.11 Where is the Innovation Final Report Form?
          • 5.16.4.2.12 Managing PAMS Tasks which are no longer required
          • 5.16.4.2.13 (reserved)
          • 5.16.4.2.14 I made an error while accepting an e-case
        • 5.16.4.3 Documents/Correspondence
          • 5.16.4.3.1 Ecase pdf documents will not launch in Adobe
          • 5.16.4.3.2 How do I fix an incorrect Exam Report number
          • 5.16.4.3.3 How do I overcome the paper capture (OCR) problem
          • 5.16.4.3.4 (reserved)
          • 5.16.4.3.5 (reserved)
          • 5.16.4.3.6 (reserved)
          • 5.16.4.3.7 How do I request a Priority Document be ordered from WIPO
          • 5.16.4.3.8 How do I fix an incorrect Agent’s Reference Number on outgoing Examiner Correspondence
          • 5.16.4.3.9 PAMS corro will not open when I press Edit/View
          • 5.16.4.3.10 Error Message Invalid Save Operation when trying to import documents
          • 5.16.4.3.11 How do I alter the mailing date on first reports while working in the Exam Corro Task?
          • 5.16.4.3.12 How do I Fix a Corrupt PDF in PAMS
          • 5.16.4.3.13 When to Fill SIS
          • 5.16.4.3.14 Validation of Digital Signatures on PDF Documents
          • 5.16.4.3.15 What do I do when the Parent of a Divisional is not Available through PAMS
          • 5.16.4.3.16 What do I do if I encounter copyright material or non-patent literature (NPL) in the PAMS eCase?
          • 5.16.4.3.17 Which documents of a PAMS eCase will be viewable by the public on eDossier
          • 5.16.4.3.18 How to view the earlier versions of PAMS documents
          • 5.16.4.3.19 How do I correct errors in correspondence
          • 5.16.4.3.20 How do I copy and paste searching information from EPOQUE onto the SIS in DocGen?
        • 5.16.4.4 General
          • 5.16.4.4.1 What do I do when my NPL reference is too long
          • 5.16.4.4.2 PAMS does not allow me to reassign a Task back to an Examiner
          • 5.16.4.4.3 PAMS shows the incorrect Exam Section In-Tray after assigning a Task
          • 5.16.4.4.4 The underlines for the PAMS Access Keys are no longer displaying
          • 5.16.4.4.5 Colour Codes
        • 5.16.4.5 Standard Comments - Reassigning Tasks to COG
      • 5.16.1 Forgotten Password
      • 5.16.2 Who To Contact
      • 5.16.3 Old Edit Ecase
        • 5.16.3.1 Creating an Examination Request Task
        • 5.16.3.2 Creating an Examination Response Task
      • 5.16.5 PAMS Examination Checklist
      • 5.16.6 PAMS Availability
      • 5.16.7 PAMS Time Zone
    • 5.17 Oppositions, Courts, Extensions and Disputes
      • 5.17.1 Publications
    • 5.18 Preliminary Search and Opinion (PSO)
      • 5.18.1 Overview
      • 5.18.2 Distribution of PSO Tasks
      • 5.18.3 (reserved)
      • 5.18.4 (reserved)
      • 5.18.5 (reserved)
      • 5.18.6 (reserved)
      • 5.18.7 Commencing Examination of PSO
      • 5.18.8 PSO Preparation
        • 5.18.8.1 Examiner's Preliminary Search and Opinion (PSO)
        • 5.18.8.2 (reserved))
        • 5.18.8.3 Search Information Statement
      • 5.18.9 Preliminary Search Opinion Screen
      • 5.18.10 Assembly
      • 5.18.11 Product Quality Review - PQRS
    • 5.1 Foreword
    • 5.7 (reserved)
    • 5.19 Citation Manager
      • 5.19.1 Adding New Citation Details
      • 5.19.2 Importing Citation Details from Another Application
      • 5.19.3 Editing Citation Details
      • 5.19.4 Changing the Order of the Citations in the List
      • 5.19.5 Selecting Citations for Publication during Acceptance
      • 5.19.6 Deleting Citation from the Citation Manager
      • 5.19.7 OPS Fetch
      • 5.19.8 Adding Citations in the Prior Art Field in the Acceptance Screen
      • 5.19.9 Citations in DocGen
    • Printable Version
  • 6. PERP Manual
    • 6.3A - Introduction Paragraphs
      • 6.3.1 Notes
      • 6.3.2 (reserved)
      • 6.3.3 Notice of Entitlement
      • 6.3.4 National Phase - Based on Translation
      • 6.3.5 National Phase - Missing IPER/IPRPII
      • 6.3.6 Voluntary Amendments
      • 6.3.7 Reissue of Examination Reports
    • 6.4B - Patent Request, Entitlement
      • 6.4.1 Patent Request
      • 6.4.2 Entitlement
      • 6.4.3 Eligible Person
      • 6.4.4 Address for Service
    • 6.5C - Convention Application/Basic Document
      • 6.5.1 Notes
      • 6.5.2 More Than 12 Months
      • 6.5.3 Request for Certified Copies of Basic Documents
    • 6.6D - Lack of Unity
      • 6.6.1 Notes
      • 6.6.2 Lack of Unity
      • 6.6.3 Actions Reserved Because of Lack of Unity
      • 6.6.4 Residual a posteri Lack of Unity resulting from Novelty / Inventive Step Objection(s)
    • 6.7E - Specification - Omnibus Claims, Fair Basis, Disclosure, Support, Clear and Succint, Micro-Organisms
      • 6.7.1 Notes
      • 6.7.2 Omnibus Claims
      • 6.7.3 Specification Does Not Fully Describe the Invention / Invention Cannot be Determined from Disclosure
      • 6.7.3A Complete Specification Does Not Disclose the Invention in a Clear Enough and Complete Enough Manner
      • 6.7.4 Claims Not Fairly Based
      • 6.7.4A Claims are not Supported by Matter Disclosed in the Body of the Specification
      • 6.7.5 Claims - Not Succinct
      • 6.7.6 Claims - Antecedents
      • 6.7.7 Micro-organisms
      • 6.7.8 Use of Brand Name or Trademark
      • 6.7.9 Innovation Patent Special Issues
    • 6.8F - Novelty, Inventive Step
      • 6.8.3 Novelty
        • 6.8.3.1 No Difference
        • 6.8.3.2 Inessential Difference
        • 6.8.3.3 Chemical
        • 6.8.3.4 Whole of Contents
        • 6.8.3.5 Admitted Prior Art
        • 6.8.3.6 Based on IPER or Foreign Examination
      • 6.8.4 Inventive Step
        • 6.8.4.1 Citation Long Form General
        • 6.8.4.2 CGK Long Form General
        • 6.8.4.3 Technical Equivalent
        • 6.8.4.4 Workshop Improvement
        • 6.8.4.5 Obvious Selection
        • 6.8.4.6 Obvious Result of Combination of CGK
        • 6.8.4.7 Mosaic
        • 6.8.4.8 General
        • 6.8.4.9 No Contribution in Appended Claims
        • 6.8.4.10 Based on IPER or Foreign Examination
      • 6.8.1 Notes
      • 6.8.2 (reserved)
      • 6.8.5 Based on FERs (Novelty and Inventive Step)
      • 6.8.6 Innovation Patent Applications (Novelty and Innovative Step)
      • 6.8.7 Search Reserved
      • 6.8.8 Comment Reserved
      • 6.8.9 Non Patent Literature
      • 6.8.10 Foreign Language Citations
    • 6.9G - Amendments - Not Allowable, Rebuttals, Not In Order, Amendments Under Opposition, Amendments After Acceptance
      • 6.9.1 Notes
      • 6.9.2 Not Allowable
      • 6.9.2A Not Allowable
      • 6.9.3 Amendments Not Formally Proposed
      • 6.9.4 Rebuttals
      • 6.9.5 Amendment Not in Order
      • 6.9.6 Second Marked Sheet
      • 6.9.7 Amendments During S59 Opposition
      • 6.9.8 Amendments After Grant
    • 6.10H - Divisionals
      • 6.10.1 Notes
      • 6.10.2 Introduction
      • 6.10.3 Status of Parent
      • 6.10.3A Status of Parent
      • 6.10.4 Not in Time
      • 6.10.5 Request
      • 6.10.6 (reserved)
      • 6.10.7 Hearing
    • 6.12K - National Phase
      • 6.12.1 Translations
      • 6.12.2 Amendments to the Abstract in the National Phase
      • 6.12.3 Sequences Missing or Different from the IPRP
      • 6.12.4 Defects in Formalities under S 45(1A)
    • 6.13L - Additionals
      • 6.13.1 Notes
      • 6.13.2 Introductions
      • 6.13.3 Formalities
      • 6.13.4 Authorisation from Parent Application
      • 6.13.5 Improvement or Modification
    • 6.14M - Patentable Subject Matter
      • 6.14.1 Manner of Manufacture
        • 6.14.1.1 Notes
        • 6.14.1.2 General
        • 6.14.1.3 Collocations
        • 6.14.1.4 Kits of Parts
        • 6.14.1.5 Known Material
        • 6.14.1.6 Working Direction
        • 6.14.1.7 Biotechnology
        • 6.14.1.8 Human Beings
        • 6.14.1.9 Mere Admixture
        • 6.14.1.10 Business Methods and Computer Related Inventions
      • 6.14.2 Usefulness
        • 6.14.2.1 No Specific Use
        • 6.14.2.2 No Substantial Use
        • 6.14.2.3 No Credible Use
        • 6.14.2.4 Does Not Achieve the Promised Benefit
        • 6.14.2.5 No Use Asserted in the Complete Specification
    • 6.15P - Miscellaneous - Title, Subsection (51(1), Subsection 64(2), Other
      • 6.15.1 Hearing
      • 6.15.2 Sub-Section 64(2)
      • 6.15.3 Late Report
      • 6.15.4 Postponement of Acceptance Section 49(3) and (4)
      • 6.15.5 Acceptance Time Extended Under Regulation 13.4(1)(I)
      • 6.15.6 Supervision
      • 6.15.7 Re-examination
    • 6.16R - Applicant Cases - No Possibility of Grant, Possibility of Grant, Search Reserved, Drafting & Formalities, Amendments, Guide, State Offices
      • 6.16.1 Novelty and Inventive Step - Notes
      • 6.16.2 The Possibility of the Grant of a Patent is Remote
        • 6.16.2.1 Novelty - Complete Disclosure
        • 6.16.2.2 Novelty - Differences Do Not Materially Affect
        • 6.16.2.3 Novelty - Based on Applicant's Drawings or Description
        • 6.16.2.4 Inventive Step
      • 6.16.3 Reasonable Possibility of the Grant of a Patent
      • 6.16.4 Search and Opinion on Newness Reserved
      • 6.16.5 Formalities
      • 6.16.6 Drafting - Specification
      • 6.16.7 Drafting - Claims
      • 6.16.8 Amendments
      • 6.16.9 Time Limits and Lapsing
      • 6.16.10 Guides and Professional Help
      • 6.16.11 IP Australia Offices and Website
      • 6.16.12 The Patent System
    • 6.17 T/S - International
      • 6.17.17 Certain Documents Cited
        • 6.17.17.1 International
      • 6.17.1 Informal Request for Comment on a Finding
      • 6.17.2 Excluded Subject Matter (ISO and IPE Box III [Rule 67] and ISR Box II [Rule 39])
      • 6.17.3 Unity of Invention (ISR Box III, Invitation, ISO and IPE Box IV)
      • 6.17.4 Lack of Unity
      • 6.17.5 Informal Request for Comment on a Finding of Lack of Unity
      • 6.17.6 Additional Fees - Extra Search Effort
      • 6.17.7 Additional Fees - Extra Examination Effort
      • 6.17.8 Examination Restricted
      • 6.17.9 Rule 66.2(a)(iii) Certain Defects (IPE Box VII)
      • 6.17.10 Certain Observations (IPE Box VIII)
      • 6.17.11 Rule 66.2(a)(ii) N, IS and IA (IPE Box V)
      • 6.17.12 Industrial Applicability - Positive Statement
      • 6.17.13 Novelty - Positive Statement
      • 6.17.14 Novelty - Negative Statement
      • 6.17.15 Inventive Step - Positive Statement
      • 6.17.16 Inventive Step - Negative Statement
      • 6.17.19 Reissue of Examination Reports
    • 6.1 Introduction
      • 6.1.1 Use of Bold Typeface
      • 6.1.2 Use of Active and Passive
    • 6.2 Common Terms
    • Printable Version
  • Welcome
  • Customer Service Charter Timeliness Guidelines
  • Service Level Agreements
  • Suggestions for Manual

5.6.11 Patents of Addition

Date Published 09 Oct 2023

Also in this Chapter:

  • 5.6.1 Relevant Dates, Definitions, Legal Standards, and Other Prescribed Matters (e.g. Publication)

  • 5.6.2 Factors to consider before commencing examination
  • 5.6.3 The Specification and Claims to Examine;
  • 5.6.4 Citations: Prior art base and construction of prior art
  • 5.6.5 Novelty, Whole of Contents, and Secret Use
  • 5.6.6 Inventive Step

  • 5.6.7 Full Disclosure, Sufficiency, Clarity, Support and Usefulness (s40)
  • 5.6.8 Patent Eligible Subject Matter (Manner of Manufacture)
  • 5.6.9 Acceptance, Grant, and Refusal of Applications

  • 5.6.10 Divisional applications

  • ​​​​​​​5.6.12 Preliminary search and Opinion (PSO)
  • 5.6.13 Re-examination
  • 5.6.14 Secret cases and applications involving associated technologies (i.e. nuclear weapons)
  • 5.6.15 Innovation Formalities and Innovative Step
  • 5.6.16 Annex A - Procedural Outline for Full Examination of a Standard Patent Application
  • 5.6.17 Annex B - Indicators of Special or Different Considerations
  • 5.6.18 Annex C - Applicant and Inventor Details as Shown on PCT Pamphlet Front Page
  • 5.6.19 Annex D - Example of PCT Pamphlet Front Page​​​​​​​

Sub-chapters:

  • 5.6.11.1 Conditions for filing;
  • 5.6.11.2 Improvement or Modification;
  • 5.6.11.3 Differentiation from the parent;
  • 5.6.11.4 Issues specific to the Examination of additional applications;
  • 5.6.11.5 Amendment of the Parent; and
  • 5.6.11.6 Annex A - Procedural Outline to Patents of Addition Examination.

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