Commonwealth Numbered Regulations

1991 No. 71 PATENTS REGULATIONS - REG 20.20

20.20 (1) The Institute or a person who alleges that his or her interests are
affected by the unprofessional conduct of a patent attorney may make a written
complaint to the Board about that conduct.

(2) The Institute or a person may complain in writing to the Board:

   (a)  that a patent attorney was unqualified at the time of his or her
        registration; or

   (b)  that the patent attorney obtained his or her registration by fraud.

(3) A complaint must:

   (a)  state the name of the patent attorney complained about and the address
        of the attorney, if known to the complainant; and

   (b)  state the nature of the complaint; and

   (c)  state the name and address of the complainant; and

   (d)  be signed by the complainant; and

   (e)  have with it a statutory declaration stating the facts on which the
        complainant relies to support the complaint.

(4) If the complaint is made by the Institute, the statutory declaration must
be made by an officer of the Institute.

(5) The Board must give to the patent attorney a copy of the complaint and
statutory declaration and ask the attorney to give to the Board a written
statement replying to the complaint.

(6) The statement must be given to the Board within the period specified by
the Board, being a period of not less than 21 days from the day on which the
patent attorney was asked to give a statement.

(7) The Board may request the Commissioner, the complainant or the patent
attorney to give it further information not less than 21 days after the day on
which the request was given.

(8) The period of 21 days for giving further information may be extended by
the Board before or after that period.