72. Certificate of contested validity of patent

Where in any proceedings before the court or the Registrar the validity of a patent to any extent is contested and that patent is found by the court or the Registrar to be wholly or partially valid, the court or the Registrar may certify the finding and the fact that the validity of the patent was so contested.

Where a certificate is granted under this section, then, if in any subsequent proceedings before the court for infringement of the patent or before the court or the Registrar for revocation of the patent, a final order or judgment is made or given in favour of the party relying on the validity of the patent as found in the earlier proceedings, that party, unless the court or the Registrar otherwise directs, is entitled to that party’s costs or expenses as between solicitor and own client other than the costs or expenses of any appeal in the subsequent proceedings.