Regulation 23

Subject to paragraph (29), this rule shall apply to all documents (including drawings) making up an application for a patent, including any replacement thereof, to be filed with the Registry by any means.

All documents referred to in paragraph (1) shall be in English.

Unless otherwise provided, the specification (including any drawing therein), abstract and any replacement sheet thereof shall be filed singly.

All documents referred to in paragraph (1) shall be so presented as to permit direct reproduction by photography, electrostatic or electronic processes, scanning, photo offset and microfilming, in an unlimited number of copies.

All sheets must be free from cracks, creases and folds.

Only one side of the sheet shall be used.

All documents referred to in paragraph (1) shall be in A4 paper size (29.7 cm x 21 cm) and shall be on pliable, strong, white, smooth, matt and durable paper.

Each sheet (other than drawings) shall be used with its short sides at the top and bottom (upright position).

The request for the grant of a patent, the description, claims, drawings and abstract shall each commence on a new sheet.

The sheets shall be so connected that they can be easily turned when consulted, and easily separated and joined again if they have been separated.

The minimum margins of the sheets containing the description, the claims and the abstract shall be as follows:

The margins of the documents making up the application, when filed, and of any replacement documents, must be completely blank.

In the application, except in the drawings —

All sheets of drawings contained in the application shall be numbered consecutively as a separate series.

Such numbering shall be in Arabic numerals placed at the top or bottom of the sheet, in the middle, but not in the top or bottom margin.

Every document (other than drawings) referred to in paragraph (1) shall be typed or printed in a dark, indelible colour in at least 1½ line spacing and in characters of which the capital letters are not less than 0.21 cm high except that graphic symbols and characters and chemical and mathematical formulae may be written or drawn, in a dark indelible colour.

The request for the grant of a patent, the description, claims and abstract shall not contain drawings.

The description, claims and abstract may contain chemical or mathematical formulae.

The description and the abstract may contain tables.

The claims may contain tables only if their subject-matter makes the use of tables desirable.

In all documents referred to in paragraph (1), units of weights and measures shall be expressed in terms of the metric system.

If a different system is used, units of weights and measures shall also be expressed in terms of the metric system.

Temperatures shall be expressed in degrees Celsius.

For the other physical values, the units recognised in international practice shall be used, for mathematical formulae the symbols in general use, and for chemical formulae the symbols, atomic weights and molecular formulae in general use shall be employed.

In general, use should be made of technical terms, signs and symbols generally accepted in the field in question.

If a formula or symbol is used in the specification, a copy thereof, prepared in the same manner as drawings, shall be furnished if the Registrar so directs.

The terminology and the signs shall be consistent throughout the application.

All documents referred to in paragraph (1) shall be reasonably free from deletions and other alterations, over-writings and interlineations and shall, in any event, be legible.

Non-compliance with this rule may be authorised by the Registrar if the authenticity of the content is not in question and the requirements for good reproduction are not in jeopardy.

Paragraphs (2) and (4) to (15) shall not apply to any document to be filed with the Registry using the electronic online system, and that document shall instead comply with practice directions issued by the Registrar in place of the requirements of those paragraphs.