Clause 10

by inserting, immediately before the word “file” in subsection (1)(a), the words “except in prescribed circumstances,”;

by deleting the words “file the prescribed documents and a request in the prescribed form for an examination report,” in subsection (1)(c) and substituting the words “file a request in the prescribed form for an examination report and (except in prescribed circumstances) the prescribed documents,”;

by inserting, immediately after subsection (7), the following subsections:“(7A) The Examiner in subsection (7) may, instead of giving the applicant a written opinion concerning a matter mentioned in that subsection, ask the Registrar to give a notice to the applicant inviting the applicant to amend the application (called in this section an invitation to amend), if the Examiner is of the opinion that the matter can be resolved by this means and without a written opinion and a formal response to it.(7B) The Examiner may also ask the Registrar to give to the applicant an invitation to amend after reviewing a response by the applicant under subsection (9)(a) or an amendment by the applicant under subsection (9)(b) to the application.(7C) An applicant may, within the prescribed period, respond to an invitation to amend by —

amending, in the prescribed manner (but subject to section 84), the specification of the application in accordance with the prescribed conditions; or

rejecting the invitation to amend (with or without an explanation) in the prescribed manner.(7D) The applicant need not respond to the invitation to amend if the applicant withdraws under subsection (10) the request under subsection (1)(c) or (3) for the examination report or the request under subsection (1)(b) for the search and examination report, and may not so respond after the examination report or search and examination report is issued under subsection (4) or (5).(7E) The giving of an invitation to amend to the applicant does not affect the power of the Examiner under subsection (7) to give to the applicant a written opinion, or another written opinion, but the Examiner may not do so until after the applicant responds to the invitation to amend in accordance with subsection (7C) or after the expiry of the prescribed period mentioned in subsection (7C), whichever is earlier.”;

by inserting, immediately before the words “before the examination report” in subsection (9), the words “after receipt of a copy of a written opinion and”; and

by deleting the word “or” at the end of sub‑paragraph (i) of subsection (10)(a), and by inserting immediately thereafter the following sub‑paragraph:“(ia)in any case where the Registrar has given an invitation to amend under subsection (7A) or (7B), and the applicant has not responded to the invitation to amend — at any time before the expiry of the prescribed period mentioned in subsection (7C); or”.