Made | 7th February 2002 | ||
Laid before Parliament | 8th February 2002 | ||
Coming into force | 1st March 2002 |
(2) Any reference to a numbered regulation is a reference to the regulation so numbered in these Regulations and any reference to a numbered paragraph is a reference to the paragraph so numbered in the regulation in which the reference occurs.
(3) If and so far as any agreement purports to bind any person not to apply for a licence under paragraph (1), it shall be void.
Proceedings before controllers
4.
On receipt by the Comptroller General of Patents of an application under regulation 3(1) and payment of the prescribed fee, the controllers shall consider and process the application in accordance with rules.
5.
- (1) The proprietor of the patent concerned or any other person wishing to oppose an application under regulation 3(1) may, in accordance with rules, give to the Comptroller General of Patents notice of opposition and on giving such notice shall pay the prescribed fee.
(2) On receipt of a notice of opposition under paragraph (1) and payment of the prescribed fee, the controllers, in deciding whether to grant an application under regulation 3(1), shall consider and process any opposition in accordance with rules.
Grant
6.
Where, having considered the application made under regulation 3(1), the controllers are satisfied that -
the controllers shall order the grant to the applicant (or, where the applicant is a government department, shall order the grant to any person specified in the application) of a licence to use the invention protected by the prior patent in so far as the licence is necessary for the exploitation of the new plant variety on the conditions set out in regulation 7 and on such other terms as the controllers think fit.
Conditions
7.
- (1) A compulsory patent licence shall -
(2) Where the controllers order the grant of a compulsory patent licence to a person who has been granted plant breeders' rights in the new plant variety, the proprietor of the patent concerned may request, a cross licence on reasonable terms of the plant breeders' rights to use the new plant variety in respect of which the compulsory patent licence has been granted and, on such request, the controllers shall order the grant of such a cross licence to that proprietor (or, where the proprietor of the patent is a government department, to any person specified in the request).
(3) Where the controllers order the grant of a compulsory patent licence to a person who has yet to acquire plant breeders' rights in the new plant variety, the proprietor of the patent concerned may request a cross licence on reasonable terms of the plant breeders' rights to use the new plant variety in respect of which the compulsory patent licence has been granted and, on such request, the controllers shall order the grant of such a cross licence to that proprietor (or, where the proprietor of the patent is a government department, to any person specified in the request), and the cross licence shall come into effect on the grant to the holder of the compulsory patent licence of plant breeders' rights in the new plant variety.
(4) Where the controllers order the grant of a compulsory patent licence to a person who has been granted a Community plant variety right in the new plant variety, if the proprietor of the patent wishes, the compulsory patent licence shall be subject to the grant to the proprietor of the patent concerned (or, where the proprietor of the patent is a government department, to any person the proprietor specifies) of a cross licence of the Community plant variety right on reasonable terms to use in the UK the new plant variety in respect of which the compulsory patent licence has been granted.
(5) Where the controllers order the grant of a compulsory patent licence to a person who has yet to acquire a Community plant variety right in the new plant variety, the order for grant shall, if the proprietor of the patent wishes, include a condition that, on the grant of the Community plant variety right to such person in the new plant variety in respect of which the compulsory patent licence has been granted, the proprietor of the patent concerned (or, where the proprietor of the patent is a government department, such person as the proprietor specifies) shall be granted a cross licence on reasonable terms to use in the UK the new plant variety in respect of which the compulsory patent licence has been granted.
Variation
8.
- (1) On application at any time by a party to the Comptroller General of Patents in accordance with rules, the controllers may extend, limit or in any other respect vary an order for grant of a -
and extend, limit or in any other respect vary the licence granted under the order.
(2) On receipt of an application under paragraph (1), the controllers shall consider and process the application in accordance with rules.
Revocation
9.
- (1) A party may, at any time, apply to the Comptroller General of Patents in accordance with rules to revoke an order for grant of -
if the circumstances which led to the order for grant have ceased to exist or are unlikely to recur.
(2) On receipt by the Comptroller General of Patents of an application under paragraph (1), the controllers shall consider and process the application in accordance with rules and if the controllers are satisfied that the circumstances which led to an order for grant of a -
have ceased to exist or are unlikely to recur, the controllers may revoke the order and terminate the licence granted under the order, subject to such terms and conditions as they think necessary for the protection of the legitimate interests of the holder of the compulsory patent licence or the cross licence ordered to be granted under regulation 7(2) or 7(3).
10.
In regulations 8 and 9, "party" means the proprietor of the patent concerned or the applicant, as the case may be, in an application under regulation 3(1) or their respective successors in title.
(3) If and so far as any agreement purports to bind any person not to apply for a licence under paragraph (1), it shall be void.
Proceedings before controllers
12.
- (1) On receipt by the Controller of Plant Varieties of an application under regulation 11(1) and payment of the appropriate plant breeders' fee, the controllers shall consider and process the application in accordance with Breeders' regulations.
(2) In proceedings before them in relation to an application under regulation 11(1), 16(1) or 16(2) the controllers, in addition to any powers conferred by Breeders' regulations, may give such directions as they think fit with regard to the subsequent procedure.
(3) Any person entitled under Breeders' regulations to make written or oral representations on an application under regulation 11(1), 16(1) or 16(2) shall do so in accordance with Breeders' regulations and shall pay the appropriate plant breeders' fee.
Grant
13.
Where, having considered the application under regulation 11(1), the controllers are satisfied that -
the controllers shall grant to the proprietor of the patent for the biotechnological invention (or, where the proprietor is a government department, to any person specified in the application) a licence to use the plant variety protected by prior plant breeders rights on the conditions set out in regulation 14 and on such other terms as the controllers see fit.
Conditions
14.
- (1) A compulsory plant variety licence shall -
(2) Where the controllers grant a compulsory plant variety licence to a proprietor of a patent for a biotechnological invention, the holder of the plant breeders' rights concerned may request the grant of a cross licence on reasonable terms to use the biotechnological invention protected by the patent and, on such request, the controllers shall grant such cross licence to the holder of plant breeders' rights (or, where the holder is a government department, to any person specified in the request).
Community plant variety rights: cross licences of patents
15.
- (1) Where the Community Plant Variety Office has granted -
a compulsory exploitation right in respect of a Community plant variety right to a proprietor of a biotechnological invention protected by a patent, who could not otherwise exploit in the UK the biotechnological invention protected by the patent without infringing a Community plant variety right, the holder of the Community plant variety right concerned may, in accordance with rules, apply to the Comptroller General of Patents for a cross licence of the biotechnological invention protected by the patent and on such application shall pay the prescribed fee.
(2) On receipt of an application under paragraph (1) and payment of the prescribed fee, the Comptroller General shall consider and process the application in accordance with rules.
(3) Where the holder of the Community plant variety right concerned has paid the prescribed fee and demonstrates in his application to the satisfaction of the Comptroller General of Patents that -
the Comptroller General of Patents shall order the grant of a cross licence on reasonable terms to the holder of the Community plant variety right concerned (or, where the holder is a government department, to any person specified in the application) to use in the UK the biotechnological invention protected by the patent.
Variation and revocation
16.
- (1) Any person may at any time apply to the Controller of Plant Variety Rights in accordance with Breeders' regulations to extend, limit or in any other respect vary a compulsory plant variety licence or cross licence granted under regulation 14(2) and, on making such application shall pay the appropriate plant breeders' fee, and on receipt by the Controller of Plant Varieties of the application and the fee, the controllers shall consider and process the application and may extend, limit or in any other respect vary the compulsory plant variety licence or cross licence granted under regulation 14(2).
(2) Any person may at any time apply to the Controller of Plant Variety Rights in accordance with Breeders' regulations to revoke the grant of a compulsory plant variety licence or a cross licence under regulation 14(2) if the circumstances which led to the grant of the compulsory patent licence or the cross licence under regulation 14(2) have ceased to exist or are unlikely to recur and, on making such application, the applicant shall pay the appropriate plant breeders' fee.
(3) On receipt of an application under paragraph (2) and payment of the appropriate plant breeders' fee, the controllers shall consider and process the application in accordance with Breeders' regulations and if the controllers are satisfied that the circumstances which led to the grant of the compulsory plant variety licence or the cross licence under regulation 14(2) have ceased to exist or are unlikely to recur, the controllers may revoke the grant of the compulsory plant variety licence or the cross licence under regulation 14(2), subject to such terms and conditions as they think necessary for the protection of the legitimate interests of the holder of the compulsory plant variety licence or cross licence granted under regulation 14(2).
(4) On the application of any party at any time in accordance with rules, the Comptroller General of Patents may, having considered and processed the application in accordance with rules, extend, limit or in any other respect vary an order for grant of a cross licence under regulation 15(3) and extend, limit or in any other respect vary the licence granted under the order accordingly.
(5) A party may at any time apply to the Comptroller General of Patents in accordance with rules for an order to revoke a cross licence ordered to be granted under regulation 15(3), if the circumstances which led to an order for grant of the cross licence under regulation 15(3) have ceased to exist or are unlikely to recur.
(6) On receipt of an application under paragraph (5), the Comptroller General of Patents shall consider and process the application in accordance with rules and if the Comptroller General is satisfied that the circumstances which led to an order for grant of a cross licence under regulation 15(3) have ceased to exist or are unlikely to recur, the Comptroller General of Patents may revoke the order and terminate the licence granted under the order, subject to such terms and conditions as they think necessary for the protection of the legitimate interests of the holder of the cross licence.
(7) In paragraphs (4), (5) and (6), "party" means the proprietor of the patent concerned or the applicant, as the case may be, in an application under regulation 15(1) or their respective successors in title.
Extension of powers to make rules and regulations
20.
The power of the Secretary of State to make rules under section 123 of the 1977 Act shall be extended so as to permit her to make rules regulating the business of the Patent Office in respect of -
and section 124 of the 1977 Act shall apply accordingly.
21.
The powers of the Ministers to make regulations under sections 24, 26(2)(a), 28, 29, 44, and 48(1) of the 1997 Act shall be extended so as to permit them to make regulations in respect of -
and section 48(2) to (5) of the 1997 Act shall apply accordingly.
Application of existing rules and regulations
22.
- (1) Subject to the exercise by the Secretary of State of her powers under section 123 of the 1977 Act as extended by regulation 20, the Patents Rules in respect of -
(c) other matters provided for in the Patents Rules related to applications and proceedings in respect of such compulsory licences,
shall, subject to paragraph (2), extend and apply to and be taken to make corresponding provision in respect of applications for the grant of licences under regulation 3(1), proceedings before the controllers in relation to the grant of such applications, the variation or revocation of compulsory patent licences and cross licences under regulations 7(2), 7(3) and 15(3), and other matters related to or arising under these Regulations.
(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1), the Patents Rules shall have effect as if a reference to the Comptroller General of Patents in the Patents Rules were to the controllers, other than in rule 71(1) of the Patents Rules and in relation to an application under regulation 15(1), and with any other necessary modifications.
23.
Subject to the exercise by the Ministers of their powers under sections 24, 26(2)(a), 28, 29, 44 and 48(1) of the 1997 Act as extended by regulation 21, the Plant Breeders' Regulations in respect of -
(c) appeals to the Tribunal, and
(d) other matters provided for in the Plant Breeders' Regulations related to applications and proceedings in respect of such compulsory licences,
shall, subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), extend and apply to and be taken to make corresponding provision in respect of applications under regulation 11(1), proceedings before the controllers in relation to such applications, the variation or revocation of compulsory plant variety licences and cross licences granted under regulation 14(2), appeals to the Tribunal and other matters related to or arising under these Regulations.
(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1), the Plant Breeders' Regulations shall have effect as if a reference to the Controller of Plant Variety Rights in the regulations were to the controllers and with any other necessary modifications.
(3) Regulation 10 of the Plant Breeders' Regulations shall not extend and apply to and shall not be taken to make corresponding provision in these Regulations.
24.
Subject to the exercise by the Secretary of State of her powers under section 123 of the 1977 Act as extended by regulation 20, the Patents (Fees) Rules in respect of -
shall extend and apply to and be taken to make corresponding provision in respect of an application for a licence under regulation 3(1) or 15(1), and giving a notice of opposition under regulation 5(1).
25.
Subject to the exercise by the Ministers of their powers under sections 29 and 48(1) of the 1997 Act as extended by regulation 21, the Plant Breeders' (Fees) Regulations in respect of -
shall extend and apply to and be taken to make corresponding provision in respect of an application for a licence under regulation 11(1), applications to extend, limit, vary or revoke compulsory plant variety licences and cross licences granted under regulation 14(2), and proceedings before the controllers referred to in regulation 12.
Application of 1977 and 1997 Acts
26.
- (1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), the provisions of the 1977 Act in respect of -
as and to the extent they relate to compulsory licences under section 48(1), shall extend and apply to and be taken to make corresponding provision in the UK in respect of proceedings before the controllers, decisions of the controllers including orders for the grant, variation and revocation, of compulsory patent licences and cross licences ordered to be granted under regulations 7(2), 7(3) and 15(3), legal proceedings in respect of appeals from the controllers and other matters related to compulsory patent licences and cross licences ordered to be granted under regulations 7(2), 7(3) and 15(3) arising under these Regulations.
(2) An application for a licence under regulation 3(1) is additional to any application an applicant may make under section 48 of the 1977 Act but the provisions of sections 48, 48A, 48B, 49, 50 and 52 do not extend and apply to and shall not be taken to make corresponding provision in respect of compulsory patent licences and cross licences ordered to be granted under these Regulations.
(3) For the purposes of paragraph (1), the provisions of the 1977 Act shall have effect as if a reference to the Comptroller General of Patents were to the controllers, other than in relation to applications under regulations 15(1), 16(3) and 16(4), and with any other necessary modifications.
27.
- (1) Subject to regulation 19(2) and paragraphs (2) and (3) of this regulation, the provisions of the 1997 Act in respect of -
as and to the extent they relate to compulsory licences under section 17(1), shall extend and apply to and be taken to make corresponding provision in respect of proceedings before the controllers, decisions of the controllers including the grant, variation and revocation of compulsory plant variety licences and cross licences granted under regulation 14(2), appeals from the controllers and other matters related to compulsory plant variety licences and cross licences granted under regulation 14(2) arising under these Regulations.
(2) An application for a licence under regulation 11(1) is additional to any application an applicant may make under section 17 of the 1997 Act but the provisions of sections 17 and 23 of the 1997 Act do not extend and apply to and shall not be taken to make corresponding provision in respect of compulsory plant variety licences and cross licences under these Regulations.
(3) For the purposes of paragraph (1), the provisions of the 1997 Act shall have effect as if a reference to the Controller of Plant Variety Rights were to the controllers and with any other necessary modifications.
Melanie Johnson
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Competition, Consumers and Markets Department of Trade and Industry
7th February 2002
[4] In accordance with section 88(2) of the Scotland Act 1998, the Secretary of State has consulted the Scottish Ministers.back
[7] 1907 c. 29 and see section 130 of the Patents Act 1977.back
[8] OJ No. L 227, 1.9.1994, p. 1.back
[9] OJ No. L 258, 28.10.95, p. 3.back
[10] S.I. 1998/1778 as amended by S.I. 1999/1093.back
[11] S.I. 1995/2093 as amended by S.I. 1999/1092, S.I. 1999/1899, S.I. 1999/3197 and S.I. 2001/1412.back
[12] S.I. 1998/1021 as amended by S.I. 1998/1089 and S.I. 2001/3630.back
[14] Schedule A2 was inserted by the Patents Regulations 2000, S.I. 2000/2037.back
[15] OJ No. L 213, 30.7.98, p. 13.back