University of Alberta v. Canada (Attorney General)

University of Alberta v. Canada (Attorney General)
Court (s) Database
Federal Court Decisions
Date
2017-04-24
Neutral citation
2017 FC 402
File numbers
T-306-16
Decision Content
Date: 20170424
Docket: T-306-16
Citation: 2017 FC 402
Ottawa, Ontario, April 24, 2017
PRESENT: The Honourable Mr. Justice Russell
BETWEEN:
THE GOVERNORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA AND ALBERTA HEALTH SERVICES
Applicants
and
ATTORNEY GENERAL OF CANADA
Respondent
JUDGMENT AND REASONS
I. INTRODUCTION [1] This is an application under s 18.1 of the Federal Courts Act, RSC 1985, c F-7 [Federal Courts Act] for judicial review of the following decisions of the Canadian Intellectual Property Office [CIPO] on behalf of the Commissioner of Patents [Commissioner], regarding Canadian Patent Application Serial Number 2,804,560 [Patent Application]:
(a) The decision of February 3, 2016, refusing to correct the patent records to show the Patent Application in good standing;
(b) The decision of February 4, 2016, refusing to apply the maintenance fee payment dated January 22, 2016 for the Patent Application; and
(c) The decision of May 17, 2016, refusing to advance the examination of the Patent Application.
II. BACKGROUND [2] On February 1, 2013, agents filed an application for a Canadian patent [‘560 Application] on behalf of TEC Edmonton and Alberta Health Services. In the ‘560 Application, the inventors were identified as Ashwin Iyer, Justin Polock, and Nicola de Zanche [Inventors]. The ‘560 Application did not contain a statement that the Patent Applicants were the legal representatives of the Inventors.
[3] On February 15, 2013, CIPO issued two notices to the agents. The first notice requisitioned the ‘560 Applicants to comply with s 37 of the Patent Rules, SOR/96-423 [Patent Rules] before the later of the expiry of the 3-month period after the date of the notice and the expiry of the 12-month period after the filing date of the ‘560 Application [Requisition]. The second notice advised the Patent Applicants that CIPO would use the title of the invention as it appeared in the description rather than the title specified in the Petition for Grant of a Patent.
[4] On March 31, 2014, CIPO issued a Notice of Abandonment for the ‘560 Application to the agents. The notice stated that the ‘560 Application was deemed to be abandoned pursuant to ss 97 or 151 of the Patent Rules for failure to reply in good faith to a requisition by the Commissioner. The notice also stated the ‘560 Application could be reinstated pursuant to s 73(3) of the Patent Act, RSC 1985, c P-4 [Patent Act] within 12-months of the date of abandonment.
[5] On June 10, 2014, TEC Edmonton assigned its rights to the ‘560 Application to the Governors of the University of Alberta. On the same day, the Patent Applicants revoked their previous patent agents’ appointment and appointed Anthony R. Lambert in their place. CIPO processed the change of agent in the record on June 26, 2014.
[6] On January 13, 2015, the Patent Applicants used the Patent Maintenance Fee Electronic Payment service to pay the Year 2 maintenance fee.
[7] On January 22, 2015, the Patent Applicants used the general correspondence on the CIPO website to pay the Year 3 maintenance fee.
[8] On February 1, 2016, the Patent Applicants filed a petition for a correction of the patent records to show the ‘560 Application was in good standing. CIPO replied on February 3, 2016 that it would not revise the patent records because the Patent Applicants had not complied with the Requisition within the 12-month period following the Notice of Abandonment and, as a result, the ‘560 Application was beyond the period of reinstatement.
[9] On February 4, 2016, CIPO notified the Applicants that it would not process the payment of January 22, 2016 because the ‘560 Application was beyond the period of reinstatement.
[10] On March 24, 2016, the Patent Applicants requested the Commissioner to advance an examination of the ‘560 Application. CIPO replied on May 16, 2016 that no action could be taken on the file because the ‘560 Application was beyond the period of reinstatement.
III. DECISIONS UNDER REVIEW 1. February 3, 2016 Decision [11] In a decision dated February 3, 2016, CIPO notified the Patent Applicants that it would not revise the patent records to demonstrate the ‘560 Application was in good standing because the Patent Applicants had not filed a statement in compliance with s 37 of the Patent Rules within one year of the filing date and, consequently, the ‘560 Application was beyond the period of reinstatement.
2. February 4, 2016 Decision [12] In a decision dated February 4, 2016, CIPO notified the Patent Applicants that it would not apply the maintenance fee payment dated January 22, 2016 to the ‘560 Application because the ‘560 Application was beyond the period of reinstatement.
3. May 17, 2016 Decision [13] In a decision dated May 17, 2016, CIPO notified the Patent Applicants that it would not advance an examination of the ‘560 Application because the ‘560 Application was beyond the period of reinstatement.
IV. ISSUES [14] The Applicants submit that the following are at issue in this application:
(1) Whether the standard of correctness is the correct standard of review for the issues raised in this application?
(2) Whether the ‘560 Application was in compliance with the substantial requirements of the Patent Act?
(3) Whether the correct construction of s 73 of the Patent Act is that s 73(1) provides for abandonment for non-compliance with the substantive requirements of the Patent Act and s 73(2) provides for abandonment for non-compliance with the formalities requirements of the Patent Rules?
(4) In relation to the decision of February 3, 2016:
a. Whether the Commissioner has the discretion to construe a patent application that complies with substantial requirements as being in compliance with formalities?
b. Whether the Commissioner construed the Petition for Grant of a Patent as complying with the formalities requirement that there was a statement that the Applicants’ “requests the grant of a patent for an invention, entitled METAMATERIAL LINER FOR WAVEGUIDE, which is described and claimed in the accompanying specification”?
c. Whether the Commissioner had the authority to issue the s 37 Requisition?
d. Whether the notice requirement of s 27(6) of the Patent Act can be made within a requisition pursuant to s 47 of the Patent Rules and if so, whether that notice was provided in the s 37 Requisition?
e. Whether the applicable time prescribed by s 94 of the Patent Rules occurred on May 3, 2013?
f. Whether s 94 of the Patent Rules obligates the Commissioner to notify the Applicants after the applicable time prescribed that the patent application does not comply with the applicable requirements?
g. Whether not providing any notice pursuant to s 94 of the Patent Rules was a decision of the Commissioner that the Application was in compliance with the requirements of s 94(2)(b) of the Patent Rules?
(5) In relation to the decision of May 17, 2016:
a. Whether a patent application abandoned pursuant to s 73(2) of the Patent Act is eligible for advanced examination under s 25(1) of the Patent Act, pursuant to s 28 of the Patent Rules?
b. Whether the Commissioner failed to exercise his or her discretion to advance the examination of the Application?
(6) In relation to the decision of February 4, 2016:
a. Whether the Commissioner was obligated to apply the maintenance fees proffered by the Patent Applicants?
[15] The Respondent submits that the following are at issue in this application:
(1) What is the appropriate standard of review?
(2) Did the applicable provisions of the Patent Act and the Patent Rules operate to the effect that the ‘560 Application was properly deemed abandoned and not reinstated?
(3) In the event that the ‘560 Application was properly deemed abandoned and not reinstated, did the Commissioner err in:
a. Not correcting the patent records to show the ‘560 Application in good standing?
b. Not applying the maintenance fee payment of January 22, 2016 for the ‘560 Application?
c. Not advancing the examination of the ‘560 Application?
V. STANDARD OF REVIEW [16] The Supreme Court of Canada in Dunsmuir v New Brunswick, 2008 SCC 9 [Dunsmuir] held that a standard of review analysis need not be conducted in every instance. Instead, where the standard of review applicable to a particular question before the court is settled in a satisfactory manner by past jurisprudence, the reviewing court may adopt that standard of review. Only where this search proves fruitless, or where the relevant precedents appear to be inconsistent with new developments in the common law principles of judicial review, must the reviewing court undertake a consideration of the four factors comprising the standard of review analysis: Agraira v Canada (Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness), 2013 SCC 36 at para 48.
[17] Both parties agree that the issues raised, which involve the legal interpretation of the Patent Act and the Patent Rules should be reviewed under a standard of correctness as applied by the Commissioner. However, this Court has recently held that matters of statutory interpretation that arise from the Commissioner’s home statute, including issues of extension of time and deemed abandonment, are reviewable on a standard of reasonableness: Biogen Idec Ma Inc v Canada (Attorney General), 2016 FC 517 [Biogen] at para 42. Likewise, the Commissioner’s application of the interpretation to the facts, as a question of mixed fact and law, also attracts a standard of reasonableness: Biogen at para 44.
[18] When reviewing a decision on the standard of reasonableness, the analysis will be concerned with “the existence of justification, transparency and intelligibility within the decision-making process [and also with] whether the decision falls within a range of possible, acceptable outcomes which are defensible in respect of the facts and law.” See Dunsmuir, above, at para 47, and Canada (Citizenship and Immigration) v Khosa, 2009 SCC 12 at para 59. Put another way, the Court should intervene only if the Decisions were unreasonable in the sense that they fall outside the “range of possible, acceptable outcomes which are defensible in respect of the facts and law.”
VI. STATUTORY PROVISIONS [19] The following provisions from the Patent Act are relevant in this proceeding:
Rules and Regulations
Règles et règlements
12 (1) The Governor in Council may make rules or regulations
12 (1) Le gouverneur en conseil peut, par règle ou règlement :
(a) respecting the form and contents of applications for patents;
a) prévoir la forme et le contenu des demandes de brevet;
(b) respecting the form of the Register of Patents and of the indexes thereto;
b) prévoir la forme du registre des brevets et de ses index;
(c) respecting the registration of assignments, transmissions, disclaimers, judgments or other documents relating to any patent;
c) prévoir l’enregistrement de tous documents — cessions, transmissions, renonciations, jugements ou autres — relatifs à un brevet;
(d) respecting the form and contents of any certificate issued pursuant to this Act;
d) prévoir la forme et le contenu des certificats délivrés sous le régime de la présente loi;
(e) prescribing the fees or the manner of determining the fees that may be charged in respect of the filing of applications for patents or the taking of other proceedings under this Act or under any rule or regulation made pursuant to this Act, or in respect of any services or the use of any facilities provided thereunder by the Commissioner or any person employed in the Patent Office;
e) prescrire les taxes qui peuvent être levées pour le dépôt des demandes de brevet ou les autres formalités d’application de la présente loi ou de ses règles ou règlements ou pour des services ou l’utilisation d’installations qui y sont prévus par le commissaire ou par tout fonctionnaire du Bureau des brevets ou prescrire les modalités de la détermination de ces taxes;
(f) prescribing the fees or the manner of determining the fees that shall be paid to maintain in effect an application for a patent or to maintain the rights accorded by a patent;
f) prescrire les taxes à payer pour le maintien en état des demandes de brevet ainsi que des droits conférés par les brevets ou les modalités de leur détermination;
(g) respecting the payment of any prescribed fees including the time when and the manner in which such fees shall be paid, the additional fees that may be charged for the late payment of such fees and the circumstances in which any fees previously paid may berefunded in whole or in part;
g) prévoir le paiement des taxes réglementaires, y compris le moment et la manière selon laquelle ces taxes doivent être payées, les surtaxes qui peuvent être levées pour les paiements en souffrance, ainsi que les circonstances dans lesquelles les taxes peuvent être remboursées en tout ou en partie;
(h) for carrying into effect the terms of any treaty, convention, arrangement or engagement that subsists between Canada and any other country;
h) rendre effectives les stipulations de tout traité, convention, accord ou entente qui subsiste entre le Canada et tout autre pays;
(i) for carrying into effect, notwithstanding anything in this Act, the Patent Cooperation Treaty done at Washington on June 19, 1970, including any amendments, modifications and revisions made from time to time to which Canada is a party;
i) par dérogation aux autres dispositions de la présente loi, mettre en oeuvre le Traité de coopération en matière de brevets, conclu à Washington le 19 juin 1970, ainsi que les modifications et révisions éventuellement apportées à celui-ci et auxquelles le Canada est partie;
(j) respecting the entry on, the maintenance of and the removal from the register of patent agents of the names of persons and firms, including the qualifications that must be met and the conditions that must be fulfilled by a person or firm before the name of the person or firm is entered thereon and to maintain the name of the person or firm on the register;
j) prévoir l’inscription, le maintien et la suppression des noms de personne et d’entreprise dans le registre des agents de brevets, et notamment les conditions que doit remplir toute personne ou entreprise pour que son nom soit ainsi inscrit et maintenu;
(j.1) respecting the submission of documents, information or fees under section 8.1, including
(i) the documents, information or fees that may be submitted in electronic or other form under that section,
(ii) the persons or classes of persons by whom they may be submitted, and
(iii) the time at which they are deemed to be received by the Commissioner;
j.1) régir la transmission des documents, renseignements et taxes visés à l’article 8.1, notamment en déterminant ceux qui peuvent être remis au titre du paragraphe 8.1(1), les personnes ou catégories de personnes habilitées à cet effet et les règles d’application du paragraphe 8.1(2);
(j.2) respecting the entering or recording of any document or information under section 8.2;
j.2) régir la mise en mémoire des renseignements et documents visés à l’article 8.2;
(j.3) prescribing the manner in which an application for a patent may be withdrawn and, for the purposes of subsections 10(4) and (5), prescribing the date, or the manner of determining the date, on or before which a request for priority or an application for a patent must be withdrawn;
j.3) déterminer les modalités de retrait des demandes de brevet et, pour l’application des paragraphes 10(4) et (5), préciser les dates, ou leur mode de détermination, de retrait des demandes de priorité et des demandes de brevet;
(j.4) respecting requests for priority, including
(i) the period within which priority must be requested,
(ii) the manner in which and period within which the Commissioner must be informed of the matters referred to in subsection 28.4(2),
(iii) the documentation that must be filed in support of requests for priority, and
(iv) the withdrawal of requests for priority;
j.4) régir les demandes de priorité, notamment en ce qui a trait à leur délai de présentation, aux renseignements et documents à fournir à l’appui de celles-ci, au délai de transmission au commissaire de ces renseignements et documents ainsi qu’au retrait de ces demandes;
(j.5) respecting the time within which requests for examination must be made and prescribed fees must be paid under subsection 35(1);
j.5) déterminer le délai de présentation des requêtes d’examen et fixer les taxes à payer aux termes du paragraphe 35(1);
(j.6) respecting the deposit of biological material for the purposes of section 38.1;
j.6) régir le dépôt de matières biologiques visé à l’article 38.1;
(j.7) respecting the manner in which amendments may be made to specifications or drawings furnished as part of an application for a patent;
j.7) déterminer les modalités de modification des mémoires descriptifs et des dessins faisant partie de la demande de brevet;
(j.8) authorizing the Commissioner to extend, subject to any prescribed terms and conditions, the time fixed by or under this Act for doing anything where the Commissioner is satisfied that the circumstances justify the extension;
j.8) autoriser le commissaire, si celui-ci estime que les circonstances le justifient, à proroger, aux conditions réglementaires, tout délai fixé par la présente loi ou en vertu de celle-ci pour l’accomplissement d’un acte;
(k) prescribing any other matter that by any provision of this Act is to be prescribed; and
k) prendre toute autre mesure d’ordre réglementaire prévue par la présente loi;
(l) generally, for carrying into effect the objects and purposes of this Act or for ensuring the due administration thereof by the Commissioner and other officers and employees of the Patent Office.
l) prendre toute autre mesure d’application de la présente loi ou pour en assurer la mise en oeuvre par le commissaire et le personnel du Bureau des brevets.
Effect
Effet
(2) Any rule or regulation made by the Governor in Council has the same force and effect as if it had been enacted herein.
(2) Toute règle ou tout règlement pris par le gouverneur en conseil a la même force et le même effet que s’il avait été édicté aux présentes.
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Commissioner may grant patents
Délivrance de brevet
27 (1) The Commissioner shall grant a patent for an invention to the inventor or the inventor’s legal representative if an application for the patent in Canada is filed in accordance with this Act and all other requirements for the issuance of a patent under this Act are met.
27 (1) Le commissaire accorde un brevet d’invention à l’inventeur ou à son représentant légal si la demande de brevet est déposée conformément à la présente loi et si les autres conditions de celle-ci sont remplies.
Application requirements
Dépôt de la demande
(2) The prescribed application fee must be paid and the application must be filed in accordance with the regulations by the inventor or the inventor’s legal representative and the application must contain a petition and a specification of the invention.
(2) L’inventeur ou son représentant légal doit déposer, en la forme réglementaire, une demande accompagnée d’une pétition et du mémoire descriptif de l’invention et payer les taxes réglementaires
Specification
Mémoire descriptif
(3) The specification of an invention must
(3) Le mémoire descriptif doit:
(a) correctly and fully describe the invention and its operation or use as contemplated by the inventor;
a) décrire d’une façon exacte et complète l’invention et son application ou exploitation, telles que les a conçues son inventeur;
(b) set out clearly the various steps in a process, or the method of constructing, making, compounding or using a machine, manufacture or composition of matter, in such full, clear, concise and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art or science to which it pertains, or with which it is most closely connected, to make, construct, compound or use it;
b) exposer clairement les diverses phases d’un procédé, ou le mode de construction, de confection, de composition ou d’utilisation d’une machine, d’un objet manufacturé ou d’un composé de matières, dans des termes complets, clairs, concis et exacts qui permettent à toute personne versée dans l’art ou la science dont relève l’invention, ou dans l’art ou la science qui s’en rapproche le plus, de confectionner, construire, composer ou utiliser l’invention;
(c) in the case of a machine, explain the principle of the machine and the best mode in which the inventor has contemplated the application of that principle; and
c) s’il s’agit d’une machine, en expliquer clairement le principe et la meilleure manière dont son inventeur en a conçu l’application;
(d) in the case of a process, explain the necessary sequence, if any, of the various steps, so as to distinguish the invention from other inventions.
d) s’il s’agit d’un procédé, expliquer la suite nécessaire, le cas échéant, des diverses phases du procédé, de façon à distinguer l’invention en cause d’autres inventions.
Claims
Revendications
(4) The specification must end with a claim or claims defining distinctly and in explicit terms the subject-matter of the invention for which an exclusive privilege or property is claimed.
(4) Le mémoire descriptif se termine par une ou plusieurs revendications définissant distinctement et en des termes explicites l’objet de l’invention dont le demandeur revendique la propriété ou le privilège exclusif.
Alternative definition of subject-matter
Variantes
(5) For greater certainty, where a claim defines the subject-matter of an invention in the alternative, each alternative is a separate claim for the purposes of sections 2, 28.1 to 28.3 and 78.3.
(5) Il est entendu que, pour l’application des articles 2, 28.1 à 28.3 et 78.3, si une revendication définit, par variantes, l’objet de l’invention, chacune d’elles constitue une revendication distincte.
When application to be completed
Demande incomplète
(6) Where an application does not completely meet the requirements of subsection (2) on its filing date, the Commissioner shall, by notice to the applicant, require the application to be completed on or before the date specified in the notice.
(6) Si, à la date de dépôt, la demande ne remplit pas les conditions prévues au paragraphe (2), le commissaire doit, par avis, requérir le demandeur de la compléter au plus tard à la date qui y est mentionnée.
Specified period
Délai
(7) The specified date must be at least three months after the date of the notice and at least twelve months after the filing date of the application.
(7) Ce délai est d’au moins trois mois à compter de l’avis et d’au moins douze mois à compter de la date de dépôt de la demande.
What may not be patented
Ce qui n’est pas brevetable
(8) No patent shall be granted for any mere scientific principle or abstract theorem.
(8) Il ne peut être octroyé de brevet pour de simples principes scientifiques ou conceptions théoriques.
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Request for examination
Requête d’examen
35 (1) The Commissioner shall, on the request of any person made in such manner as may be prescribed and on payment of a prescribed fee, cause an application for a patent to be examined by competent examiners to be employed in the Patent Office for that purpose.
35 (1) Sur requête à lui faite en la forme réglementaire et sur paiement de la taxe réglementaire, le commissaire fait examiner la demande de brevet par tel examinateur compétent recruté par le Bureau des brevets.
Required examination
Examen requis
(2) The Commissioner may by notice require an applicant for a patent to make a request for examination pursuant to subsection (1) or to pay the prescribed fee within the time specified in the notice, but the specified time may not exceed the time provided by the regulations for making the request and paying the fee.
(2) Le commissaire peut, par avis, exiger que le demandeur d’un brevet fasse la requête d’examen visée au paragraphe (1) ou paie la taxe réglementaire dans le délai mentionné dans l’avis, qui ne peut être plus long que celui déterminé pour le paiement de la taxe.
(3) and (4) [Repealed, 1993, c. 15, s. 38]
(3) et (4) [Abrogés, 1993, ch. 15, art. 38]
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Deemed abandonment of applications
Abandon
73 (1) An application for a patent in Canada shall be deemed to be abandoned if the applicant does not
73 (1) La demande de brevet est considérée comme abandonnée si le demandeur omet, selon le cas :
(a) reply in good faith to any requisition made by an examiner in connection with an examination, within six months after the requisition is made or within any shorter period established by the Commissioner;
a) de répondre de bonne foi, dans le cadre d’un examen, à toute demande de l’examinateur, dans les six mois suivant cette demande ou dans le délai plus court déterminé par le commissaire;
(b) comply with a notice given pursuant to subsection 27(6);
b) de se conformer à l’avis mentionné au paragraphe 27(6);
(c) pay the fees payable under section 27.1, within the time provided by the regulations;
c) de payer, dans le délai réglementaire, les taxes visées à l’article 27.1;
(d) make a request for examination or pay the prescribed fee under subsection 35(1) within the time provided by the regulations;
d) de présenter la requête visée au paragraphe 35(1) ou de payer la taxe réglementaire dans le délai réglementaire;
(e) comply with a notice given under subsection 35(2); or
e) de se conformer à l’avis mentionné au paragraphe 35(2);
(f) pay the prescribed fees stated to be payable in a notice of allowance of patent within six months after the date of the notice.
f) de payer les taxes réglementaires mentionnées dans l’avis d’acceptation de la demande de brevet dans les six mois suivant celui-ci.
Deemed abandonment in prescribed circumstances
Idem
(2) An application shall also be deemed to be abandoned in any other circumstances that are prescribed.
(2) Elle est aussi considérée comme abandonnée dans les circonstances réglementaires.
Reinstatement
Rétablissement
(3) An application deemed to be abandoned under this section shall be reinstated if the applicant
(3) Elle est rétablie si le demandeur :
(a) makes a request for reinstatement to the Commissioner within the prescribed period;
a) présente au commissaire, dans le délai réglementaire, une requête à cet effet;
(b) takes the action that should have been taken in order to avoid the abandonment; and
b) prend les mesures qui s’imposaient pour éviter l’abandon;
(c) pays the prescribed fee before the expiration of the prescribed period.
c) paie les taxes réglementaires avant l’expiration de la période réglementaire.
Amendment and re-examination
Modification et réexamen
(4) An application that has been abandoned pursuant to paragraph (1)(f) and reinstated is subject to amendment and further examination.
(4) La demande abandonnée au titre de l’alinéa (1)f) et rétablie par la suite est sujette à modification et à nouvel examen.
Original filing date
Date de dépôt originelle
(5) An application that is reinstated retains its original filing date.
(5) La demande rétablie conserve sa date de dépôt.
[20] The following provisions from the Patent Rules are relevant in this proceeding:
Fees
Taxes
4 (1) The Commissioner shall, on request, refund fees in accordance with subsections (2) to (16).
4 (1) Le commissaire effectue, sur demande, le remboursement des taxes versées, selon les modalités prévues aux paragraphes (2) à (16).
(2) If an application does not meet the requirements of section 28 of the Act entitling it to a filing date, the fee paid shall be refunded, less $25.
(2) Si une demande ne satisfait pas aux exigences de l’article 28 de la Loi pour l’attribution d’une date de dépôt, un montant égal à la taxe versée moins 25 $ est remboursé.
(3) Where an application is submitted to the Commissioner by mistake and the Commissioner is notified before the application has been assigned a number that the application is to be withdrawn, the fee paid on the withdrawn application shall be refunded, less $25.
(3) Si une demande est soumise au commissaire par erreur et que celui-ci est avisé, avant l’attribution d’un numéro, que la demande sera retirée, un montant égal à la taxe versée pour la demande moins 25 $ est remboursé.
(4) Where, through inadvertence, more than one application is filed for the same invention, by or on behalf of the same person, and where any one of such applications is withdrawn before examination, any fee paid on the withdrawn application shall be refunded, less one-half of the filing fee.
(4) Si, par inadvertance, la même personne ou son représentant dépose plus d’une demande à l’égard d’une même invention et que l’une de ces demandes est retirée avant l’examen, la taxe versée à l’égard de la demande retirée est remboursée, moins la moitié de la taxe de dépôt.
(5) Where the Commissioner sends a notice to the applicant pursuant to subsection 94(1) and the applicant does not comply with the requisition set out in that notice, any fee paid pursuant to that subsection shall be refunded, less $25.
(5) Si le commissaire envoie un avis au demandeur en satisfait pas aux exigences énoncées dans cet avis, un montant égal à la taxe versée conformément à ce paragraphe moins 25 $ est remboursé.
(6) If a person pays a standard fee set out in an item of Schedule II, no refund shall be made solely for the reason that the appropriate fee is in fact the small entity fee set out in that item.
(6) Si une personne verse la taxe générale prévue à un article de l’annexe II, aucun remboursement n’est effectué au seul motif que la taxe appropriée était, en fait, la taxe applicable aux petites entités également prévue à cet article.
(7) Where a fee to register any document relating to a patent or an application is received and the document is not submitted, the fee paid shall be refunded.
(7) La taxe d’enregistrement de tout document relatif à un brevet ou à une demande est remboursée si elle est versée et que le document n’est pas déposé par la suite.
(8) Where a request for the reinstatement of an abandoned application is received and the applicant does not comply with the requirements for reinstatement, any fee paid for reinstatement shall be refunded, less one-half of the reinstatement fee.
(8) Si une demande de rétablissement de demande abandonnée est reçue et que le demandeur ne remplit pas les conditions relatives au rétablissement, la taxe versée est remboursée, moins la moitié de la taxe de rétablissement.
(9) Where a request for the reinstatement of an abandoned application is refused, any fee paid for reinstatement shall be refunded.
(9) En cas de refus d’une demande de rétablissement de demande abandonnée, la taxe versée pour le rétablissement est remboursée.
(10) A final fee referred to in subsection 30(1), (5), (6.2) or (6.3) shall be refunded if
(10) La taxe finale visée aux paragraphes 30(1), (5), (6.2) ou (6.3) est remboursée dans l’un ou l’autre des cas suivants:
(a) it is received during the prosecution of an application and the application is subsequently refused or abandoned;
a) elle est reçue pendant la poursuite d’une demande et cette demande est par la suite rejetée ou abandonnée;
(b) a request for its return is received before the start of technical preparations for issue; or
b) une demande de renvoi est reçue avant le début des préparatifs techniques de la délivrance;
(c) it is submitted by a person who is not the authorized correspondent.
c) elle est versée par une personne qui n’est pas le correspondant autorisé.
(11) The fee paid under subparagraph 12(b)(ii) shall be reimbursed if, within 30 days after receipt of notification from the Commissioner that a candidate has passed an equivalent paper of a previously administered examination, the candidate notifies the Commissioner in writing that they no longer intend to sit for the paper.
(11) La taxe versée en application du sous-alinéa 12b)(ii) est remboursée si, dans les trente jours suivant la réception d’un avis du commissaire informant un candidat qu’il a déjà réussi la même épreuve dans le cadre d’un examen de compétence antérieur, le candidat à l’examen l’avise par écrit qu’il n’a plus l’intention de se présenter à cette épreuve.
(12) When the fee received with a request for a copy of a document is insufficient and the request is cancelled, the fee paid shall be refunded.
(12) Lorsque la taxe reçue avec la demande d’une copie de document est insuffisante et que celle-ci est annulée, cette taxe est remboursée.
(13) When an application referred to in section 68 of the Act and presented under subsection 65(1) of the Act is not advertised in the Canadian Patent Office Record, any fee paid for advertising the application shall be refunded.
(13) Lorsqu’une requête visée à l’article 68 de la Loi et présentée en vertu du paragraphe 65(1) de la Loi n’est pas annoncée dans la Gazette du Bureau des brevets, la taxe versée pour l’annonce de la demande est remboursée.
(14) Subject to subsections (2) to (13) and (15), any fee paid by mistake for copies of a document that the Patent Office does not have or paid in excess of the fee prescribed shall be refunded.
(14) Sous réserve des paragraphes (2) à (13) et (15), toute taxe versée par erreur pour des copies d’un document que le Bureau des brevets ne détient pas ou versée en excédent de la taxe prévue est remboursée.
(15) No refund shall be made if the amount of the refund amounts to less than $1 or if the refund results from the exchange on foreign currency.
(15) Aucun remboursement n’est effectué s’il résulte du change sur la monnaie étrangère ou si la taxe à rembourser est inférieure à 1 $.
(16) No refund shall be made unless the request is made before the expiry of three years after the day on which the payment was made.
(16) Le remboursement d’un versement de taxes est prescrit si aucune demande à cet effet n’a été faite dans un délai de trois ans.
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Examination
Examen
28 (1) In respect of an application that has a filing date on or after October 1, 1989 and that is open to public inspection under section 10 of the Act, the Commissioner shall advance out of its routine order the examination of the application under subsection 35(1) of the Act on the request of
28 (1) À la demande de l’une ou l’autre des personnes ci-après, le commissaire devance la date normale d’examen de la demande de brevet visée au paragraphe 35(1) de la Loi dont la date de dépôt est le 1er octobre 1989 ou une date postérieure et qui est accessible au public pour consultation conformément à l’article 10 de la Loi :
(a) any person, on payment of the fee set out in item 4 of Schedule II, if failure to advance the application is likely to prejudice that person’s rights; or
a) la personne qui verse la taxe prévue à l’article 4 de l’annexe II, si le fait de ne pas devancer la date d’examen est susceptible de porter préjudice aux droits de cette personne;
(b) the applicant, if the applicant files with the Commissioner a declaration indicating that the application relates to technology the commercialization of which would help to resolve or mitigate environmental impacts or to conserve the natural environment and resources.
b) le demandeur qui dépose auprès du commissaire une déclaration précisant que sa demande de brevet se rapporte à une technologie dont la commercialisation aiderait à remédier à des problèmes environnementaux ou à en atténuer les conséquences, ou à préserver l’environnement et les ressources naturelles.
(2) With respect to a request made under subsection (1) by an applicant, the Commissioner shall not advance the examination of the application out of its routine order and shall return to its routine order any examination that has been advanced if, after April 30, 2011,
(2) Dans le cas d’une demande présentée au titre du paragraphe (1) par le demandeur du brevet, le commissaire ne devance pas la date normale d’examen de la demande de brevet et en rétablit la date normale d’examen si, après le 30 avril 2011 :
(a) the Commissioner extends, under subsection 26(1), the time fixed by these Rules or by the Commissioner under the Act for doing anything in respect of the application; or
a) il proroge, en application du paragraphe 26(1), le délai prévu aux présentes règles ou celui qu’il a fixé en vertu de la Loi pour l’accomplissement de tout acte à l’égard de la demande de brevet;
(b) the application is deemed to be abandoned under subsection 73(1) of the Act whether or not it is reinstated under subsection 73(3) of the Act.
b) la demande de brevet est considérée comme abandonnée au titre du paragraphe 73(1) de la Loi, qu’elle ait été ou non rétablie au titre du paragraphe 73(3) de celle-ci.
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Inventors and Entitlement
Inventeurs et droit du demandeur
37 (1) If the applicant is the inventor, the application must contain a statement to that effect.
37 (1) Lorsque le demandeur est l’inventeur, la demande doit contenir un énoncé à cet effet.
(2) If the applicant is not the inventor, the application must contain a statement indicating the name and address of the inventor and,
(2) Lorsque le demandeur n’est pas l’inventeur, la demande doit contenir un énoncé indiquant le nom et l’adresse de l’inventeur et la déclaration suivante :
(a) in respect of an application other than a PCT national phase application, a declaration that the applicant is the legal representative of the inventor; and
a) à l’égard d’une demande autre qu’une demande PCT à la phase nationale, une déclaration portant que le demandeur est le représentant légal de l’inventeur;
(b) in respect of a PCT national phase application, either
b) à l’égard d’une demande PCT à la phase nationale :
(i) a declaration that the applicant is the legal representative of the inventor, or
(i) soit une déclaration portant que le demandeur est le représentant légal de l’inventeur,
(ii) a declaration as to the applicant’s entitlement, as at the filing date, to apply for and be granted a patent, in accordance with Rule 4.17 of the Regulations under the PCT.
(ii) soit une déclaration relative au droit du demandeur, à la date de dépôt, de demander et d’obtenir un brevet, conformément à la règle 4.17 du Règlement d’exécution du PCT.
(3) A statement or declaration required by subsection (1) or (2) shall be included in the petition or be submitted in a separate document.
(3) L’énoncé et, le cas échéant, la déclaration, sont inclus dans la pétition ou présentés dans un document distinct.
(4) If an application does not comply with the requirements of subsections (1) to (3), the Commissioner shall, by notice to the applicant, requisition the applicant to comply with those requirements before the later of the expiry of the 3-month period after the date of the notice and the expiry of the 12-month period after the filing date of the application.
(4) Lorsqu’une demande n’est pas conforme aux exigences énoncées aux paragraphes (1) à (3), le commissaire exige par avis que le demandeur se conforme à ces exigences dans les trois mois suivant la date de l’avis ou dans les douze mois suivant la date du dépôt de la demande, selon celui de ces délais qui expire le dernier.
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Petitions
Pétition
77 The petition shall follow the form and the instructions for its completion set out in Form 3 of Schedule I to the extent that the provisions of the form and the instructions are applicable.
77 La pétition est établie selon la formule 3 de l’annexe I et les instructions connexes, dans la mesure où les dispositions de cette formule et ces instructions s’y appliquent.
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Completing the Application
Demande incomplète
94 (1) If on the expiry of the applicable time prescribed under subsection (2) or (3) an application does not comply with the applicable requirements set out in subsection (2) or (3), the Commissioner shall, by notice to the applicant, requisition the applicant to comply with those requirements, an