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.

(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.

(3) The specification of an invention must

(a) correctly and fully describe the invention and its operation or use as contemplated by the inventor;

(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;

(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

(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.

(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.

(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.

(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.

(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.

(8) No patent shall be granted for any mere scientific principle or abstract theorem.

R.S., 1985, c. P-4, s. 27; R.S., 1985, c. 33 (3rd Supp.), s. 8; 1993, c. 15, s. 31, c. 44, s. 192.

27.1 (1) An applicant for a patent shall, to maintain the application in effect, pay to the Commissioner such fees, in respect of such periods, as may be prescribed.

(2) and (3) [Repealed, 1993, c. 15, s. 32]

R.S., 1985, c. 33 (3rd Supp.), s. 9; 1993, c. 15, s. 32.

28. (1) The filing date of an application for a patent in Canada is the date on which the Commissioner receives the documents, information and fees prescribed for the purposes of this section or, if they are received on different dates, the last date.

(2) The Commissioner may, for the purposes of this section, deem prescribed fees to have been received on a date earlier than the date of their receipt if the Commissioner considers it just to do so.

R.S., 1985, c. P-4, s. 28; R.S., 1985, c. 33 (3rd Supp.), s. 10; 1993, c. 15, s. 33.

28.1 (1) The date of a claim in an application for a patent in Canada (the "pending application") is the filing date of the application, unless

(a) the pending application is filed by

(i) a person who has, or whose agent, legal representative or predecessor in title has, previously regularly filed in or for Canada an application for a patent disclosing the subject-matter defined by the claim, or

(ii) a person who is entitled to protection under the terms of any treaty or convention relating to patents to which Canada is a party and who has, or whose agent, legal representative or predecessor in title has, previously regularly filed in or for any other country that by treaty, convention or law affords similar protection to citizens of Canada an application for a patent disclosing the subject-matter defined by the claim;

(b) the filing date of the pending application is within twelve months after the filing date of the previously regularly filed application; and

(c) the applicant has made a request for priority on the basis of the previously regularly filed application.

(2) In the circumstances described in paragraphs (1)(a) to (c), the claim date is the filing date of the previously regularly filed application.

1993, c. 15, s. 33.

28.2 (1) The subject-matter defined by a claim in an application for a patent in Canada (the "pending application") must not have been disclosed

(a) more than one year before the filing date by the applicant, or by a person who obtained knowledge, directly or indirectly, from the applicant, in such a manner that the subject-matter became available to the public in Canada or elsewhere;

(b) before the claim date by a person not mentioned in paragraph (a) in such a manner that the subject-matter became available to the public in Canada or elsewhere;

(c) in an application for a patent that is filed in Canada by a person other than the applicant, and has a filing date that is before the claim date; or

(d) in an application (the "co-pending application") for a patent that is filed in Canada by a person other than the applicant and has a filing date that is on or after the claim date if

(i) the co-pending application is filed by

(A) a person who has, or whose agent, legal representative or predecessor in title has, previously regularly filed in or for Canada an application for a patent disclosing the subject-matter defined by the claim, or

(B) a person who is entitled to protection under the terms of any treaty or convention relating to patents to which Canada is a party and who has, or whose agent, legal representative or predecessor in title has, previously regularly filed in or for any other country that by treaty, convention or law affords similar protection to citizens of Canada an application for a patent disclosing the subject-matter defined by the claim,

(ii) the filing date of the previously regularly filed application is before the claim date of the pending application,

(iii) the filing date of the co-pending application is within twelve months after the filing date of the previously regularly filed application, and

(iv) the applicant has, in respect of the co-pending application, made a request for priority on the basis of the previously regularly filed application.

(2) An application mentioned in paragraph (1)(c) or a co-pending application mentioned in paragraph (1)(d) that is withdrawn before it is open to public inspection shall, for the purposes of this section, be considered never to have been filed.

1993, c. 15, s. 33.

28.3 The subject-matter defined by a claim in an application for a patent in Canada must be subject-matter that would not have been obvious on the claim date to a person skilled in the art or science to which it pertains, having regard to

(a) information disclosed more than one year before the filing date by the applicant, or by a person who obtained knowledge, directly or indirectly, from the applicant in such a manner that the information became available to the public in Canada or elsewhere; and

(b) information disclosed before the claim date by a person not mentioned in paragraph (a) in such a manner that the information became available to the public in Canada or elsewhere.

1993, c. 15, s. 33.

28.4 (1) For the purposes of sections 28.1, 28.2 and 78.3, an applicant for a patent in Canada may request priority in respect of the application on the basis of one or more previously regularly filed applications.

(2) The request for priority must be made in accordance with the regulations and the applicant must inform the Commissioner of the filing date, country or office of filing and number of each previously regularly filed application on which the request is based.

(3) An applicant may, in accordance with the regulations, withdraw a request for priority, either entirely or with respect to one or more previously regularly filed applications.

(4) Where two or more applications have been previously regularly filed as described in paragraph 28.1(1)(a), subparagraph 28.2(1)(d)(i) or paragraph 78.3(1)(a) or (2)(a), either in the same country or in different countries,

(a) paragraph 28.1(1)(b), subparagraph 28.2(1)(d)(iii) or paragraph 78.3(1)(b) or (2)(b), as the case may be, shall be applied using the earliest filing date of the previously regularly filed applications; and

(b) subsection 28.1(2), subparagraph 28.2(1)(d)(ii) or paragraph 78.3(1)(d) or (2)(d), as the case may be, shall be applied using the earliest filing date of the previously regularly filed applications on the basis of which a request for priority is made.

(5) A previously regularly filed application mentioned in section 28.1 or 28.2 or subsection 78.3(1) or (2) shall, for the purposes of that section or subsection, be considered never to have been filed if

(a) it was filed more than twelve months before the filing date of

(i) the pending application, in the case of section 28.1,

(ii) the co-pending application, in the case of section 28.2,

(iii) the later application, in the case of subsection 78.3(1), or

(iv) the earlier application, in the case of subsection 78.3(2);

(b) before the filing date referred to in paragraph (a), another application

(i) is filed by the person who filed the previously regularly filed application or by the agent, legal representative or predecessor in title of that person,

(ii) is filed in or for the country where the previously regularly filed application was filed, and

(iii) discloses the subject-matter defined by the claim in the application mentioned in paragraph (a); and

(c) on the filing date of the other application mentioned in paragraph (b) or, if there is more than one such application, on the earliest of their filing dates, the previously regularly filed application

(i) has been withdrawn, abandoned or refused without having been opened to public inspection and without leaving any rights outstanding, and

(ii) has not served as a basis for a request for priority in any country, including Canada.

1993, c. 15, s. 33; 2001, c. 34, s. 63.

29. (1) An applicant for a patent who does not appear to reside or carry on business at a specified address in Canada shall, on the filing date of the application, appoint as a representative a person or firm residing or carrying on business at a specified address in Canada.

(2) Subject to this section, a nominee of an applicant shall be deemed to be the representative for all purposes of this Act, including the service of any proceedings taken under it, of the applicant and of any patentee of a patent issued on his application who does not appear to reside or carry on business at a specified address in Canada, and shall be recorded as such by the Commissioner.

(3) An applicant for a patent or a patentee

(a) may, by giving notice to the Commissioner, appoint a new representative in place of the latest recorded representative, or may give notice to the Commissioner of a change in the address of the latest recorded representative; and

(b) shall so appoint a new representative or supply a new and correct address of the latest recorded representative on receipt of a request of the Commissioner stating that the latest recorded representative has died or that a letter addressed to the latest recorded representative at the latest recorded address and sent by ordinary mail has been returned undelivered.

(4) Where the Commissioner makes a request under paragraph (3)(b) and no new appointment is made or no new and correct address is supplied by the applicant or patentee within three months, the Federal Court or the Commissioner may dispose of any proceedings under this Act without requiring service on the applicant or patentee of any process in the proceedings.

(5) No fee is payable on the appointment of a new representative or the supply of a new and correct address, unless that appointment or supply follows a request by the Commissioner under subsection (3), in which case the prescribed fee is payable.

R.S., 1985, c. P-4, s. 29; 1993, c. 15, s. 34.

30. [Repealed, 1993, c. 15, s. 35]

31. (1) Where an invention is made by two or more inventors and one of them refuses to make application for a patent or his whereabouts cannot be ascertained after diligent inquiry, the other inventors or their legal representatives may make application, and a patent may be granted in the name of the inventors who make the application, on satisfying the Commissioner that the joint inventor has refused to make application or that his whereabouts cannot be ascertained after diligent inquiry.

(2) In any case where

(a) an applicant has agreed in writing to assign a patent, when granted, to another person or to a joint applicant and refuses to proceed with the application, or

(b) disputes arise between joint applicants with respect to proceeding with an application,

the Commissioner, on proof of the agreement to his satisfaction, or if satisfied that one or more of the joint applicants ought to be allowed to proceed alone, may allow that other person or joint applicant to proceed with the application, and may grant a patent to him in such manner that all persons interested are entitled to be heard before the Commissioner after such notice as he may deem requisite and sufficient.

(3) Where an application is filed by joint applicants and it subsequently appears that one or more of them has had no part in the invention, the prosecution of the application may be carried on by the remaining applicant or applicants on satisfying the Commissioner by affidavit that the remaining applicant or applicants is or are the sole inventor or inventors.

(4) Where an application is filed by one or more applicants and it subsequently appears that one or more further applicants should have been joined, the further applicant or applicants may be joined on satisfying the Commissioner that he or they should be so joined, and that the omission of the further applicant or applicants had been by inadvertence or mistake and was not for the purpose of delay.

(5) Subject to this section, in cases of joint applications, the patent shall be granted in the names of all the applicants.

(6) An appeal lies to the Federal Court from the decision of the Commissioner under this section.

R.S., c. P-4, s. 33; R.S., c. 10(2nd Supp.), s. 64.

32. Any person who has invented any improvement on any patented invention may obtain a patent for the improvement, but he does not thereby obtain the right of making, vending or using the original invention, nor does the patent for the original invention confer the right of making, vending or using the patented improvement.

R.S., c. P-4, s. 34.

33. and 34. [Repealed, 1993, c. 15, s. 36]

34.1 (1) Any person may file with the Commissioner prior art, consisting of patents, applications for patents open to public inspection and printed publications, that the person believes has a bearing on the patentability of any claim in an application for a patent.

(2) A person who files prior art with the Commissioner under subsection (1) shall explain the pertinency of the prior art.

R.S., 1985, c. 33 (3rd Supp.), s. 11; 1993, c. 15, s. 37.

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.

(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.

(3) and (4) [Repealed, 1993, c. 15, s. 38]

R.S., 1985, c. P-4, s. 35; R.S., 1985, c. 33 (3rd Supp.), s. 12; 1993, c. 15, s. 38.

36. (1) A patent shall be granted for one invention only but in an action or other proceeding a patent shall not be deemed to be invalid by reason only that it has been granted for more than one invention.

(2) Where an application (the "original application") describes more than one invention, the applicant may limit the claims to one invention only, and any other invention disclosed may be made the subject of a divisional application, if the divisional application is filed before the issue of a patent on the original application.

(2.1) Where an application (the "original application") describes and claims more than one invention, the applicant shall, on the direction of the Commissioner, limit the claims to one invention only, and any other invention disclosed may be made the subject of a divisional application, if the divisional application is filed before the issue of a patent on the original application.

(3) If an original application mentioned in subsection (2) or (2.1) becomes abandoned, the time for filing a divisional application terminates with the expiration of the time for reinstating the original application under this Act.

(4) A divisional application shall be deemed to be a separate and distinct application under this Act, to which its provisions apply as fully as may be, and separate fees shall be paid on the divisional application and it shall have the same filing date as the original application.

R.S., 1985, c. P-4, s. 36; 1993, c. 15, s. 39.

37. (1) In the case of a machine, or in any other case in which an invention admits of illustration by means of drawings, the applicant shall, as part of the application, furnish drawings of the invention that clearly show all parts of the invention.

(2) Each drawing must include references corresponding with the specification, and the Commissioner may require further drawings or dispense with any of them as the Commissioner sees fit.

R.S., 1985, c. P-4, s. 37; 1993, c. 15, s. 40.

38. (1) In all cases in which an invention admits of representation by model, the applicant, if required by the Commissioner, shall furnish a model of convenient size exhibiting its several parts in due proportion, and when an invention is a composition of matter, the applicant, if required by the Commissioner, shall furnish specimens of the ingredients, and of the composition, sufficient in quantity for the purpose of experiment.

(2) If the ingredients or composition referred to in subsection (1) are of an explosive or dangerous character, they shall be furnished with such precautions as are specified in the requisition therefor.

R.S., 1985, c. P-4, s. 38; R.S., 1985, c. 33 (3rd Supp.), s. 13.

38.1 (1) Where a specification refers to a deposit of biological material and the deposit is in accordance with the regulations, the deposit shall be considered part of the specification and, to the extent that subsection 27(3) cannot otherwise reasonably be complied with, the deposit shall be taken into consideration in determining whether the specification complies with that subsection.

(2) For greater certainty, a reference to a deposit of biological material in a specification does not create a presumption that the deposit is required for the purpose of complying with subsection 27(3).

1993, c. 15, s. 41.

38.2 (1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3) and the regulations, the specification and any drawings furnished as part of an application for a patent in Canada may be amended before the patent is issued.

(2) The specification may not be amended to describe matter not reasonably to be inferred from the specification or drawings as originally filed, except in so far as it is admitted in the specification that the matter is prior art with respect to the application.

(3) Drawings may not be amended to add matter not reasonably to be inferred from the specification or drawings as originally filed, except in so far as it is admitted in the specification that the matter is prior art with respect to the application.

1993, c. 15, s. 41.

39. to 39.26 [Repealed, 1993, c. 2, s. 3]

40. Whenever the Commissioner is satisfied that an applicant is not by law entitled to be granted a patent, he shall refuse the application and, by registered letter addressed to the applicant or his registered agent, notify the applicant of the refusal and of the ground or reason therefor.

R.S., c. P-4, s. 42.

41. Every person who has failed to obtain a patent by reason of a refusal of the Commissioner to grant it may, at any time within six months after notice as provided for in section 40 has been mailed, appeal from the decision of the Commissioner to the Federal Court and that Court has exclusive jurisdiction to hear and determine the appeal.

R.S., 1985, c. P-4, s. 41; R.S., 1985, c. 33 (3rd Supp.), s. 16.

42. Every patent granted under this Act shall contain the title or name of the invention, with a reference to the specification, and shall, subject to this Act, grant to the patentee and the patentee’s legal representatives for the term of the patent, from the granting of the patent, the exclusive right, privilege and liberty of making, constructing and using the invention and selling it to others to be used, subject to adjudication in respect thereof before any court of competent jurisdiction.

R.S., 1985, c. P-4, s. 42; R.S., 1985, c. 33 (3rd Supp.), s. 16.

43. (1) Subject to section 46, every patent granted under this Act shall be issued under the seal of the Patent Office, and shall bear on its face the filing date of the application for the patent, the date on which the application became open to public inspection under section 10, the date on which the patent is granted and issued and any prescribed information.

(2) After the patent is issued, it shall, in the absence of any evidence to the contrary, be valid and avail the patentee and the legal representatives of the patentee for the term mentioned in section 44 or 45, whichever is applicable.

R.S., 1985, c. P-4, s. 43; R.S., 1985, c. 33 (3rd Supp.), s. 16; 1993, c. 15, s. 42.

44. Subject to section 46, where an application for a patent is filed under this Act on or after October 1, 1989, the term limited for the duration of the patent is twenty years from the filing date.

R.S., 1985, c. P-4, s. 44; R.S., 1985, c. 33 (3rd Supp.), s. 16; 1993, c. 15, s. 42.

45. (1) Subject to section 46, where an application for a patent is filed under this Act before October 1, 1989, the term limited for the duration of the patent is seventeen years from the date on which the patent is issued.

(2) Where the term limited for the duration of a patent referred to in subsection (1) had not expired before the day on which this section came into force, the term is seventeen years from the date on which the patent is issued or twenty years from the filing date, whichever term expires later.

R.S., 1985, c. P-4, s. 45; R.S., 1985, c. 33 (3rd Supp.), s. 16; 1993, c. 15, s. 42; 2001, c. 10, s. 1.

46. (1) A patentee of a patent issued by the Patent Office under this Act after the coming into force of this section shall, to maintain the rights accorded by the patent, pay to the Commissioner such fees, in respect of such periods, as may be prescribed.

(2) Where the fees payable under subsection (1) are not paid within the time provided by the regulations, the term limited for the duration of the patent shall be deemed to have expired at the end of that time.

R.S., 1985, c. P-4, s. 46; R.S., 1985, c. 33 (3rd Supp.), s. 16; 1993, c. 15, s. 43.

47. (1) Whenever any patent is deemed defective or inoperative by reason of insufficient description and specification, or by reason of the patentee’s claiming more or less than he had a right to claim as new, but at the same time it appears that the error arose from inadvertence, accident or mistake, without any fraudulent or deceptive intention, the Commissioner may, on the surrender of the patent within four years from its date and the payment of a further prescribed fee, cause a new patent, in accordance with an amended description and specification made by the patentee, to be issued to him for the same invention for the then unexpired term for which the original patent was granted.

(2) The surrender referred to in subsection (1) takes effect only on the issue of the new patent, and the new patent and the amended description and specification have the same effect in law, on the trial of any action thereafter commenced for any cause subsequently accruing, as if the amended description and specification had been originally filed in their corrected form before the issue of the original patent, but, in so far as the claims of the original and reissued patents are identical, the surrender does not affect any action pending at the time of reissue or abate any cause of action then existing, and the reissued patent to the extent that its claims are identical with the original patent constitutes a continuation thereof and has effect continuously from the date of the original patent.

(3) The Commissioner may entertain separate applications and cause patents to be issued for distinct and separate parts of the invention patented, on payment of the fee for a reissue for each of the reissued patents.

R.S., c. P-4, s. 50.

48. (1) Whenever, by any mistake, accident or inadvertence, and without any wilful intent to defraud or mislead the public, a patentee has

(a) made a specification too broad, claiming more than that of which the patentee or the person through whom the patentee claims was the inventor, or

(b) in the specification, claimed that the patentee or the person through whom the patentee claims was the inventor of any material or substantial part of the invention patented of which the patentee was not the inventor, and to which the patentee had no lawful right,

the patentee may, on payment of a prescribed fee, make a disclaimer of such parts as the patentee does not claim to hold by virtue of the patent or the assignment thereof.

(2) A disclaimer shall be filed in the prescribed form and manner.

(3) [Repealed, 1993, c. 15, s. 44]

(4) No disclaimer affects any action pending at the time when it is made, unless there is unreasonable neglect or delay in making it.

(5) In case of the death of an original patentee or of his having assigned the patent, a like right to disclaim vests in his legal representatives, any of whom may exercise it.

(6) A patent shall, after disclaimer as provided in this section, be deemed to be valid for such material and substantial part of the invention, definitely distinguished from other parts thereof claimed without right, as is not disclaimed and is truly the invention of the disclaimant, and the disclaimant is entitled to maintain an action or suit in respect of that part accordingly.

R.S., 1985, c. P-4, s. 48; R.S., 1985, c. 33 (3rd Supp.), s. 17; 1993, c. 15, s. 44.

48.1 (1) Any person may request a re-examination of any claim of a patent by filing with the Commissioner prior art, consisting of patents, applications for patents open to public inspection and printed publications, and by paying a prescribed fee.

(2) A request for re-examination under subsection (1) shall set forth the pertinency of the prior art and the manner of applying the prior art to the claim for which re-examination is requested.

(3) Forthwith after receipt of a request for re-examination under subsection (1), the Commissioner shall send a copy of the request to the patentee of the patent in respect of which the request is made, unless the patentee is the person who made the request.

R.S., 1985, c. 33 (3rd Supp.), s. 18; 1993, c. 15, s. 45.

48.2 (1) Forthwith after receipt of a request for re-examination under subsection 48.1(1), the Commissioner shall establish a re-examination board consisting of not fewer than three persons, at least two of whom shall be employees of the Patent Office, to which the request shall be referred for determination.

(2) A re-examination board shall, within three months following its establishment, determine whether a substantial new question of patentability affecting any claim of the patent concerned is raised by the request for re-examination.

(3) Where a re-examination board has determined that a request for re-examination does not raise a substantial new question affecting the patentability of a claim of the patent concerned, the board shall so notify the person who filed the request and the decision of the board is final for all purposes and is not subject to appeal or to review by any court.

(4) Where a re-examination board has determined that a request for re-examination raises a substantial new question affecting the patentability of a claim of the patent concerned, the board shall notify the patentee of the determination and the reasons therefor.

(5) A patentee who receives notice under subsection (4) may, within three months of the date of the notice, submit to the re-examination board a reply to the notice setting out submissions on the question of the patentability of the claim of the patent in respect of which the notice was given.

R.S., 1985, c. 33 (3rd Supp.), s. 18; 1993, c. 15, s. 46(F).

48.3 (1) On receipt of a reply under subsection 48.2(5) or in the absence of any reply within three months after notice is given under subsection 48.2(4), a re-examination board shall forthwith cause a re-examination to be made of the claim of the patent in respect of which the request for re-examination was submitted.

(2) In any re-examination proceeding under subsection (1), the patentee may propose any amendment to the patent or any new claims in relation thereto but no proposed amendment or new claim enlarging the scope of a claim of the patent shall be permitted.

(3) A re-examination proceeding in respect of a claim of a patent shall be completed within twelve months of the commencement of the proceedings under subsection (1).

R.S., 1985, c. 33 (3rd Supp.), s. 18.

48.4 (1) On conclusion of a re-examination proceeding in respect of a claim of a patent, the re-examination board shall issue a certificate

(a) cancelling any claim of the patent determined to be unpatentable;

(b) confirming any claim of the patent determined to be patentable; or

(c) incorporating in the patent any proposed amended or new claim determined to be patentable.

(2) A certificate issued in respect of a patent under subsection (1) shall be attached to the patent and made part thereof by reference, and a copy of the certificate shall be sent by registered mail to the patentee.

(3) For the purposes of this Act, where a certificate issued in respect of a patent under subsection (1)

(a) cancels any claim but not all claims of the patent, the patent shall be deemed to have been issued, from the date of grant, in the corrected form;

(b) cancels all claims of the patent, the patent shall be deemed never to have been issued; or

(c) amends any claim of the patent or incorporates a new claim in the patent, the amended claim or new claim shall be effective, from the date of the certificate, for the unexpired term of the patent.

(4) Subsection (3) does not apply until the time for taking an appeal has expired under subsection 48.5(2) and, if an appeal is taken, subsection (3) applies only to the extent provided in the final judgment on the appeal.

R.S., 1985, c. 33 (3rd Supp.), s. 18; 1993, c. 15, s. 47.

48.5 (1) Any decision of a re-examination board set out in a certificate issued under subsection 48.4(1) is subject to appeal by the patentee to the Federal Court.

(2) No appeal may be taken under subsection (1) after three months from the date a copy of the certificate is sent by registered mail to the patentee.

R.S., 1985, c. 33 (3rd Supp.), s. 18.

49. (1) A patent may be granted to any person to whom an inventor, entitled under this Act to obtain a patent, has assigned in writing or bequeathed by his last will his right to obtain it, and, in the absence of an assignment or bequest, the patent may be granted to the personal representatives of the estate of the deceased inventor.

(2) Where an applicant for a patent has, after filing the application, assigned his right to obtain the patent, or where the applicant has either before or after filing the application assigned in writing the whole or part of his property or interest in the invention, the assignee may register the assignment in the Patent Office in such manner as may be determined by the Commissioner, and no application for a patent may be withdrawn without the consent in writing of every such registered assignee.

(3) No assignment shall be registered in the Patent Office unless it is accompanied by the affidavit of a subscribing witness or established by other proof to the satisfaction of the Commissioner that the assignment has been signed and executed by the assignor.

R.S., 1985, c. P-4, s. 49; R.S., 1985, c. 33 (3rd Supp.), s. 19.

50. (1) Every patent issued for an invention is assignable in law, either as to the whole interest or as to any part thereof, by an instrument in writing.

(2) Every assignment of a patent, and every grant and conveyance of any exclusive right to make and use and to grant to others the right to make and use the invention patented, within and throughout Canada or any part thereof, shall be registered in the Patent Office in the manner determined by the Commissioner.

(3) No assignment, grant or conveyance shall be registered in the Patent Office unless it is accompanied by the affidavit of a subscribing witness or established by other proof to the satisfaction of the Commissioner that the assignment, grant or conveyance has been signed and executed by the assignor and by every other party thereto.

R.S., 1985, c. P-4, s. 50; R.S., 1985, c. 33 (3rd Supp.), s. 20.

51. Every assignment affecting a patent for invention, whether it is one referred to in section 49 or 50, is void against any subsequent assignee, unless the assignment is registered as prescribed by those sections, before the registration of the instrument under which the subsequent assignee claims.

R.S., c. P-4, s. 53.

52. The Federal Court has jurisdiction, on the application of the Commissioner or of any person interested, to order that any entry in the records of the Patent Office relating to the title to a patent be varied or expunged.

R.S., c. P-4, s. 54; R.S., c. 10(2nd Supp.), s. 64.

53. (1) A patent is void if any material allegation in the petition of the applicant in respect of the patent is untrue, or if the specification and drawings contain more or less than is necessary for obtaining the end for which they purport to be made, and the omission or addition is wilfully made for the purpose of misleading.

(2) Where it appears to a court that the omission or addition referred to in subsection (1) was an involuntary error and it is proved that the patentee is entitled to the remainder of his patent, the court shall render a judgment in accordance with the facts, and shall determine the costs, and the patent shall be held valid for that part of the invention described to which the patentee is so found to be entitled.

(3) Two office copies of the judgment rendered under subsection (1) shall be furnished to the Patent Office by the patentee, one of which shall be registered and remain of record in the Office and the other attached to the patent and made a part of it by a reference thereto.

R.S., c. P-4, s. 55.