República de Moldova

REGULATIONS on the Procedure of Filing and Examination of a Patent

Application and of Grant of a Patent

CHAPTER I General Provisions

1. The Regulations on the Procedure of Filing and Examination of a Patent Application and of Grant of a Patent (hereinafter called “the Regulations”) establishes the conditions for filing of a patent application or a short-term patent application (hereinafter “application”), the way of completing the application form, the norms applied to the documents to be enclosed in the application, the norms for examination of the application, the conditions for grant of patents for invention, the data for publication in the Official Bulletin of Industrial Property (hereinafter called “BOPI”), the procedure of grant of a supplementary protection certificate, the procedure for extension of the term of a short-term patent, the filing of international and Eurasian patent applications with the State Agency on Intellectual Property of the Republic of Moldova (hereinafter called “the Agency”) as receiving Office, the examination of oppositions or observations by third parties, as well as the norms concerning the activities related to the above-named procedures, such as conversion of application, representation, entry of amendments, extension of time limits, and re-establishment of rights.

2. Subject-matter of a patent application may be inventions in all fields of technology bearing a technical character and representing a solution of a technical problem made by technical means.

3. Inventions may have as subject-matter: a) a product – apparatuses, substances, strains of microorganisms, plant or

animal cell cultures, pharmaceutical and phytopharmaceutical products; b) a process – an activity having as a result manufacture or modification of a

product (technological processes, computerized processes, genetic or biological processes etc.);

c) a method – an activity having a result of qualitative nature (measurement, analysis, regulation, control, computerized methods, algorithm/program­ process combinations);

d) the use of a product, process or method – use thereof with a certain destination, provided that it would not obviously result from the known properties of the applied product, process or method.

4. The use of a substance for pharmaceutical purposes shall be deemed to be a medical use of such substance. In that case, use for the first time of an earlier known substance (natural or synthesized) shall be deemed as the first medical use of such substance.

5. The second or subsequent use of an earlier known substance as a medicament (natural or synthesized) for other purposes and with another result shall be deemed as the second medical use of such substance.

6. Subject-matter of an application for a biotechnological invention may be: a) a product consisting of or containing biological material, or b) a process by means of which biological material is produced, processed or

used. 7. Biological material means any material containing genetic information and

capable of reproducing itself or being reproduced in a biological system. 8. Microbiological process means any process involving or performed upon or

resulting in microbiological material. 9. A process for the production of plants or animals is essentially biological if it

consists entirely of natural phenomena such as crossing or selection.

CHAPTER II PATENT APPLICATION

Section 1 Filing of a Patent Application 10. A patent application shall be filed by the natural or legal persons, entitled

under Article 14 of the Law No. 50-XVI of March 7, 2008, on the Protection of Inventions (Official Gazette of the Republic of Moldova, 2008, No. 117­ 119, Art. 455) (hereinafter “the Law”), directly or through an appointed representative:

a) directly with the AGEPI on working days, according to the working timetable of AGEPI (in that case, the person filing the application shall present an identity card);

b) by registered mail;

c) by facsimile;

d) by e-mail;

e) in electronic form on diskette, CD or DVD (hereinafter “electronic carrier”).

11. In the case of applications containing nucleotide and/or amino acid sequences, an electronic carrier containing the application materials (description, claims, drawings, tables, nucleotide and/or amino acid sequence listing) shall be annexed to the application filed on paper carrier. The materials filed on electronic carrier shall be identical to those filed on paper carrier.

The applicant shall, together with the electronic carrier, submit a statement in writing that the information recorded on the enclosed carrier is identical to the information filed on paper.

The electronic carrier shall contain information indicating the name of the applicant, the title of the invention, the date on which copying has been made, the operational system and the text editor by means of which the file has been created.

12. In the event of cases referred to in letter c), d) and e) of paragraph 10 of the present Regulations, the entry date of the patent application or of any other communications shall be the date on which AGEPI receives the facsimile, the e-mail or the electronic carrier, if AGEPI receives, within one month from the date of receipt of the facsimile or the e-mail, the original of the application or communication by post or by direct filing with the AGEPI. If AGEPI receives the original of the application or communication after the expiry of the established time limit or the document received by one of the means referred to in letter c), d) and e) of paragraph 10 of the present Regulations is not identical to the submitted original, the entry date of the application or of any other communications shall be deemed the date of receipt of the original thereof. Prior to the submission of the original, the application documents filed by one of the means referred to in letter c), d) and e) of paragraph 10 of the present Regulations shall be deemed not to have been filed.

13. Where an application document or a part thereof, received by one of the means referred to in letter c), d) and e) of paragraph 10 of the present Regulations, is not legible or a part of the document is missing, the date of entry of the document or of the part thereof shall be the date of receipt of the original.

14. AGEPI shall mark the application documents with the date of receipt and shall acknowledge the receipt of the documents; it shall notify the applicant of the receipt of the application or of the documents thereof and of the entry number and date of receipt of the application, as well as the type and number of documents. One copy of the application completed with these data shall be returned to the applicant.

Section 2

Representation

15. Representation of natural and legal persons having their residence or principle place of business in the Republic of Moldova may be undertaken by a patent attorney, an employee thereof or a common representative of the applicants, designated in the application form or in a written agreement concluded between the applicants.

16. A power of attorney confirming the authorizations of the patent attorney/ representative and signed by the applicant shall be attached to the application filed by a patent attorney/representative.

17. The power of attorney may be filed at the same time as the application or within 2 months from the filing date of the application.

18. In the case of national applicants, the power of attorney may be filed at the same time as any application document filed with the AGEPI or within two months from the date of filing with the AGEPI of such document.

19. The power of attorney shall be able to refer to one or more applications or patents, or to all existing or future applications or patents of the issuer. In that case, a separate copy of the power of attorney must be submitted for each application or patent to which the power of attorney refer.

20. The power of attorney may limit the right to act of the patent attorney/representative to certain acts.

21. Any act requested through a patent attorney/representative concerning the withdrawal of an application or the surrender of an application or a patent shall only be made on the basis of a special mention indicating deliberately the right to withdrawal or surrender.

22. The power of attorney for the representation of a natural or legal person having the residence outside the Republic of Moldova may be issued to the patent attorney directly registered with the AGEPI by said person or its authorized representative having the corresponding power of attorney issued by the applicant. In the last case, both powers of attorney shall be annexed to the application.

23. A power of attorney must meet the following conditions:

a) it shall be issued to cover one or more patent applications or patents;

b) it shall contain the date of issue;

c) it shall establish the limits of the authorizations of the patent attorney/representative;

d) it shall be signed by the issuer.

24. Where the issued power of attorney is issued in the name of more than one patent attorney/representative and a certain patent attorney/representative is not appointed for correspondence before AGEPI, it shall be addressed to the patent attorney/representative who first filed the application or other procedural document, and if such fact is not possible, the correspondence shall be addressed to anyone of them.

25. If the patent application is transferred to more than one person, and such persons have not appointed a common representative, AGEPI shall invite the persons concerned to appoint within two months a common representative.

Section 3

Signature of Documents and Confidential Nature of the Application

26. The description of the invention, the claims, as well as any communication shall be filed with the AGEPI bearing the private signature of the applicant or representative appointed.

27. The signatures affixed on documents shall be decoded by the indication of the first name and surname of the signatory person. If the documents are signed by an official, the function of the signatory, as well as the full official name of the unity shall be indicated.

28. If there is more than one applicant, the application shall be signed by each of them. Any communication relating to the application may be signed by a common representative and, where the latter is not appointed, by the applicant first named in the request.

29. The documents or communications filed with the AGEPI in electronic form or by electronic means of communication shall be deemed to be signed if the signature on the received document or communication will result in a graphic representation or if a digital signature will be used.

30. The data contained in the patent application shall be confidential as from the date of entry into the AGEPI up to the publication thereof, their disclosure without the consent of the inventor or his successor in title being prohibited, irrespective of the way in which the persons have acquainted themselves with them and of the quality of these persons.

31. Persons guilty for the disclosure of the invention up to the publication of the application shall bear responsibility in accordance with the legislation in force.

Section 4

The Patent Application

32. The request for grant of a patent shall be filed in three copies on a form drawn up according to Section 6 of the present Chapter.

33. The description, the claims, the abstract, the drawings and other graphic materials shall be filed in three copies, of which at least two copies of drawings or other required graphic materials shall be filed in the original. The description, the claims and the abstract shall be submitted on a typed or printed form. The description, the claims, the abstract, the drawings and other materials submitted in a language other than the state one, shall be filed in two copies.

34. AGEPI may require that certain proof relating to any application document be furnished, indicating the grounds on the basis of which there is reasonable doubt as to the veracity of any indication present in that document.

35. The product realized according to the invention, the mockups and projects for the execution of the invention, and other similar elements cannot be filed with AGEPI as part of filing of the patent application.

Section 5

Minimum Requirements for the Registration of the Application

36. A text which outwardly resembles a description of the invention or a technical drawing accompanied by its description, which discloses the subject-matter of the invention, may be filed as a description of the invention, under Article 34 (1)c) of the Law.

37. At the same time as he furnishes the elements indicated in Article 34, paragraph (1), of the Law, the foreign applicant shall appoint in accordance with Article 86, paragraph (2), the patent attorney in the Republic of Moldova through which AGEPI will contact the applicant.

38. Where the patent application does not meet one or several of the requirements referred to in Article 34, paragraph (1), and Article 32, paragraph (2), of the Law, AGEPI shall notify such fact to the applicant and shall give him the opportunity to meet the relevant requirements within three months as from the dispatch of the notification. If the applicant fails to furnish the required information or to meet the requirements referred to in Article 34, paragraph (1), and Article 32, paragraph (2), of the Law, the application shall be deemed not to have been filed and such fact shall be notified to the applicant.

39. Where AGEPI at the time of establishing the filing date reveals that a part of the description or a drawing referred to in the description appear to be missing, it shall notify such fact to the applicant and shall allow him for response a period of three months of the dispatch of the notification.

40. If missing part of the description or missing drawing in an application claiming priority in respect of an earlier application is furnished within the time limit referred to in Rule 39 of the present Regulations, the filing date shall be established, upon the applicant’s request, on the date of receipt by the AGEPI of the documents referred to in Article 34, paragraph (1), of the Law, subject to the compliance with the following requirements:

a) the request of the applicant has been filed with AGEPI at the same time as the application materials, under Article 34, paragraph (1), of the Law, or within three months from the date of dispatch of the notification referred to in Rule 39 of the present Regulations;

b) the copy of the earlier application, certified in the manner established by the office with which that application was filed, has been furnished within sixteen months from the filing date of the earlier application or within four months from the date of dispatch of the AGEPI notification of the need for

furnishing such copy, depending on the fact whichever time limit expires earlier;

c) the missing part of the description or the missing drawing furnished by the applicant was completely contained in the earlier application;

d) the translation of the earlier application, if it was made in a language other than the state one, has been furnished by the applicant within three months from the date of dispatch of the AGEPI notification of the need for furnishing such translation.

41. The description, as a necessary element of the application under Article 34, paragraph (1), of the Law for the purpose of establishing the filing date, may be replaced with a reference, made in the application form at the time of filing thereof, to an earlier application of the applicant or his successor in title. The applicant shall indicate in the reference that, for the purpose of establishing the filing date, the description and any drawing is replaced with such reference to the earlier application; he shall also indicate the number and filing date of that application and the office with which it was filed.

42. Where the application is considered as not to have been filed, the application documents shall be returned to the applicant, the AGEPI keeping a control copy. The control copy shall be kept as confidential and may be consulted by the applicant or the parties concerned at the request of the court.

Section 6

The Application Form

43. The request for grant of a patent shall be filed on an application form approved by the AGEPI, including the headings relating to:

a) the required title of protection;

b) information identifying the applicant(s);

c) information identifying the inventor(s);

d) information identifying the patent attorney/representative;

e) the indication of the address for correspondence, as the case may be;

f) indications, in accordance with Article 33, paragraph (7), of the Law, concerning the origin of the right to patent;

g) the title of the invention;

h) the indexes of international classification of the subject-matter of the invention;

i)information concerning the priority claimed;

j)a reference to a previously filed application;

k) a reference to the initial application from which the application resulted by division;

l)information concerning the afferent documents filed;

m) the signature of the applicant(s) or the representative appointed by him.

44. The request for entry into the national phase for an international application filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty, adopted in Washington on June 19, 1970 (hereinafter “PCT”), to which the Republic of Moldova has adhered by the Parliament Decree No. 1624-XII of October 26, 1993 (Official Gazette of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova, 1993, No. 11, Art. 345), shall be filed on a form approved by the AGEPI, indicating explicitly the type of the required title of protection – patent for invention or short-term patent for invention.

45. The application form shall be clearly and legibly completed in the state language by typewriting, printing or hand writing, in all columns indicated for the applicant.

46. Upon completion of the application form, the following shall be taken into account:

a) the applicant shall indicate his name, address and official name of the country, of which citizen he is, or in the case of stateless persons – the country in which his residence is located, and in the absence thereof – the country in which his industrial or commercial enterprise is located. The official name and, possibly, the currently used abbreviation, as well as the address and official name of the country of origin, shall be mentioned for the legal persons. The telephone or facsimile numbers or any other possible means of communication, such as the e-mail address, may also be mentioned. If there is more than one applicant, such data are indicated for each of them;

b) if the applicant has appointed a representative, his name and postal address shall be indicated. The number of registration with the AGEPI shall also be indicated for the patent attorneys. The telephone or facsimile numbers or any other possible means of communication, such as the e- mail address, may also be mentioned;

c) the applicant shall indicate the address for correspondence. In the absence thereof, the address of the applicant or his representative shall be considered as the address for correspondence, as the case may be. If there is more than one applicant and the request for grant of a patent does not name a representative, AGEPI shall correspond with the applicant first named in the application;

d) where appropriate, the applicant shall claim the priority of an earlier application under Article 39 of the Law, indicating the date and number of the earlier application and the country in or for which the earlier

application was filed. The applicant desiring to take advantage of the right of exhibition priority shall claim the exhibition priority under Article 40, paragraph (5), of the Law, indicating the name and place of the exhibition and the date of first presentation of the invention. If the priority is claimed on the basis of several earlier filed applications or several exhibitions, the corresponding data for each earlier application or exhibition apart shall be indicated;

e) where appropriate, the applicant shall indicate the data relating to the application from which it is divided;

f) the application shall contain the signature of the applicant, clearly indicating the family name and given names, as well as the date of signature. If the applicant is a legal person, the application shall be signed by the manager thereof, indicating his family name and given names, the date of signature. If there is more than one applicant, the application shall be signed by all of them. If filed through a representative, the application may be signed by the representative. The application shall contain the signatures of all inventors declared by the applicant. In the case of filing of certain data on additional sheets, each sheet shall be signed in the same manner;

g) the application shall be free from erasures, alterations, overwritings or interlineations. In case of their existence, the amended places shall be signed in accordance with letter f) of the present item.

47. If the application is not signed, a copy of the application form shall be returned by AGEPI to the applicant in order that he shall within two months return it signed, otherwise the application shall be deemed to be withdrawn.

Section 7

Disclosure of the Invention

48. The invention is considered to meet the requirements of Article 36, paragraph (1), of the Law, if it is disclosed in a manner sufficiently clear, complete and correct from the technical-scientific point of view for it to be, on the basis of the information the application contains at the filing date, carried out and used by a person skilled in the art, as claimed, without any additional inventive step. The applicant shall specify the best way of carrying out the invention known to the inventor at the filing date or, where priority has been claimed, at the priority date.

49. If the invention concerns reproducible biological material which is not available to the public and which cannot be described in the patent application in such a manner as to enable the invention to be carried out by a person skilled in the art, the patent application shall contain an attestation certifying the deposit of that biological material with the National Collection

of Nonpathogenic Microorganisms, the Regulations of which is approved by the Government Decision No. 56 of January 26, 2004, (Official Gazette of the Republic of Moldova, 2004, No. 22-25, Art. 184) or with a depositary institution having the status of international depositary authority.

50. The availability of deposited biological material shall be effected by the issue of a sample of the biological material:

1) prior to the publication of the patent application:

a) at the request of the AGEPI, if such sample is necessary for the patenting procedure or if the patent application is in a litigation before AGEPI;

b) to the applicant, upon his request;

c) to any authority or any natural or legal person authorized by the applicant;

d) to any person having the right to inspect the files under Article 96, paragraph (2), of the Law;

2) between the publication of the application and the grant of the patent – to any requester or, at the request of the applicant – only to an independent expert;

3) after the grant of the patent even in the case of revocation or cancellation thereof, to any requester.

51. The sample shall be available only if the requester has undertaken throughout the existence of a patent application or a valid patent:

a) not to make the sample or any biological material derived therefrom available to any third party;

b) not to use that sample or any biological material derived therefrom for experimental purposes only, unless the applicant for or patent owner expressly waives such an undertaking.

52. Where the patent application is refused or withdrawn, the availability of deposited biological material may be limited upon request to an independent expert for a period of 20 years from the filing date of the patent application. In such a case, the provisions of Rule 51 of the present Regulations shall apply.

53. The requests of the applicant referred to in Rule 50, paragraph 1), letter b), and in Rule 52 of the present Regulations shall only be filed before completion of the technical preparations for publication of the patent application.

54. If biological material deposited ceases to be available from the recognized depositary institution, a new deposit of that material is necessary to be made in accordance with the requirements established by Article 4 of the Budapest Treaty on the International Recognition of the Deposit of Microorganisms for the Purposes of Patent Procedure, to which the Republic of Moldova has adhered by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Moldova No. 229 of December 30, 1993. The document confirming the new deposit of

biological material shall be forwarded to AGEPI within four months of the date of the new deposit. Any new deposit shall be accompanied by a statement signed by the depositor certifying that the newly deposited biological material is the same as the originally deposited.

Section 8

Title of the Invention

55. The title of the invention shall clearly, concisely and exactly state the technical designation of the invention, characterize its destination and coincide with the essence of the invention. The title may not exactly coincide with the generic term in the claims. The terms as “process”, “device”, “apparatus” etc. cannot be used separately without indicating the concrete destination or other essential features of the claimed object. The title shall be informative for further searches, using the keywords.

56. The title of the invention shall be exposed in the singular. Exception make:

a) titles formed of terms which have no singular number (trousers, spectacles etc.);

b) titles relating to chemical compounds which are part of the general structure of a claim.

57. The word “patent”, personal names, including the name of the inventor (except for names with generally accepted terminological meaning), names derived from personal names, fancy names, trademarks, appellations of origin of goods or trade names, technological markings, terms or abbreviations such as “etc.” which do not serve to identify the invention shall not be used in the title of the invention.

58. If the invention concerns an individual compound, the name thereof in accordance with one of the chemical nomenclatures (preferably the international nomenclature IUPAC) shall be included in the title of the invention, including also a reference to the concrete name thereof, and for biologically active compounds – the kind of biological activity.

59. The title of the invention concerning a process for the production of a product, the latter being a mixture with unidentified composition, shall include the indication of the destination or the specific biologically active features of that product.

60. The title of the invention concerning the strain of a microorganism or a plant and animal cell culture shall include the Latin name of the biological species and genus of the subject-matter, where appropriate, the name of the author(s) of the species and the indication of destination of the strain.

61. The title of a group of inventions concerning subject-matters, of which one is meant for the obtaining (production), realization or application of another

one, shall contain the complete title of one of the inventions and the shorter title of another one.

62. The title of a group of inventions concerning subject-matters, of which one is meant for the application into another one, shall contain the complete titles of the inventions which form part of that group.

63. The title of a group of inventions concerning variants shall include the title of an invention of the group, completed with the word “variants” placed between parentheses.

64. If the title does not meet the requirements specified in Rule 55-63 of the present Regulations or the order of the claimed subject-matters is not kept, or it is too long, it shall be amended ex officio, such fact being notified to the applicant.

Section 9

Description of the Invention

65. The description shall begin with the specification of the index of classification in the applicable edition of the International Patent Classification under the Strasbourg Agreement on International Patent Classification of March 24, 1971 (hereinafter “the IPC”), to which the Republic of Moldova has adhered by the Parliament Decision No. 1248-XIII of July 10, 1997 (Official Gazette of the Republic of Moldova, 1997, No. 49­ 50, Art. 435) to which the claimed invention relates and of the title of the invention, as indicated in the patent application.

66. The description shall successively contain the following:

a) the title of the invention as appearing in the patent application form;

b) the field of application of the invention;

c) the prior art;

d) a presentation of the technical problem which the invention solves;

e) the disclosure of the invention;

f) a statement of any advantageous effects (of the technical result) of the invention with reference to the prior art;

g) a brief description of the explicative drawings, if any;

h) a detailed description of at least one way of carrying out the invention;

i) a list of cited information sources.

67. If the subject-matter of the invention is a nucleotide and/or amino acid sequence, the description shall only be deemed to be disclosed where the description contains a nucleotide and/or amino acid sequence listing and the industrial application thereof. Any nucleotide and/or amino acid sequence

listing (hereinafter “the sequence listing”) shall be submitted in the corresponding form of the international standards.

68. Where the subject-matter of the invention is an installation or an apparatus, the explicative drawings necessary for the understanding of the invention shall be annexed to the description.

69. If in the absence of the explicative drawings, the description does not expressly disclose the invention in a manner sufficiently clear and complete, AGEPI shall require the presentation of the necessary drawings within three months from the date of dispatch of the notification.

70. The replacement of a part of the description with a reference to the source containing the necessary data (the source of literature, the description of the invention from the earlier application, the description of the invention from the title of protection etc.) shall not be admissible.

71. The description of the invention shall contain an extension of the title with the delimitation of the concrete fields in which the application of the invention is possible. If there is more than one field, the most preferential shall be stated. The concrete features of the claimed invention shall not be disclosed.

Section 10

Prior Art

72. The earlier solutions close to the invention for which grant of a patent is sought, known to the inventor or the applicant, having the same destination, with the indication for each of mentioned solutions of the lacks or disadvantages which they have or which are removed by the solution for which grant of a patent is sought, shall be briefly furnished in turn.

73. Each close solution shall be furnished by its essential features, indicating the similar ones to the essential features of the claimed invention, indicating the reasons which do not permit the achievement of the stated result, as well as the bibliographic data of the information source in which it is disclosed. Where the prior art also covers traditional knowledge, the latter shall be indicated explicitly, including their sources, if known to the applicant. If there is furnished more than one close solution, the closest solution shall be described last of all.

74. The reference to the information source, in which the data concerning the close solutions are indicated, including the closest one, shall be made immediately after the description thereof by a number placed between parentheses in accordance with the list of information sources annexed to the description of the invention.

75. If the invention relates to the application of a product or process in accordance with the indicated destination, then the close solutions shall relate to products or processes with the same destination.

76. If the invention relates to a group of inventions, the indication concerning the close solutions shall be furnished separately for each invention of the group.

Section 11

Technical Problem and Statement of Invention

77. The technical problem shall be stated by a clear wording of the objective by which solution an advantageous effect or a success in the application field of the invention is obtained. The technical problem to be solved shall represent the objective proposed by the applicant in order to modify or adapt the closest solution in the prior art (proximate analog) for the purpose of obtaining the advantageous effects which the applicant considers the invention to have in relation to the proximate analog.

78. The invention as claimed shall be disclosed in such terms that the technical problem and the proposed solution can be understood by a person skilled in the art. The technical solution shall be expressed by the totality of features necessary for the solution of the technical problem. The proposed solution of the technical problem, which is the subject-matter of the invention, shall be briefly stated either in a sentence or, where necessary, in several sentences, enumerating all the new features, without going into details of embodiment of invention. The solution shall state the features of the solution in such a way that it may correspond to the claims to which the solution relates.

79. If the subject-matter is a strain of microorganisms, the description shall contain the biochemical, taxonomic and morphological characteristics thereof and at least the process for obtaining thereof on the base of the known microorganism or the name of the authority with which the microorganism was deposited and the number assigned by the depositary authority.

80. The description of the invention having as subject-matter the application of an earlier known product or process shall contain the characterization of the known subject-matter and the reference to the information source in which it is stated, the information about the known destination, the new destination and the relevant specific features determining the susceptibility of application according to the new destination.

81. The statement of invention shall be accompanied by the presentation of advantageous effects of the invention with reference to the prior art. If the invention concerns subject-matters with the same performance characteristics as those described in the prior art, the advantageous effect shall be deemed to be the extension of the range of known products or processes.

82. In the case of a group of inventions, each subject-matter of the invention shall be furnished separately in a sentence, the novel features of each subject- matter of the invention being stated in such terms that the single general inventive concept of the invention may result. Furnishing of the technical solutions, including the advantageous effects (the result), shall be made separately for each invention of the group.

Section 12

Explicative Drawings

83. Where other explicative materials of the invention (diagrams, photographs etc.) are furnished, their brief statement shall be made. AGEPI may require that, in addition to the patent application documents referred to in Rule 32-34 of the present Regulations, a sequence listing be submitted on an electronic data carrier accompanied by a statement that the information recorded on the data carrier is identical to the written sequence listing.

Section 13

Exemplary Embodiments of Invention

84. The exemplary embodiment(s) of invention includes (include) the mode for carrying out and for use or for functioning of the invention. It shall indicate explicitly, when it is not obvious from the description or nature of the invention, the way in which the invention is industrially applicable. The description shall be supported by concrete embodiments of the claimed invention, of the way in which the subject-matter described in a static state can be performed and in which such subject-matter described in a dynamic state can be used or function, in a manner sufficiently clear, complete and correct, with reference to the drawings, if any, for it to be carried out by a person skilled in the art. Each reference sign shall represent the same element, even if it appears in several figures, in such a way that it may possess a single meaning. It shall indicate the best mode for carrying out the invention known to the applicant on the filing date or, where priority has been claimed, on the priority date of the application.

85. The applicant shall avoid the furnishing of an exaggerated number of exemplary embodiments which are not strictly necessary for the definition of the invention. The examples, the alternative variations or the particular cases shall be in a sufficient number as to ensure:

a) the illustration of all new features of the invention;

b) the detailed understanding of the new solution (new solutions in the case of a group of inventions);

c) the demonstration whether the new solution/solutions are realizable and reproducible.

In the case of a group of inventions, at least one exemplary embodiment for each subject-matter of the group in the order of presentation of the claims shall be presented.

86. The possibility of carrying out the invention which solution is characterized by elements representing general notions, especially, at functional generalization level, shall be confirmed by the description of the concrete means of carrying out the element expressed by a general notion or by the indication of the means or process for obtaining thereof known as such. For each element, expressed in the claims in generalized form, the applicant shall present at least one exemplary embodiment of the element in a concrete form of manufacture thereof.

87. Where appropriate, the description of the exemplary embodiment having as subject-matter a process/method shall contain the logic order of the actions (processes, operations) on the material objects characterized by phases (stages), as well as the conditions of carrying out such actions, the concrete regimes (temperature, pressure etc.), devices, the used substances and strains. In the description of a process characterized by the use of known means (devices, substances, strains) the applicant shall indicate those means and shall confirm the notoriety before the priority date by reference to an information source.

In the case of use of unknown means the applicant shall define them and, where appropriate, shall attach the graphic representation, and in the case of new substances the process for preparation thereof shall be presented.

88. For the invention having as subject-matter a new individual compound with identified structure, the structural formula demonstrated by known methods, the physical-chemical constants shall be presented and the process by which the new compound was obtained for the first time shall be described. The proof of use of such compound according to a special destination shall also be presented; the indexes of the quantitative features of activity and toxicity and, where appropriate, of the selectivity of action and other indexes shall be presented for the biologically active compound.

89. If the invention concerns intermediate compound, the possibility of its transformation into a known final product or the possibility of producing therefrom a new final product with concrete destination or with biologically active properties shall be presented.

90. The possibility of carrying out the invention having as subject-matter a strain of microorganisms, a plant or animal cell culture or processes in which it is used shall be confirmed by the indications relating to the fact how and when the corresponding strain can be obtained.

91. The possibility of obtaining the strain can be confirmed by the description of the process for the production thereof or by the presentation of the deposit document, produced in the established manner; in that case the date of deposit shall precede the priority date of the invention.

92. For the invention having as subject-matter a method of treatment, diagnosis or prophylaxis of human and animal diseases, the used therapeutic agents (medicinal preparations, physical factors, devices and equipment), their quantitative features (doses, wavelength, frequency etc.), the way of administration and application, the sequence of operations, as well as the action of such factors on the etiopathogenesis of the disease, and where such data are missing, the doubtless data confirming the usefulness of the method of treatment, diagnosis or prophylaxis of the indicated disease shall be presented.

Section 14

List of Cited Information Sources

93. The bibliographic data of the cited information sources shall be indicated in the application documents so as to permit the anew finding of the information source. The identification data of the information sources in respect of the cited solutions shall be presented as follows:

a) code of the country in which the patent was granted, number of the patent, code of the type of document and date of publication thereof;

b) name of author, title of the article, handbook, treaty etc., name of the publishing house, year of publication, number of edition and the pages of the publication containing the relevant information;

c) on-line name of the publication, the date of display of the information or the date of the last visit of the relevant site and the electronic address to which the information can be accessed.

Section 15

The Claims

94. The claims shall define the matter for which protection is sought by notions used in the description of the invention and shall indicate the necessary and sufficient totality of essential technical features of the invention for the solution of the technical problem.

95. The claims (each separately) shall be stated in a single grammatical sentence. The essential technical features of the invention shall be stated in the claims in such terms that the possibility of their identification can be provided, i.e. the adequate understanding by a person skilled in the art, on the basis of the prior art, of the essential content of the notions by which such features are

characterized. The essential features in the claims shall have the same name and the same reference signs as in the description and drawings.

96. Characterization of a technical feature in the claims may not, except where absolutely necessary, be replaced with references to the description or drawings, especially when a nucleotide and/or amino acid sequence listing is indicated. The claims may contain chemical or mathematical formulae, other graphic representations, tables, which are essential for the definition of the subject-matter of the claimed invention.

97. Inclusion in the claims of personal names, including the name of the inventor, names derived from personal names, fancy names, trademarks, appellations of origin of goods or trade names, abbreviations and terms as “etc.”, which do not contribute to the identification of the invention, shall not be admissible.

98. Where several possible forms of carrying out the technical feature are disclosed, they ensuring together with other essential features the achievement of the same result, the statement of the element in the claims by a notion to cover the disclosed forms of carrying out shall be reasonable. If such notion is missing or it also covers forms of carrying out the technical feature which do not ensure the achievement of the indicated result, making the generalization unjustified, the feature may be stated by alternative notions to characterize different forms of carrying out the technical feature.

99. Depending on the option of the applicant, claims shall consist of:

a) either two parts (bipartite claim), the first part (the preamble) containing those technical features of the invention which are necessary for the definition of the claimed subject-matter but which, in combination, form part of the prior art, as well as the generic notion reflecting the destination of the invention, and the second part – the characterizing portion, beginning with the expression “characterized in that” and specifying the new technical features which, in combination with the features stated in the first part, define the invention;

b) or of a single part (monopartite claim), without separation of the statement from the characterizing portion.

100. Where patent application contains explicative drawings, the technical features specified in the claims from both the statement and the characterizing portion shall preferably be followed by such reference signs relating to these features, placed in parentheses.

101. Indication of technical features from more than one close solution, i.e. presentation of the closest solution formed of technical features belonging to different close solutions shall not be admissible in the statement.

102. The claims relating to an invention shall contain an independent claim or may be followed by one or more dependent claims, depending on the nature

of the invention. A dependent claim shall contain all the essential technical features of an independent claim to which it is subordinated and, where appropriate, relates to:

a) the development and/or statement of the totality of its essential features, already stated in the independent claim;

b) particular embodiments of the invention;

c) additional or optional technical features which are not essential for the definition of the claimed subject-matter.

103. If there are several claims, they shall be numbered consecutively in Arabic numerals in the order of presentation. The number of claims shall be reasonable with regard to the nature of the invention claimed.

104. Statement of a dependent claim in such a manner that the technical features of that claim can be replaced or excluded shall not be admissible. If a dependent claim is stated in such a manner that the technical features of an independent claim are replaced or excluded, such a dependent claim together with the independent claim, to which it is subordinated, shall not be deemed to characterize the same invention.

The preamble of a dependent claim shall contain the title of the invention which, as a rule, is shortened as compared with that in an independent claim and the reference to the independent claim and/or dependent claim(s) to which it relates.

105. The subordination of dependent claims to an independent one may be direct or indirect, i.e. over one or more dependent claims. Also, a dependent claim may be subordinated to one or more independent claims.

106. The direct subordination of a dependent claim shall be used when, for the definition of the invention in a special case of embodiment or application thereof, alike the technical features of that claim, only the technical features indicated in the independent claim are necessary. If the technical features of one or more dependent claims are also necessary for such definition, the indirect subordination of the dependent claims to the independent one shall be used.

107. An independent claim shall relate to one invention only and shall state clearly all of the essential technical features necessary for the definition of the invention. An independent claim shall not relate to one invention if the totality of the contained technical features includes:

a) features stated as an alternative solution which does not ensure the achievement of the same result or the alternative does not relate to separate features, but to a group of functionally independent features (assembly or member of a device, operations of a process, substance, material, device used in a process, ingredient of a composition etc.),

including when the choice of the alternative solution for any of these features depends on the choice made for another feature(s);

b) the disclosure of a feature in such a manner that both existence and absence thereof in the totality (especially, when expressions of the type “may comprise an element of a device”, “an operation of a process” are used) shall be admissible or the presentation of the quantitative content of one of the ingredients of the substance in a value interval with the lower limit equal to zero (except for the facultative ingredients which do not have an influence on the achievement of the stated result);

c) the definition of inventions relating to different subject-matters or to the totality of means, each having its own destination, which can be realized without the indicated totality of means with general destination.

108. The claims relating to a group of inventions shall contain several independent claims, each of them defining one invention of the group. In that case, each invention of the group may be defined by the use of the dependent claims linked to the corresponding independent claim. Upon stating the claims relating to a group of inventions, the following rules shall be complied with:

a) all dependent claims shall be grouped together with the independent claim accompanied by them;

b) if the destination of one of the subject-matters of the invention for the realization, manufacture and application of another (in another) has served as a criterion of unity of inventions in a group, in the first independent claim shall be defined that subject-matter for which the other invention is intended;

c) references to other claims (where they allow stating the independent claim without repeating the content of another claim) shall be admissible in the independent claims defining one invention of the group.

109. A patent application may include more independent claims relating to different subject-matters, for example:

a) a claim for a device, a substance or a strain of microorganism and a claim relating to a process for the manufacture of the said device, substance or strain;

b) a claim for a process and a claim for a device designed for applying the said process;

c) a claim for a device or a substance, a claim relating to a process for the manufacture of the said device or substance and a claim for a device designed for applying the said process.

110. In the case of a group of inventions, a patent application may contain two or more independent claims in the same category (for example: device,

process, substance, strain of microorganism or application thereof) which cannot be covered in a single common claim.

111. Devices shall be technically defined by the constituent elements, the constructive relationship between them, the constructive and functional relationships between the constituent elements forming a unitary technical assembly.

112. A device shall be characterized in the claim in a static state. Indication in the claim of the manufacture of the element as being in a dynamic state, with the possibility of fulfilling a certain function (for example, with the possibility of braking, with the possibility of fixation etc.) shall be admissible.

113. Inventions having as subject-matter processes or methods shall be defined as logical orders of operations characterized by stages (phases), their operation sequence, initial conditions, technical modes of operation, used technical means, final products or results. The verbs necessary for the characterization of actions (process, operation) as technical features of a process shall be used in the indicative mood, present, reflexive form, singular, third person (for example: it is heated, it is taken, it is mounted etc.). For a process including several stages, marking of such stages by letters or numerals shall be admissible.

114. For a compound relating to products of gene engineering, the nucleotide sequence (in the case of nucleic acid fragments) and the description of the physical map (in the case of recombined nucleic acids and vectors), as well as the physical-chemical characteristics and other characteristics necessary for the distinction from other compounds shall be included in the claims.

115. If as element of the invention is indicated a known complex substance, the use of its special name, with the compulsory indication of its function and/or properties and base, shall be admissible. In such a case, the complete composition and, if necessary, the process for the preparation of the said substance or the relevant bibliographical reference shall be presented in the description of the invention.

116. In the claims characterizing an individual chemical compound of any origin, the name or marking of that compound shall be included. For a compound with identified structure, the structural formula thereof shall be included in the claims.

117. In the claims characterizing a composition, the ingredients of that formulation and, normally, the elements relating to the quantitative composition of the ingredients, which, as a rule, is expressed in two values for the characterization of the minimum and maximum limit of the composition, shall be included.

118. For compositions which destination is determined only by a new active agent, and the other components are neutral carriers from the group of those

traditionally applied in the compositions with such destination, the indication in the claims only of the said active agent and its quantitative composition, including in the form of “efficient quantity” shall be admissible.

119. The characterization of such a composition by the indication therein, except for the active agent, of other conventional components (neutral carriers) by the generalizing notion “special additive” shall be admissible. In such a case, the quantitative ratio of the active agent and special additive shall be indicated.

120. In the claims characterizing the strain of a microorganism, a plant and animal cell culture shall be included: the Latin name of the genus and species of the microorganism, plant or animal to which the strain relates; the destination of the strain; the abbreviation of the official deposit collection; the registration number of the subject-matter deposited in the collection.

121. In the cases where subject-matter of the invention is the use of a product or process, the claim with the following structure: “Use (the name or the characteristic of the product, process shall be indicated) as (the destination of the product, process shall be indicated)” shall be used.

122. For a product used for the first time as a medicament, the claim with the following structure shall be used:

a) “Product X (the name of the product shall be indicated) for use as (the therapeutic destination thereof shall be indicated)” or

b) “Product X (the name of the product shall be indicated) for use in the treatment of disease Y (the name of the disease shall be indicated)”.

123. For a product already known as a medicament, used according to a new destination, with a new therapeutic effect, the claim with the following structure may be used:

a) “The use of product X (the name of the product shall be indicated) for the treatment of disease Y (the name of the disease shall be indicated)” or

b) “The use of product X (the name of the product is indicated) as (the new destination shall be indicated)” or

c) “The use of product X (the name of the product shall be indicated) for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of disease Y (the name of the disease shall be indicated)”.

124. If a subject-matter or an element cannot be characterized in a manner that would enable its identification, for example, with an unidentified structure or composition, the characterization thereof by functional characteristics, parameters (properties) or the process for the obtaining (manufacture), ensuring the identification by a person skilled in the art, shall be admissible.

Section 16

Drawings and Other Materials

125. Drawings shall be required when they are necessary for the understanding of the invention and of the novelty elements thereof. Drawings shall contain reference signs (numbers and/or letters) indicating the corresponding component elements presented in the exemplary embodiment of the description. Drawings and other explicative materials may be presented in the form of: graphic materials (proper drawings, schemes, graphs, drafts, figures, oscillograms etc.), photographs, tables, diagrams etc.

126. Graphic materials shall be executed on A4 paper or in exceptional cases on A3 paper which shall be strong, white, smooth in black indelible lines and clear hatchings, without colourings and fadings, providing for the drawings the necessary contrast for copying or scanning. The scale and clarity of the graphic materials shall be such that reproduction with a linear reduction in size to two-thirds will allow all details to be distinguished without difficulty.

127. The title, the applicant and the author of the invention shall not be indicated on sheets containing drawings. They shall not have frames or other lines as to delimit the drawings. The minimum free margins of sheets shall be on each side of 25 mm. Brackets, circles and inverted commas shall not be in association with numbers and letters. The height of the numbers and letters shall not be less than 0.32 cm. The drawings shall not contain inscriptions, except for words, such as “water”, “open”, “closed”, “section on A-A”.

128. The same sheet of drawings may contain several figures, they being delimited expressly by each other.

129. Elements of graphic reproduction shall be marked with Arabic numerals in accordance with the description of the invention. The same elements, presented in several figures, shall be marked with the same numeral.

130. Each graphic reproduction shall be numbered in Arabic numerals (fig. 1, fig. 2 etc.), irrespective of the type of reproduction (drawing, scheme, graph, figure etc.) and of the numbering of the sheets in accordance with the order of presentation in the text of the description. If the description is illustrated by a single figure, it shall not be numbered.

131. For marking the form, recess, prominence, orifice etc., small letters of the Latin alphabet shall be used. For some markings of the trigonometric sizes, letters of the Greek alphabet may be used. For marking the number of parts, numerals or letters with index (first, second), for example: 2, 21, 22, a, a1, a2 etc., may be used.

132. Sections and intersections shall be marked with capital letters of the Latin alphabet, for example A-A, B-B etc. In electrical circuits, both Arabic numerals and small letters of the Latin alphabet may be used, separately or as a solid word.

133. Markings of the positions shall be withdrawn outside the part profile; where possible, they shall be placed in a horizontal or vertical line and shall be joined by a thin line ending in a point on the parts represented by them.

Section 17

The Abstract

134. The abstract shall serve the purpose of information and shall represent a concise summary of the disclosure as contained in the description. It shall contain: the title of the invention; the characterization of the technical field to which the invention pertains and/or of the application field thereof, if not comprised in the title; the characterization of the invention with the indication of the achieved result. The invention shall be characterized in the abstract by a free statement of the claims. The abstract shall, where applicable, contain the drawing or the chemical formula and shall indicate the number of the figure of the drawings which should accompany the abstract upon publication.

135. The drawing included in the abstract shall be presented on a separate sheet, in the same number of copies as the text of the abstract, including where it is identical to one of the figures of the drawings illustrating the description. The figure accompanying the abstract shall be the most representative figure of the invention and shall be chosen among the drawings accompanying the patent application.

136. If the abstract is accompanied by a drawing, the reference signs corresponding to the elements existing in the drawing shall be presented in the text of the abstract, placed between parentheses. The reference signs used in the drawing shall be identical to those in the description of the invention. Nonconformities among reference signs, even if all the elements existing in the drawing are not indicated in the abstract, shall not be admissible.

137. The abstract shall be completed with indications relating to the number of claims and graphic reproductions. The indication of the number of tables shall be admissible.

138. The abstract shall preferably not contain more than one hundred and fifty words. The definitive content of the abstract shall be determined by AGEPI.

Section 18

Terminology and Conventional Marks

139. Standard terms and abbreviations, and in the absence thereof − terms and abbreviations dedicated to the technical and scientific literature, shall be used in the application documents. The terms shall be anew found in one of the dictionaries of Romanian language (DEX, technical dictionary etc.), the

technical slang not being admissible. Where equivalent terms do not exist in the state language, customary technical terms in another language may be used. If terms and marks which do not have a wide application in the relative field are used, their meaning shall be explained in the text upon the first use. All conventional marks or abbreviations shall be decoded upon their first use in the description.

140. The unity of terminology shall be observed in all application documents, i.e. the same elements shall be named identically. The requirement of unity of terminology shall also relate to the physical units of measurement and to the used conventional marks. Physical values shall be expressed in units of measurement specified under letter a), paragraph (11), Article 4 of the Law No. 647-XIII on Metrology of November 17, 1995 (Official Gazette of the Republic of Moldova, 1996, No. 13, Article 124; republished in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Moldova, special edition of April 15, 2008, page 4).

141. The patent application shall not contain expressions, drawings, photographs and other materials contrary to ordre public and morality, statements disparaging the products, methods or processes, the merits or validity of the applications or patents of any third party, as well as matters obviously irrelevant to or unnecessary for the subject matter of the invention. If the description contains inadmissible expressions of above-mentioned nature, AGEPI shall, in the examination procedure, exclude them later from the text and shall notify such fact to the applicant.

Section 19

Way of Presentation of the Application Documents

142. All the application documents shall be typewritten or printed on sheets of A4 paper which shall be white, strong, smooth, opaque and free from creases, so as to admit of long storage and direct reproduction as often as necessary. The documents shall be typed in black characters. The texts of the description, the claims and the abstract shall be 1.5-spaced, the capital letters of which shall be not less than 2.1 mm high or in characters of a size of 12 cm.

143. The margins of the sheets containing the description, the claims and the abstract shall be as follows, in mm:

a) top of the first sheet – 30;

b) top of the next sheets – 20

c) left side – 25;

d) right side – 20

e) bottom – 20.

144. Only one side of each sheet shall be used, placing the lines parallel to the short margin of the sheet. Each of the documents making up the application (description, claims, abstract and drawings) shall commence on a new sheet and the second sheet and the next sheets shall be numbered in Arabic numerals consecutively, in the middle, at the bottom of the sheet. Only graphic symbols, letters of the Greek alphabet, mathematical and chemical formulae may be written by hand with ink, push-button pencil or Chinese ink in a dark colour. The combined typewriting or printing of formulae shall not be admissible.

145. The requirements for the description, the claims and the abstract, as well as those referred to in Rules 142-144 of the present Regulations shall apply to the replacement documents of the application materials.

146. Materials relating to documents other than those referred to in Rule 145 of the present Regulations shall be typewritten or printed. There shall be a margin of about 25 mm on the left-hand side of each page.

147. All documents filed after the filing of the application shall be signed. If a document has not been signed, AGEPI shall notify such fact to the party concerned and shall invite it to remedy the deficiency within two months from the date of dispatch of the notification. If the document is not signed in due time, it shall be deemed not to have been filed.

148. Documents relating to two or more patent applications or patents shall be filed in a sufficient number of copies. If the documents are not filed in a sufficient number of copies, AGEPI shall notify such fact to the applicant and shall allow him a period of two months to file the relevant documents or to apply for the multiplication thereof by the AGEPI, on payment of the fee prescribed pursuant to Government Decision No. 774 of August 13, 1997, “on Fees for Legal Services in the Field of Protection of Industrial Property Objects” (Official Gazette of the Republic of Moldova, 1997, No. 57-58, Art. 625) (hereinafter “Government Decision No. 774 of August 13, 1997).

Section 20

Proof of Payment of Fee

149. A proof of payment of the fee prescribed pursuant to Government Decision No. 774 of August 13, 1997, or, where appropriate, a document certifying exemption from the fee or a reduction of the fee shall be annexed to the patent application. The document constituting the proof of payment of the fee in Moldovan lei shall be a copy of the order for payment certified by the authorized bank, a receipt for payment issued by the AGEPI accounting or a receipt for money order. The document constituting the proof of payment of the fee in Euro shall be a copy of the order for payment duly authenticated by the authorized bank.

Section 21

Priority Document

150. The priority document shall contain a certificate of priority issued by the patent office with which the initial application was filed, from which the date of filing thereof may result, and a copy of the previous application (the description of the invention, the claims, the drawings etc.), certified by the patent office with which the initial application was filed.

151. Where more priorities are claimed and the previous application is in a language other than the state one, the applicant or his successor in title shall file a translation of the description as a whole or of one part thereof, indicating the excerpts from the description, the claims and, where appropriate, the drawing or drawings corresponding to each priority document. In such a case, the translation shall be furnished within three months from the date of dispatch of the notification on which the furnishing of the translation of the previous application is required. Alternatively, a declaration may be submitted that the patent application is a complete translation of the previous application. At the same time, the applicant may be required to furnish only the translation of the claims.

152. The exhibition priority claim shall be justified by a certificate which shall contain:

a) the name of the exhibition, the address and the opening date thereof;

b) the family name, given names and address of the natural person or the name and address of the legal person who has displayed the subject-matter at the exhibition;

c) the effective date on which the public display was made;

d) the number and date of the certificate of guarantee;

e) a copy of the description of the displayed subject-matter, drawn up in the state language, certified by the administration of the exhibition, that the displayed subject-matter is identical to the described one and a translation in the state language of the said description.

153. Where the certificate referred to in Rule 152, letter (e), of the present Regulations is not filed in the state language, AGEPI shall, for the purpose of establishing the content of the exhibited invention, notify such fact to the applicant and shall invite him to furnish the required translation thereof within a period of three months.

Section 22

Statement of Non-Prejudicial Disclosure of

Information Relating to an Invention

154. The statement of non-prejudicial disclosure of information relating to an invention shall be made on filing the patent application. The statement shall contain the name of the information source and the date of disclosure of the information.

155. For the application of Article 9, paragraph 1, letter a), of the Law, an evident abuse in relation to the applicant or his legal predecessor, as well as to the inventor having surrendered his right in the invention, shall be the disclosure by a third party:

a) who has derived the invention from any of these persons; or

b) to whom the invention has been communicated by one of these persons, provided that he does not disclose the invention to public.

Section 23

Document Certifying the Deposit of Biological Material

156. The document certifying the deposit of reproducible biological material with a national depositary institution designated by the Government or with an international depositary institution shall contain:

a) the name and the address of the officially recognized national or international collection with which the microorganism was deposited;

b) the date (year, month, day) of deposit of the microorganism with the officially recognized national or international collection;

c) the denomination of the microorganism;

d) the number of deposit of the biological material;

e) the biochemical, morphological and taxonomic characteristics of the microorganism deposited.

157. Where the biological material has been deposited by a person other than the applicant, a document shall be annexed to the patent application providing evidence that the latter has authorized the applicant to refer to the deposited biological material in the application and has given his consent to the deposited material being made available to the public.

Section 24

Request for Substantive Examination

158. The request for substantive examination shall be filed with AGEPI in one copy and shall be drawn up on a form approved by AGEPI.

159. The request for substantive examination may be filed by any third party within thirty months from the filing date of the patent application. The applicant shall be notified of the request for substantive examination filed by any third party.

160. The request for substantive examination may be filed with the AGEPI by any third party for a short-term patent application or a short-term patent. The applicant (patent owner) shall be notified of the request for substantive examination filed by any third party.

161. The proof of payment of the fee in the amount prescribed pursuant to Government Decision No. 774 of August 13, 1997, shall be filed at the same time as filing the request for substantive examination. Otherwise, the request for substantive examination shall be deemed not to have been filed and such fact shall be notified to the applicant or to the person having filed the request for substantive examination.

162. The procedures for substantive examination, search and publication of the patent application may, upon request, be accelerated. The said procedures shall be indicated in the request for accelerated prosecution, drawn up in free form.

163. The proof of payment of the fee in a twice increased amount in relation to that prescribed pursuant to Government Decision No. 774 of August 13, 1997, shall be filed at the same time as filing the request for accelerated prosecution.

164. The time limit for accelerated prosecution shall be twice less than the established one.

Section 25

Filing of a Divisional Application

165. The applicant may file with the AGEPI a divisional application by dividing any pending earlier patent application, provided that the limits for the disclosure of the subject-matter of such application in the first filing are observed for each divisional application. Where multiple priorities are claimed in the initial application, the applicant shall indicate the corresponding priority in each divisional application.

166. The filing fee of the divisional application, prescribed pursuant to Government Decision No. 774 of August 13, 1997, shall be paid within two

months from the date of filing thereof, otherwise the application shall be deemed not to have been filed.

Section 26

Request for Search

167. The search shall be carried out within six months from the date of filing of the request for search by the applicant or by any person concerned. AGEPI shall notify the applicant of the request for search filed by any third party. The request for search may not be revoked.

168. A search report shall be drawn up on the basis of a search, which shall be transmitted to the person having filed the request for search. If the request for search has been filed by any third party, the search report shall be transmitted to it only after the publication of the patent application.

169. The request for search shall be deemed not to have been filed if an earlier request for search or for substantive examination was filed at the date of submission thereof. The person having filed the request shall be notified of the existing earlier request.

CHAPTER III

EXAMINATION OF THE PATENT APPLICATION AND GRANT OF THE PROTECTION

Section 1

Formal Examination

170. The formal examination shall be undertaken within one month from the date of presentation of the application documents with the AGEPI. In the formal examination, AGEPI shall, for the purpose of establishing the filing date, check whether the patent application meets the formal requirements laid down in Articles 32 and 34 of the Law and in Rules 36-47 of the present Regulations.

171. Where AGEPI in carrying out the formal examination under Articles 32 and 34 of the Law notes that the features necessary for the registration of the patent application appear to be missing and that they do not comply with the requirements laid down in Rules 36-47 of the present Regulations, AGEPI shall notify the applicant accordingly and invite him to correct the deficiencies noted within three months from the date of dispatch of the notification.

172. If the application meets the formal requirements laid down in Articles 32 and 34 of the Law, it shall be accorded a date of filing and a filing number, and the particulars concerning the patent application shall be entered in the National Register of Patent Applications.

173. Where the application does not meet the requirements laid down in Articles 32 and 34 of the Law, AGEPI shall proceed pursuant to the procedure referred to in Rules 36-42 of the present the Regulations.

174. If the application meets the formal requirements laid down in Articles 32 and 34 of the Law and in Rules 36-47 of the present Regulations, the applicant shall be notified of the termination of the formal examination, of the date and number of filing. Where the patent application was filed on a form under Rules 43-47 of the present Regulations, the termination of the formal examination shall be confirmed by the return of the application form with the indication of the date and number of filing assigned.

Section 2

Preliminary Examination

175. The preliminary examination shall be undertaken within three months from the date of termination of the formal examination. In the preliminary examination, AGEPI shall check whether:

a) all the application documents have been filed in compliance with Article 33 of the Law and Rules 32-35 of the present Regulations;

b) the content of the application documents meets the requirements laid down in Rules 32-138 of the present Regulations;

c) the patentability requirements laid down in Article 6, paragraph (2), Article 7 and Article 12, paragraph (3), of the Law have been satisfied;

d) the initial classification of the invention has been filed in compliance with IPC (last edition), on the basis of the claims and the description of the invention;

e) the requirement of unity of invention has outwardly been satisfied;

f) the content of the additional materials has been submitted so as they may not modify the subject-matter of the claimed invention;

g) the designation of the inventors has been made;

h) the fees have been paid in compliance with the procedures claimed in the application;

i) the requirements laid down in Articles 39-42 of the Law concerning the priority claiming have been satisfied.

176. Where AGEPI after examining the filing of the patent application and the annexed documents reveals deficiencies concerning the compliance with the

requirements stipulated by the Law and the Regulations, it shall notify the applicant accordingly and shall invite him to give a response within three months from the date of dispatch of the notification.

177. Where AGEPI in carrying out the preliminary examination notes that the patent application does not comply with the requirement of unity of invention, it shall notify the applicant accordingly and shall invite him to divide it or to express an option for the invention to be examined and, where necessary, to make corrections in the initial filing within a time limit not exceeding 15 months.

178. If the applicant fails to divide or to file an option for the invention to be examined (or for the unitary group of inventions, if it is contained in the initial application) and fails to file the corrected documents within the prescribed time limit referred to in Rule 177, the first invention claimed (or the first unitary group of inventions) shall be examined.

179. If the additional materials modify in whole or in part the subject-matter of the invention and/or do not comply with the requirements stipulated by the Regulations, the applicant shall be notified that upon examination these modifications would not be taken into consideration completely or in the corresponding part.

180. Where there are other violations of the Regulations in the application documents, they may be indicated in the notification. The applicant may be invited in the notification to present the amended description or claims referring to one invention only or to a unitary group of inventions, with the indication of the need for payment of an additional fee prescribed pursuant to Government Decision No. 774 of August 13, 1997, where the amended claims would contain independent claims for the inventions presented in the initial claims, but not emphasized in independent claims.

181. If the applicant fails to reply in due time to the notification or to submit the required materials, or fails to file a request for extension of the said time limit, AGEPI shall suspend the proceedings, notifying the applicant of such fact and giving him one opportunity to re-establish the omitted time limit.

182. If, following the preliminary examination, the applicant makes corrections or additions of the description, claims or drawings, he shall, for the purpose of publication and up to the fifteenth month from the date of filing or of priority claimed, either submit the replacement sheets including corrections or additions or reformulate the entire documentation to be published.

183. If the patent application contains all the required documents and meets the requirements stipulated by the Regulations, and the invention is not included in the category of unpatentable inventions, the applicant shall be notified of the termination of the preliminary examination of the application.

184. If, prior to the termination of the preliminary examination, the applicant fails to file the request for substantive examination, he shall, in the

notification concerning the termination of the preliminary examination, be notified of the need for submission of the request for substantive examination within the prescribed time limit.

185. Notifications dealing with the preliminary examination may, where applicable, be dispatched together with the notifications of the substantive examination.

Section 3

Decision on the Refusal of a Patent Application under Article 6(2), Article 7 and Article 12(3) of the Law

186. If the examination reveals that the subject-matter of the invention does not meet the requirements of Article 6, paragraph (2), Article 7 and Article 12, paragraph (3), of the Law, it shall take the decision to refuse the patent application, accompanied by the corresponding grounds.

187. Before AGEPI decides to refuse the patent application, it shall notify the applicant of the grounds for refusal of the application and, where necessary, the references to the corresponding information sources and shall invite him to file, within three months as from the date of dispatch of the notification, a reasoned response to the stated grounds.

188. If the applicant fails to present reasoned arguments against the grounds for refusal of the application or fails to file a reasoned response within the prescribed time limit, AGEPI shall issue the decision to refuse the patent application.

189. AGEPI shall transmit the decision of refusal to the applicant, notifying him of the right to file an appeal with the Board of Appeals of AGEPI, where he disagrees with the grounds of the decision, within 2 months as from the dispatch thereof.

190. Within three months following the date on which the applicant has been informed of the decision to refuse the application, AGEPI shall publish the mention of the decision to refuse the application in BOPI.

191. Where AGEPI upon filing the patent application reveals that the invention contains information which, if published, can prejudice the national security of the Republic of Moldova, it shall notify the applicant of the impossibility of affording legal protection for the respective invention, under Article 45 of the Law. The competent authority necessary to be addressed for the examination of the said application shall be notified to the applicant.

Section 4

Publication of Application

192. For the publication of the patent application within a shorter time limit than the established one, the fee prescribed pursuant to Government Decision No. 774 of August 13, 1997, shall be paid at the same time as filing the request for accelerated publication. The request for accelerated publication shall be filed not later than six months following the filing date or, where priority has been claimed, within three months following the filing date of the application.

193. The request for accelerated publication of the patent application may be withdrawn by the applicant within at most two months from the filing date thereof.

194. Patent applications withdrawn or rejected prior to the expiry of fifteen months from the filing date of the application shall not be published.

195. Where the applicant has been notified of the fact that the patent application does not meet the requirement of unity of invention and he has failed to divide up the application within a period of at most fifteen months from the filing date for a patent application or, respectively, three months for a short-term patent application, the application shall be published as filed.

196. If corrections or modifications which do not modify the subject matter of the invention were included in the application documents, they shall be taken into account upon publication.

197. Materials and expressions inadmissible under Rule 139-141 of the present Regulations shall be omitted from the published documents. In such a case, the materials drawn up for the publication of the application may be coordinated with the applicant.

198. Waiver of inventor’s right to be mentioned in the publication of the patent application shall be taken into account, if presented before the expiry of fifteen months from the filing date, but not later than the presentation of the request for accelerated publication.

199. On the date on which it publishes in BOPI the bibliographic data concerning the patent application or the mention of the grant of the patent, AGEPI shall make available to the public in the AGEPI Library a specification of the patent application containing the description of the invention, the claims, the abstract and, where applicable, any drawings. The specification of the application shall also contain a bibliographic sheet drawn up by the AGEPI.

200. AGEPI may additionally publish in BOPI the translation of the abstract into an international language.

201. The application materials may be additionally processed and distributed in electronic form on the AGEPI site, to the address www.agepi.gov.md.

Section 5

Observations by Third Parties

202. Any person who possesses information about the invention which forms the subject-matter of the patent application and who can influence the examination thereof may, under Article 89 of the Law, present observations within the period between the publication of the patent application and issuance of a decision relating thereto. Filing of observations shall not be subject to the payment of fees.

203. The observation shall be filed in free form and must contain:

a) the information identifying the person who files the observation (the name or denomination of the enterprise, the address, the telephone, the e-mail address);

b) the information identifying the representative, if the person who has filed the observation has appointed a representative;

c) indications concerning the patent application in respect of which the observation has been formulated (the filing number, the name or denomination of the applicant and the number of BOPI in which the particulars of the application have been published);

d) the ground of the observation;

e) the documents, evidence and arguments presented in support of the observation (documents with undeniable date, made available to the public prior to the filing date and, where applicable, the priority date, indicating exactly the subject-matter in respect of which the observation has been formulated).

204. The observation and the materials in support thereof shall be filed in two copies – one for the file and one for the applicant.

205. AGEPI shall send one copy of the opposable documents to the applicant and shall give him a time limit of three months from the date of dispatch, if the substantive examination was requested on that date, to present his reasoned opinion or the description, the drawings, the claims amended pursuant to the formulated observation, provided that they do not extend beyond the limits of the initial disclosure.

The response of the applicant may be presented at the same time as the request for substantive examination.

206. The observations by third parties, the response and the possible amendments presented by the applicant shall be taken into account upon further examination of the application.

207. If more observations are presented in respect of a patent application, AGEPI may rejoin the procedures for examination of the observations filed.

Section 6

Content of the Substantive Examination

208. The substantive examination shall cover:

a) the supplementary checking for compliance with the requirements referred to in Article 6, paragraph (2), and Article 7 of the Law;

b) checking of the requirements of disclosure of the invention referred to in Article 36 of the Law and Section 7 of the present Chapter;

c) checking of claims for compliance with the requirements of Section 15 of Chapter II of the present Regulations;

d) checking for compliance of the additional materials, if any, with the requirements of Rules 501-505 of the present Regulations;

e) checking for compliance with the requirements of unity of invention;

f) checking for compliance with the requirements of patentability of the invention;

g) recognition of priority claimed;

h) checking of the initial classification with the completion or amendment thereof, where applicable.

209. Checking for compliance with the requirements of patentability of the invention shall include:

a) checking for compliance with the requirement of industrial application, in accordance with Article 11 of the Law;

b) checking for compliance with the requirement of novelty, in accordance with Article 8 of the Law;

c) checking for compliance with the requirement of inventive step, in accordance with Article 10 of the Law.

Section 7

Requirements for Carrying Out the Substantive Examination

210. The substantive examination of the application shall be carried out on the basis of a request for examination filed by the applicant or any person concerned. The substantive examination shall not be carried out if it is requested for an earlier withdrawn application.

211. Where the amount of the fee paid for carrying out the substantive examination does not correspond to the amount prescribed pursuant to Government Decision No. 774 of August 13, 1997, the proof of payment of the difference shall be submitted within three months from the date of dispatch of the corresponding notification. Failure to submit the proof of payment of the fee in the amount and within the prescribed time limit shall

lead to the request for substantive examination being deemed not to have been filed.

212. In the case of a group of inventions for which the proof of payment of the fee was filed in a smaller amount than the prescribed one, but larger than the amount for one or several inventions of the group, the applicant or the person concerned shall be notified of the need to pay the difference for the completion of the amount of the prescribed fee and to submit the proof of payment of the said fee within three months from the date of dispatch of the notification.

213. If the applicant fails to submit the proof of payment of the difference, the inventions of the group indicated by the applicant or the person concerned shall be examined. Where the said specification has not been made, the inventions of the group first mentioned in the claims and for which the corresponding fee has been paid pursuant to Government Decision No. 774 of August 13, 1997, shall be examined.

214. Where the applicant or the person concerned is entitled to an exemption from or to a reduction of the examination fee, the proof of exemption from the fee or reduction of the amount thereof shall be filed at the same time as the request for examination or within a time limit not exceeding two months from the date of filing thereof.

215. Where several persons have filed requests for substantive examination, the request having the latest date shall be deemed not to have been filed, such fact being notified to the person who has filed it.

216. The person who has filed the request for substantive examination, but who is not the applicant of the respective patent application, cannot take part in the examination.

217. One copy of the decision shall be transmitted to the person who has filed the request for substantive examination. If the patent application has not been published on the date of the decision, the respective person shall be notified of the issued decision and one copy thereof shall be transmitted to him after the publication of the patent application or the decision.

218. If, prior to the conclusion of the substantive examination, the applicant withdraws the patent application or converts it into a short-term patent application, the person concerned who has filed the request for substantive examination shall be notified accordingly.

219. The procedure for examination of the patent application shall cease if the applicant withdraws the patent application.

Section 8

Time Limits for Substantive Examination

220. The procedure for substantive examination shall last up to the solution or elucidation of the problems concerning the substantive examination, even if for such purpose the period of 18 months, referred to in Article 51, paragraph (2), of the Law, is exceeded, including by the request for successive extensions of the time limit for response to notifications from AGEPI, under Article 90 of the Law. The procedure for substantive examination shall be deemed to be carried out within a legal time limit, if within such time limit AGEPI has transmitted to the applicant at least one notification of compliance with the requirements of patentability.

221. If the accelerated substantive examination is requested and the corresponding fee is paid pursuant to Government Decision No. 774 of August 13, 1997, AGEPI shall examine the application within nine months from the date of presentation of the proof of payment of the fee for acceleration.

222. The time limit for carrying out the substantive examination shall be extended by three months if the applicant, prior to the issuance of a decision, has furnished amendments to claims of his own motion and if notifications has not been transmitted to him.

223. If the applicant files a search report or a preliminary examination report drawn up by one of the International Searching or International Preliminary Examining Authorities, the time limit for substantive examination of the application shall be nine months from the date of filing of the report.

Section 9

Priority of the Invention

224. The filing of the patent application shall give rise to a right of priority, beginning on the date thereof, in relation to any other filing in respect of the same invention, having a later date of filing or of priority, provided that the provisions of Article 33 paragraph (8) of the Law are observed, whatever the outcome of the application may be.

225. A subsequent application in respect of the same subject-matter as a previous first application and filed in or for the same State shall be considered as the first application for the purposes of determining priority, provided that, at the date of filing the subsequent application, the previous application has been withdrawn, abandoned or refused, without being open to public inspection and without leaving any rights outstanding, and has not reserved as a basis for claiming a right of priority. The previous application may not thereafter serve as a basis for claiming a right of priority.

226. The right of priority shall have effect that the date of priority shall count as the date of filing of the patent application for the purposes of Article 8, paragraph (2) and (3), and Article 14, paragraph (2), of the Law.

227. An applicant who wishes to claim priority shall, within two months from the filing date of the application, pay the fee, prescribed pursuant to Government Decision No. 774 of August 13, 1997, for each priority claimed. Otherwise, priority shall not be recognized.

228. Multiple priorities of some previous applications may be claimed in respect of a patent application, filed in one or more countries not earlier than twelve months from the date of the application including inventions disclosed in the previous applications, each invention being accorded a date of priority corresponding to the date of the previous application in which it was disclosed.

229. The date of priority of an application claiming a combination of two elements, described separately in two previous applications, shall be established on the date of filing of the application, except where a priority document contains a reference to another priority document and a clear mention that the elements in both documents may be combined in a particular way.

230. The declaration of priority of an application in which a priority has already been claimed shall not be admissible.

231. If the applicant fails to meet the requirements referred to in Article 40 and Article 41 of the Law, the priority shall be recognized from the date of filing with AGEPI. Where an application contains a group of inventions and the above-mentioned requirements are not met in relation to an invention of the group, the priority for that invention shall be recognized from the date of filing with AGEPI.

232. If one or more priorities are claimed in respect of a patent application, this/these may be recognized only for those inventions which are included in the first application and in the subsequent applications, provided the unity of invention is complied with.

233. The priority may also be recognized from the date of filing the additional materials, if they were filed as a patent application prior to the expiration of the time limit of four months from the date on which the applicant was notified of the impossibility of taking into account these additional materials, on the grounds of the statement that they modify the subject-matter of the invention.

234. Where the claimed priority is recognized, the applicant shall be notified of such fact. Where the claimed priority is not recognized, the applicant shall be notified of such fact, stating the corresponding reasons therefor.

Section 10

Unity of Invention

235. Where a group of inventions is claimed in a patent application, the requirement of unity of invention under Article 35 of the Law shall be fulfilled only when there is a technical relationship among those inventions involving one or more of the same or corresponding special technical features. The expression “special technical features” shall mean those features which define a contribution which each of the claimed inventions considered as a whole makes over the prior art.

236. The determination whether a group of inventions is so linked as to form a single general inventive concept shall be made without regard to whether the inventions are claimed in separate claims or as alternatives within a single claim.

237. Where a patent application relates to a group of inventions, the unity of invention shall be observed if any one of the following conditions has been met:

a) the group of inventions contributes to the solution of the same problem;

b) the group of inventions determines the obtaining of the same effects;

c) there is an interrelationship between the inventions;

d) at least one invention of the group cannot be realized or applied without the others;

e) absence of at least one invention of the group makes any of the other inventions of the group inapplicable.

238. In a patent application relating to a group of inventions may be included:

a) independent claims in different categories;

b) independent claims in the same category;

c) dependent claims.

239. In a patent application relating to a group of inventions shall be admissible independent claims, in different categories, grouped particularly into one of the following possibilities:

a) an independent claim for a given product, an independent claim for a process specially adapted for the manufacture of the said product, and an independent claim for a use of the said product;

b) an independent claim for a given process and an independent claim for a means specifically designed for carrying out the said process;

c) an independent claim for a given product, an independent claim for a process specially adapted for the manufacture of the said product, and an

independent claim for a means specifically designed for carrying out the said process.

240. An application may contain more than one independent claim in the same category (product, process, apparatus or use) only if the subject-matter of the application involves one of the following:

a) a plurality of interrelated products;

b) different uses of a product or apparatus;

c) alternative solutions to a particular problem, where it is inappropriate to cover these alternatives by a single claim.

241. Where AGEPI reveals that the application does not meet the requirement of unity of invention, it shall notify such fact to the applicant and shall invite him within three months from the date of dispatch of the notification:

a) to communicate which invention should be examined and, where necessary, to introduce clarity into the application documents, upon payment of the fee prescribed pursuant to Government Decision No. 774 of August 13, 1997, for making amendments, or

b) to divide up the application into two or more applications, so that each divisional application may not extend beyond the limits of the invention disclosed in the initial application.

242. If the applicant fails to communicate within the time limit laid down in Rule 241 of the present Regulations which invention (or unitary group of inventions) should be examined and fails to present the corrected materials, the first claimed invention (or the first unitary group of inventions) shall be examined.

243. Where, prior to the issuance of a decision on the first filing, the applicant fails to file divisional applications, the inventions which do not comply with the requirement of unity of invention shall remain in the description, provided that they do not form the subject-matter of the claims.

244. Filing of a divisional application if the initial application has been refused, withdrawn or is deemed to be withdrawn shall not be possible.

245. Lack of unity of invention may not be a ground for refusal of an application or may not be claimed within the actions for revocation or cancellation of a patent for invention.

Section 11

Examination of Industrial Application

246. An invention shall be considered as susceptible of industrial application, under Article 11 of the Law, if, having regard to the description thereof, it is cumulatively obvious the following:

a) the subject-matter of the invention may be used at least in one field;

b) the problem and its solution;

c) disclosure of the invention in the exemplary embodiments so as to enable a person skilled in the art to carry out the invention without undertaking an inventive step;

d) the invention may be reproduced with the same characteristics and effects, as often as necessary.

247. An invention shall not be considered as susceptible of industrial application if:

a) it is not disclosed in a manner sufficiently clear and complete for it to be carried out by a person skilled in the art, or

b) the successful realization thereof depends on the probability or existence of certain individual abilities of the person who can carry it out, or

c) the invention is contrary to the known laws of nature.

248. Inventions in the field of medicine shall not be considered as susceptible of industrial application if they relate to:

a) predestined methods and devices using the symbols and attributes of religious, mystic or ritual actions;

b) methods and apparatuses for curative action, based on the use of some fields for which the material composition is not identified or is beyond the sphere of fundamental knowledge.

249. If the examination reveals that the description of the invention fails to meet at least any one of the requirements provided for in the present Section, it shall inform the applicant of such fact and shall invite him to give a response within a time limit of three months.

Section 12

Determination of Prior Art

250. AGEPI shall, for the purpose of determining the prior art, carry out the search in respect of the patent application on the basis of the claims, the description and the drawings and shall establish the relevant sources in the prior art.

251. The prior art shall, subject to Article 8 of the Law, be held to comprise everything made available to the public anywhere in the world by means of a written or oral description, by use, or in any other way (the electronic means, particularly the Internet and databases), before the date of filing of the patent application or of priority recognized, provided the date of making available to the public be identifiable.

252. By “public” is meant any person or persons who could without restrictions or liabilities of confidentiality disseminate knowledge of the invention.

253. Knowledge shall be regarded as made available to the public by use if, at the relevant date, it was possible for any person to acquire possession of such knowledge and there was no bar or liability of confidentiality restricting the sale, use or display of the subject-matter manufactured by the invention, or to acquire possession of any knowledge deriving from the said subject-matter by display or use.

254. In the case of the following information sources, the date of making available to the public shall be considered to be:

a) for published descriptions relating to the titles of protection or to the patent applications or applications for the registration of utility models – the date of publication thereof;

b) for national or foreign publications – the date of publication, and where the establishment of such date is not possible – the last day of the month or from 31 December of the year indicated in the publication, if the time of publication is indicated respectively only by the year;

c) for research reports, the explanatory notes relating to the experimental works and other construction, technological and design documentation existing in the technical-scientific information institutions – the date of receipt by the said institutions;

d) for technological normative documentation – the date of registration with the competent authorities;

e) for materials and papers of doctoral theses edited with the status of manuscripts – the date of receipt by the library;

f) for papers presented at a competition – the date of public availability, certified by acts relating to the competition;

g) for sources of visual information (placards, drawings, schemes, photographs, models, products etc.) – the date of availability, confirmed by corresponding acts;

h) for products displayed at an exhibition – the date of display at the exhibition, confirmed by a corresponding act;

i) for oral reports, university lectures, communications, including over the radio, television, cinema etc. – the date on which the report was made, the lecture was delivered, the communication was presented, if these are recorded on a relevant carrier or are took down in shorthand in the prescribed manner in force on the indicated date;

j) for knowledge of a product, made available to the public by use of the product – the date on which such knowledge was made available to the public, confirmed by corresponding documents.

255. The documentary search shall, for the purposes of determining the relevant prior art, include consultation of documentation being in the possession of AGEPI, contained in:

1. non-patent databases and collections with information retrieval tools on the basis of keywords, at least for the title and abstract in the English language, with a maximum retrospection and coverage from the geographical and thematic point of view;

2. patent databases to include at least the following collections of primary patent documents:

a) MD, FR, DE, CH, GB, US, JP, CN, RU, SU, WO, EP, EA; b) published patent and utility model applications, filed with AGEPI prior to

the filing or priority date of the patent application examined; c) the collection of the Republic of Moldova of inventor’s certificates of the

former SU, which were assigned a statute of limited public access. 256. By “patent document” is meant: patents for invention, inventor’s

certificates, medical patents, utility certificates, utility model certificates and patents, complementary certificates or patents, as well as the relevant published applications.

257. In determining prior art for the inventions contained in the short-term patent applications, the general knowledge included in sources, predestined to a general public, for example, encyclopaediae, dictionaries, manuals, guides shall be taken into consideration.

Section 13 Search Report 258. AGEPI shall, following the search, draw up the search report on the

basis of the claims, with due regard to the description and any drawings, on a form elaborated on the basis of the relevant form recommended by WIPO and which serves the purpose of examining novelty and inventive step of the invention. The search report shall serve, after its publication, the purpose of furnishing technical-scientific information relating to the prior art.

259. The search report shall specify the indexes of classification of the patents for invention assigned to the subject-matter of the patent application, the keywords and other data used in the search equation. Databases and other sources used in determining the prior art shall also be indicated.

260. The search report shall cite those documents, available at the time of drawing up the report in the prior art, defined under Section 12 of the present Chapter, which may be taken into consideration in deciding whether the invention to which the patent application relates is new and involves an inventive step.

261. Each citation shall be referred to the claims of the patent application to which it relates, the degree of relevance of the cited document by the symbols used by the international searching offices and, where appropriate, the relevant parts of the documents cited.

262. The applicant may, in support of drawing up the search report, file with AGEPI the public search materials available to him and their copies, provided that AGEPI after drawing up the search report returns these materials to the applicant if they were original.

Section 14 Examination of Novelty 263. Novelty of an invention shall be determined in relation to the content of

the claims and the application field defined in the description. An invention shall not be considered to be new if a solution having technical features identical to all technical features of the invention included in the independent claim is known in the prior art.

264. Where the invention is distinguished from the prior art merely by destination, it shall not be taken into consideration upon examination of novelty, unless the elements characterizing the destination of the invention determine the existence of certain constructive differences, differences in the stages of the process or other distinctions of the invention from the prior art.

265. In determining novelty of an invention, the documents in the prior art cannot be taken into consideration but individually for that invention (i.e. the elements of prior art can be taken into consideration only individually and cannot be combined). In a unitary group of inventions, the documents in the prior art shall be taken into consideration individually for each invention.

266. If the examination selects a patent application filed with AGEPI earlier than the examined application, having the same claims and which data are not published, the examination procedure shall be suspended up to the issuance of a decision in relation to the application with earlier priority.

267. If the examination selects a patent application filed with AGEPI by another applicant for an identical invention with the same date of priority, such fact shall be notified to the applicant.

268. In the case referred to in Rule 267 of the present Regulations, the application having the earlier date of transmittal to the AGEPI, and in the case of coincidence of the transmittal dates, the application having the earlier number of filing with the AGEPI shall be examined, unless otherwise agreed by the applicants.

269. Notification to the applicant of an examined application of bibliographic data or of content of another filed identical application shall be admissible prior to the publication of particulars thereof only with the consent of the applicant of another application.

270. Identity of the claimed invention in two identical applications shall be stated on the basis of the claims, in their last wording, submitted by the applicant in the established manner.

271. If, following the examination of prior art, relevant documents were selected covering in whole or in part the new features from the claims, AGEPI shall notify such fact to the applicant and shall invite him to give a

response within a time limit of three months from the date of dispatch of the notification.

272. AGEPI may, at the request of the applicant, send the copy of the relevant documentary material, subject to the payment of the fee prescribed pursuant to Government Decision No. 774 of August 13, 1997.

273. If the applicant has responded within the prescribed time limit specified in Rule 271 of the present Regulations, demonstrating his interest in the support of the application, AGEPI shall, for the purpose of taking a proper decision, keep on corresponding with the applicant up to the clarification of all objections.

274. As relevant documents shall be considered those documents in the prior art the content of which covers in whole or in part the extent of protection sought by the applicant by independent claims.

Section 15 Examination of Inventive Step 275. The inventive step shall be assessed in relation to the claims and the

technical problem which the claimed invention solves in the patent application. Examination of inventive step shall be carried out only for the claims which fulfill the requirement of novelty.

276. The inventive step shall be assessed in relation to the prior art including more close solutions from which a mosaic of solutions is formed, containing features of different close solutions and similar to the features of the invention compared in its totality with the claims.

277. Patent applications registered with the AGEPI, which were made available to the public after the filing date of the application under consideration, shall not be taken into consideration in assessing inventive step, even if their filing date is earlier.

278. An invention shall not have on its basis an inventive step and shall be considered as obvious, within the meaning of the provisions of Article 10, paragraph (1) of the Law, if from the analysis of the totality of prior art solutions it is obvious by a further synthesis that the person skilled in the art, using his general knowledge, may arrive at the solution which forms the subject-matter of the patent application.

279. A person skilled in the art shall represent, within the meaning of Rule 278 of the present Regulations, a person considered to have access to the whole prior art, possessing common abilities and general knowledge in the technical field in which the technical problem solved in the invention on the date of filing or of recognized priority is set.

280. Assessment of inventive step may be made by the problem-solution type approach providing for the following stages: a) selecting the proximate analogue of the prior art; b) determining the objective technical problem to be solved; c) assessing the extent to which the claimed invention, starting from the

proximate analogue and the objective technical problem, would have been

obvious to the skilled person at the date of filing or at the date of recognized priority.

281. The objective technical problem may be different from the technical problem presented by the applicant in the description of the invention, depending on the prior art determined by the AGEPI.

282. In applying the provisions of Rule 275, an invention shall be considered as involving an inventive step if it fulfills at least one of the following conditions: a) it is not obvious to a person skilled in the art from a field of application of

the invention or from a field close thereto; b) the person skilled in the art cannot, on the basis of knowledge in the prior

art, solve the problem as the invention solves it; c) the need for the solution of the problem is present for a long time, and the

known solutions are up to the level of solution in the invention; d) it is used, with or without amendments, in another field, for the solution of

another problem, and the obtained effect is either the same or unexpected, or superior to the effects produced by other inventions in the field in which the invention is superposed, provided the two fields may not be close to each other;

e) consists in the combination of known features in the prior art so that a functional organic relation, a mutual influence, a synergistic effect, an interaction or an interconditioning leading to the achievement of a new technical result is obvious;

f) has as subject-matter an analogous process by which a new effect or a substance with new, unexpected or superior qualities is obtained, or if the raw materials are new, even if the achieved results are the same;

g) represents a selection in a process of particular technical parameters covered within a known range, producing unexpected effects in the operation of the process or the properties of the resulting product;

h) represents a selection from a very large group of compounds having unexpected advantages.

283. In applying the provisions of Rule 278, an invention shall not be considered as involving an inventive step if: a) it consists in a simple enunciation of a problem without solving it, even if

the problem is new; b) it can be arrived at merely one problem concerning the saving of materials

or energy, optimization of dimensions or reduction in cost prices, without achieving new or superior results;

c) it can be arrived at a problem merely by a simple substitution of materials with known characteristics making them suitable for that use and leading to predictable effects;

d) the problem it solves refers merely to a change in form or aspect for aesthetic purpose;

e) it can be arrived at a problem by a simplification, without maintaining at least the known performances in the prior art;

f) it differs from the known art merely in the use of well-known equivalents; g) it can be arrived at a problem by the common use of two or more known

solutions, and the predictable effect results from the simple summation of the effects of each solution (the juxtaposition of known solutions);

h) it can be arrived at a problem in the field of chemistry or biology consisting in a selection of a particular case from amongst a plurality of previously protected components, provided that such selected case would not lead to special qualities or results in comparison with those of the plurality of components from which it was selected;

i) the solution of the problem relates to the selection of a corresponding known material and/or to the making of certain constructive changes according to rules known by itself;

j) it relates to a natural product which was not influenced technologically; k) it resides in the choice of particular parameters, dimensions, temperature

ranges from a limited range of possibilities, which could be arrived at by successive routine trial or by the application of known design procedures;

l) it can be arrived at merely by a simple extrapolation in a straightforward way from the known art;

m) it consists merely in the use of a known technique in a closely analogous situation (“analogous use”).

284. Within the meaning of Rule 283, letter f), of the present Regulations, a means shall be considered to be an equivalent of a feature specified in the claims if it is obvious to a person skilled in the art that such means in the claimed invention performs essentially the same function, in the same way and with the essential achievement of the same result.

285. If the examination reveals that the invention does not involve an inventive step, within the meaning of Rule 282 and Rule 283, AGEPI shall notify such fact to the applicant and shall allow him for response a time limit of three months from the date of dispatch of the notification.

286. AGEPI may, at the request of the applicant, send him the prior art documents taken into consideration upon assessment of inventive step, subject to the payment of the fee prescribed pursuant to Government Decision No. 774 of August 13, 1997.

Section 16 Notification Delivered in the Process of Examination 287. AGEPI notifications shall be submitted in the form of an original

document, signed by the examiner and the chief of the specialized examining subdivision and registered with AGEPI. Notifications shall be delivered to the applicant or to the person designated for correspondence: a) by recommended post; b) by delivery directly on the premises of the AGEPI, with the addressee’s

acknowledgement of the receipt, over the signature applied on the copy of the document which remains at the AGEPI;

c) by technical means of communication.

288. Notification shall be deemed to have taken place even if the addressee refuses to accept the document or to acknowledge receipt thereof, provided that the addressee acknowledges receipt thereof.

289. AGEPI may, as often as necessary, send notifications to the applicant for remedying the deficiencies or clarifying the issues occurred in the course of examination of the application and shall allow him a time limit of three months for response.

290. If, in the period for preparation of decision to grant a patent, AGEPI reveals that the claims have been amended (on the applicant’s own initiative or at the proposal of the AGEPI) so that amendment of the description is also necessary or that there are deficiencies in the description and/or drawings, including those indicated earlier by AGEPI, but not remedied, the applicant shall be invited to submit the description and/or drawings (or the replacement sheets) within three months from the date of dispatch of the corresponding notification.

291. If the applicant, within the time limit fixed in the notification, fails to respond or request extension of time limit for response, AGEPI shall suspend the examination procedure and shall invite him to re-establish the time limit and to submit a response within six months from the date of expiry of the omitted time limit, on payment of the fee prescribed pursuant to Government Decision No. 774 of August 13, 1997.

292. If the applicant, before the expiration of the time limit of six months, under Rule 291 of the present Regulations, fails to file a request for re­ establishment of the omitted time limit, with concomitant submission of the response and the proof of payment of the corresponding fee pursuant to Government Decision No. 774 of August 13, 1997, the application shall be deemed to be withdrawn, such fact being notified to the applicant.

293. If the applicant, in the course of examination, has submitted a response to a notification which must be analyzed, and the result must be communicated to the applicant, AGEPI shall send the notification with the relevant analysis within a period of three months from the date of submission with the AGEPI of the applicant’s response.

294. AGEPI may not take decisions before arrival of response or before expiration of the time limit allowed for response.

Section 17 Examination of Requirements for the Grant of a Short-Term Patent 295. AGEPI shall, within a period of six months from the filing date of the

application, carry out the examination of requirements for the grant of a short-term patent.

296. Examination, under Article 52 of the Law, shall cover: a) carrying out of the formal examination under Article 47 of the Law and

Rules 170-174 of the present Regulations; b) carrying out of the preliminary examination under Article 48 of the Law

and Rules 175-185 of the present Regulations;

c) checking of requirements provided for in Article 36 of the Law and Rules 48-54 of the present Regulations;

d) checking for compliance of claims with the requirements under Rules 94­ 124 of the present Regulations;

e) checking for compliance of additional materials, if any, with the requirements under Rules 501-505 of the present Regulations;

f) checking for compliance with the requirements of unity of invention; g) checking for compliance with the requirements of patentability of the

invention; h) recognition of the priority claimed.

297. Checking for compliance with the requirements of patentability of the invention shall include: a) checking for compliance with the requirement of industrial application,

under Article 11 of the Law; b) checking for compliance with the requirement of novelty, under Article

52, paragraph (2), of the Law; c) checking for compliance with the requirement of inventive step, under

Article 12, paragraph (2), of the Law. 298. An invention which forms the subject-matter of a short-term patent

application shall be considered as involving an inventive step if it is not too obvious to a person skilled in the art and has an advantage for the use or manufacture of the product or process claimed, or has another benefit for the user.

299. Where the examination, under Article 52, paragraph (2), of the Law, selects a patent application filed with the AGEPI earlier than the short-term patent application and unpublished, having the same claims, the procedure for the examination of the said application shall be suspended up to the issuance of decision on the application with an earlier priority.

Section 18 Patent Application Examination Report 300. The procedure for examination of a patent application shall be completed

with an examination report drawn up and signed by the examiner responsible for the examination of the application.

301. The examination report shall include: a) mention of the bibliographic data of the patent application; b) a brief statement of the subject-matter(s) of the application; c) an indication of the procedures to which the application was subject after

payment of fees prescribed pursuant to Government Decision No. 774 of August 13, 1997;

d) an analysis of the invention from the standpoint of pertinence to the categories excluded or excepted from patenting, of sufficiency of disclosure, of patentability on the basis of the relevant documents noted in the search report;

e) examiner’s conclusions and suggestions on the grant of a patent or refusal of a patent application, stating the legal grounds on which they are based.

Section 19 Decision on the Grant of a Patent or on the Refusal of a Patent Application 302. If the examination reveals that the invention meets all the requirements

of patentability and fully comply with the requirements of the Regulations, AGEPI shall, on the basis of the examination report, issue the decision to grant a patent, which shall be notified to the applicant.

303. If the examination proposes a new wording of claims, the claims accompanied by a corresponding notification shall be transmitted to the applicant for coordination.

304. The applicant shall, within three months from the date of dispatch of the notification under Rule 303 of the present Regulations, submit to the AGEPI the claims of which he approves, as well as the description of the invention and, where applicable, any drawings, amended in accordance with the proposed claims and shall, where he disapproves of the proposed wording of the claims, present the necessary arguments. Failure to respond to the notification within the prescribed time limit shall lead to the mentioned materials being accepted by the applicant and the decision to grant a patent for invention shall be issued on the basis thereof.

305. Where the response to the notification is presented within the time limit under Rule 304 of the present Regulations, but contains directly or indirectly, without the necessary arguments, the applicant’s disapproval of the proposed version of the claims, AGEPI shall issue the decision to grant a patent on the basis of the materials from the version proposed by the AGEPI.

306. The text of the claims and, where applicable, of certain parts of the description may also be coordinated by drawing up a report signed by the examiner, the chief of the specialized division and the applicant or the appointed representative.

307. Where the grant of a patent on the basis of the text of the claims and the description presented by the applicant is possible, provided that there are minor wordings which do not affect the subject-matter, the decision to grant a patent may be issued without coordinating with the applicant the text of the claims and, where applicable, of some parts of the description of the invention.

308. If the examination reveals that the invention expressed by the claims proposed by the applicant does not meet any one of the requirements of patentability, it shall issue on the basis of the examination report the decision to refuse the patent application, stating the corresponding reasons, which are notified to the applicant.

309. The decision to refuse a patent application shall also be issued where it is revealed that: a) the claimed invention, expressed by the claims consisted of an

independent claim and dependent claims does not meet at least one of the

requirements of patentability in respect of the independent claim, and the applicant does not consent to amend it;

b) the invention expressed by a single independent claim, although patentable, but its features expressed in the dependent claims are of a nature to impede the performance of the invention or the destination stated by the applicant, or may serve as ground for considering the invention contrary to “ordre public” or morality, and the applicant refuses to amend or exclude such dependent claims;

c) the claims proposed by the applicant contain an independent claim not including one or several essential features presented in the description of the invention, due to which the invention does not comply with the requirements of patentability, and the applicant refuses to include such features;

d) the group of inventions, for which protection is sought, includes an invention not complying with any one of the requirements of patentability, and the applicant refuses to amend or exclude the claims of that invention. In such a case the decision shall confirm the patentability of another invention(s), if such fact will be stated in the examination process;

e) the invention does not fulfill the requirement of unity of invention, but the applicant continues to refuse exclusion of the claims for which a substantive examination was undertaken;

f) the identification of a feature(s) in the claims is impossible or that a feature included in the claims does not relate to the claimed subject- matter, and the applicant refuses to amend the claims.

310. Before AGEPI decides to refuse a patent application, it shall inform the applicant of the grounds for refusal of the application and, where necessary, of the references to the corresponding information sources and shall invite him to file within three months from the date of dispatch of the notification a reasoned response to the stated grounds.

311. Where the applicant fails to present within the prescribed time limit the convincing arguments against the grounds for refusal of the application or to file a reasoned response, AGEPI shall issued the decision to refuse the application.

312. The decision to refuse the patent application shall be transmitted to the applicant, in which he is additionally informed of the right to file, within two months from the date of issue thereof, under Article 58 of the Law, an appeal with the Board of Appeals of AGEPI, where he disagrees with the grounds of the decision.

313. The particulars of the decision to refuse the earlier published patent application shall be published in BOPI.

Section 20 Publication of the Decision to Grant a Patent 314. Within three months following the date on which the applicant has been

informed of the decision to grant a patent, AGEPI shall publish the mention of the decision to grant a patent in BOPI.

315. At the same time as it publishes the mention of the decision to grant a patent, AGEPI shall make the specification of the granted patent containing the description of the invention, the claims, the abstract and, where applicable, any drawings available to the public in its library. The specification of the patent may be additionally published in electronic form.

316. Waiver of the inventor’s right to be mentioned in the publication of the mention of the decision to grant a patent shall be taken into consideration if it has been filed not later than the date of issuance of the decision. The inventor may not revoke his waiver within the same time limit.

317. The patent owner is entitled to file with AGEPI a request for correction of errors made in BOPI.

Section 21 Conversion of Application 318. Conversion of a patent application into a short-term patent application or

vice versa shall be made by the filing by the applicant of the relevant request for conversion on a form approved by AGEPI, with the observance of the filing date and, where applicable, the priority date of the initial application in accordance with Article 54, paragraph (3), of the Law.

319. AGEPI shall check the accuracy of completion of the filed request and the submission together with the request of the proof of payment of the corresponding fee in the amount prescribed pursuant to Government Decision No. 774 of August 13, 1997. Failure to submit the proof of payment of the fee together with the request for conversion or within one month following the filing thereof shall lead to the application being deemed not to have been filed and such fact shall be notified to the applicant.

320. Where the request fails to meet the established requirements, the applicant shall be notified accordingly and shall, within two months from the date of dispatch of the notification, be invited to remedy the deficiencies noted.

321. If the request for conversion has been filed after the expiry of the period of two months from the date of delivery of the decision to refuse a patent application, the applicant shall be notified that the conversion is not possible.

322. If the request has been filed within the prescribed time limit and it fulfills all the prescribed requirements, and the proof of payment of the corresponding fee in the amount prescribed pursuant to Government Decision No. 774 of August 13, 1997 has been filed together with it, the applicant shall be notified of the conversion of application.

323. If the request for conversion refers to an application the examination of which has been suspended and a request for re-establishment of the time limit

is submitted together with the filing thereof, in compliance with the requirements of Article 91 of the Law, it shall be treated as a converted application.

324. An Eurasian application may be converted into a national patent application in accordance with Article 16 of the Eurasian Patent Convention, adopted in Moscow on February 17, 1994 (hereinafter “the Eurasian Convention”), ratified by the Parliament Decree No. 615-XIII of October 27, 1995 (Official Gazette of the Republic of Moldova, 1995, No. 65-66, Art. 723).

325. A patent application for which the procedure for issuance of a patent at the responsibility of the applicant is conducted, in accordance with Article 97, paragraph (4), of the Law, may be converted into a patent application with substantive examination, subject to the filing of a request for substantive examination and payment of the fee difference prescribed pursuant to Government Decision No. 774 of August 13, 1997 for examination at the responsibility of the applicant and for substantive examination.

326. The converted patent applications shall be accorded the filing date and, where applicable, the priority date of the initial application.

Section 22 Opposition 327. The opposition filed at the grant of a patent shall contain:

a) the family name, given names (denomination), address and signature of the person who has filed the opposition;

b) the name, address and signature of the representative, where applicable; c) the address for correspondence, where applicable; d) the request for examination of opposition; e) the number and filing date or the number of the patent against which

opposition is filed; f) the grounds on which the opposition is based, as well as an indication

of the evidence and arguments presented in support of these grounds; g) the proof of payment of the fee prescribed pursuant to Government

Decision No. 774 of August 13, 1997 for the filing of an opposition. 328. If the subdivision of AGEPI which has issued the decision notes that the

opposition does not comply with the provisions of Article 57 of the Law and Rule 327 of the present Regulations, it shall notify such fact to the opponent and shall invite him to remedy the deficiencies noted within a period of two months. If the deficiencies are not remedied in due time, the opposition shall be deemed not to have been filed.

329. Any decision by which an opposition is deemed not to have been filed shall be notified to the applicant, with the attachment of a copy of the opposition filed.

330. If the opposition is admissible, the subdivision of AGEPI which has issued the decision shall examine, in accordance with the provisions of

Article 57 of the Law, whether at least one ground for opposition under Article 57, paragraph (2), of the Law, prejudices the grant of a patent.

331. If the opposition is admissible, the applicant shall be notified of the opposition filed and shall be invited to file his observations and to amend, where appropriate, the description, claims and drawings within a period of two months.

332. Any observation and amendments filed by the applicant shall be communicated to the other parties concerned and shall invite them to reply within a period of two months.

333. Also, in the examination of opposition, the parts, at the request of AGEPI, may file within two months observations on notifications addressed to them or on communications from another parties. The examiner may require from the opponent or patent owner additional information necessary for examination. Any notification made in the examination of opposition and all replies thereto shall be communicated to all parties.

334. Where appropriate, in the course of examination of opposition in defining prior art, AGEPI shall carry out an additional documentary search and shall draw up a search report on a form approved by AGEPI.

335. A re-examination report shall be drawn up on the basis of the opposition examination results which shall be sent to all parties.

336. Where it is revealed that the maintenance of the decision to grant a patent is possible by way of amendment, the patent owner shall be invited to make any amendments or to submit his own amended version of the description and claims, without extending beyond the content of the original application.

337. Before AGEPI decides to maintain the patent as amended, it shall inform the parties of its intent to maintain the decision to grant a patent in amended form and shall invite them to file their observations within two months if they disapprove of the amendments proposed.

338. If a party disapproves of the amendments communicated by the AGEPI, examination of the opposition may be continued. Otherwise, AGEPI shall, on expiry of the period under Rule 337 of the present Regulations, invite the applicant to pay the fee prescribed pursuant to Government Decision No. 774 of August 13, 1997 for the printing of a new specification of the patent, within two months.

339. The decision to maintain the patent as amended shall contain the text forming the basis for the maintenance thereof. The mention of the decision to maintain the patent as amended shall be published in BOPI with the entry of the mention of the result of the decision in the National Register of Patents for Invention.

340. The re-printed specification of the patent shall be issued within one month after payment of the fee for re-printing, and the particulars concerning the issuance of the amended patent shall be published in BOPI and shall be entered in the National Register of Patents for Invention.

341. If the fee referred to in Rule 340 of the present Regulations has not been paid within the prescribed time limit, it may still be paid within two months of notification of the communication concerning the failure to observe the time limit provided that a fee for the re-printing of a new specification of the patent is paid in a twice amount.

342. Documents referred to by a party to opposition proceedings shall be filed in two copies. If such documents are neither enclosed in the opposition nor filed in due time upon invitation by the AGEPI, it shall not take them into account.

343. If the patent owner has surrendered the patent or has forfeited the rights in the patent, the opposition proceedings may be continued at the request of the opponent filed within two months of a communication from AGEPI informing him of the surrender or forfeiture.

344. In the event of the death or legal incapacity of an opponent, the opposition proceedings may be continued by AGEPI on its own motion, even without the participation of the heirs or legal representatives. The same shall apply where the opposition is withdrawn.

345. An opposition filed against a decision to grant a short-term patent shall additionally contain the request for search for the purpose of stating the novelty in respect of the invention which forms the subject-matter of the application for the grant of a short-term patent and the proof of payment of the fee prescribed pursuant to Government Decision No. 774 of August 13, 1997 for search and for filing of the opposition.

346. An opposition filed against a decision to grant a patent at the responsibility of the applicant, in accordance with Article 97, paragraph (5), of the Law, or to grant a short-term patent, shall additionally contain the request for substantive examination and the proof of payment of the fee prescribed pursuant to Government Decision No. 774 of August 13, 1997 for substantive examination or for filing of the opposition.

347. Examination of opposition under Rule 346 of the present Regulations shall be conducted within a period of nine months from the date of payment of the fees prescribed pursuant to Government Decision No. 774 of August 13, 1997.

348. If the examination is of the opinion that at least one ground for opposition provided for in Article 57 of the Law prejudices the grant of the patent, AGEPI shall revoke the decision to grant a patent and shall issue the decision to refuse the application which shall be communicated to the applicant and shall be published in BOPI with the entry in the relevant register.

Section 23 Appeals against AGEPI Decisions 349. The appeal against a decision issued by AGEPI shall contain:

a) the name, given names (denomination), address and signature of the appellant;

b) the name, address and signature of the representative, where applicable; c) the address for correspondence, where applicable; d) the request for examination of appeal; e) the number and filing date or the number of the patent to which the appeal

relates; f) the grounds on which the appeal is based, as well as an indication of

the facts, evidence and arguments presented in support of these grounds; g) the proof of payment of the fee prescribed pursuant to the Government

Decree No. 774 of August 13, 1997 for filing of an appeal. 350. The appeal shall be accompanied by the copies of the relevant materials. 351. If AGEPI notes that the appeal does not comply with the provisions of

Articles 32 and 58 of the Law and Rule 349 of the present Regulations, it shall communicate this to the appellant and shall invite him to remedy the deficiencies noted within a period of two months. If the deficiencies are not remedied in due time, the appeal is deemed not to have been filed.

352. If the appeal is admissible within the meaning of Article 58 of the Law, it shall be examined in accordance with the Regulations of the Board of Appeals of the State Agency on Intellectual Property, approved by Government Decision No. 257 of April 2, 2009 (Official Gazette of the Republic of Moldova, 2009, No. 69-71, Art. 311) within three months from the date of filing thereof.

353. Following the examination of appeal, the Board of Appeals may issue the decision: a) to suspend the procedure for the issuance of a patent up to the final

settlement of appeal; b) to refuse an appeal; c) to partially or fully admit an appeal, disposing the revocation or

amendment of the issued decision; d) to reexamine an application.

354. Where the Board of Appeals issues the decision to introduce certain amendments in the decision to grant a patent, it shall inform the applicant of the need for payment of the fee prescribed pursuant to Government Decision No. 774 of August 13, 1997.

355. If the Board of Appeals of AGEPI remits the case to the subdivision whose decision was appealed, that subdivision shall be bound by the ratio decidendi of the Board of Appeals, in so far as the facts are the same.

356. If the Board of Appeals transmits the application for reexamination, the latter shall be carried out within six months by the examiner which was responsible for the decision appealed or by an examiner appointed by the chief of the examining subdivision.

357. The examiner may require from the appellant the additional information necessary for the examination of the application.

358. A reexamination report shall be drawn up on the basis of the reexamination, which shall be transmitted to the Board of Appeals for the purpose of issuing a decision on appeal.

359. The decision of the Board of Appeals shall be communicated to the appellant within one month of issuance and shall be published in BOPI within three months from the same date.

360. The decision of the Board of Appeals may be appealed in the court within two months of delivery.

361. A copy of the court decision authenticated by the signature of the judge shall be presented with the AGEPI by the person concerned. The court decision shall be entered in the National Register of Patents for Invention. AGEPI shall enter in the register the amendments occurred as a result of the court decision and shall publish them in BOPI within two months of its registration with AGEPI.

362. Appeals having as subject-matter the correction of certain material errors or omissions shall not be subject to the payment of fees.

Section 24 Suspension of Proceedings 363. The applicant is entitled to seek suspension of proceedings for

examination of the application for a period not exceeding six months. 364. The request for suspension may be filed starting from the filing date and

up to the date of grant of the patent or the date of issue of the decision to refuse the patent application.

365. Suspension of proceedings shall not affect the requirements: a) for publication of the application; b) for filing the request for substantive examination; c) for presentation of response to the notification from AGEPI.

366. Suspension of proceedings in respect of a patent application or a patent may take place ex officio where the applicant for or owner of the patent has failed to respond to the notification, has not fulfilled the necessary action in accordance with the Law or the Regulations or has not paid the fee within the prescribed time limit.

367. The proceedings in respect of a patent application or a patent may be suspended for a period of up to six months from the date of expiry of the omitted time limit.

368. Suspension of proceedings in respect of the issuance of a short-term patent may take place ex officio where any third party has filed the request for documentary search or for substantive examination. Issuance of a patent may be suspended prior to the conclusion of the search or substantive examination.

369. Suspension of proceedings in respect of a patent application or a patent shall be notified to the applicant for or owner of the patent. If the applicant fails to file within the prescribed time limit under Article 91, paragraph (2), of the Law a request for re-establishment of the omitted time limit, the application shall be deemed to be withdrawn.

370. Where AGEPI reveals the existence of an unpublished identical earlier application, with the same date of priority or with an earlier date of priority, it

shall suspend the examination proceedings in respect of that patent application. The proceedings shall be suspended before the publication of the earlier application or before the issuance of the decision thereon or before the receipt of the applicant’s consent to the possibility of disclosing the content of the earlier application to the applicant of a subsequent application.

371. If AGEPI has no possibility to contact the applicant, for example, when the sent correspondence is returned to the AGEPI by reason of change of the applicant’s address and the data concerning the other means of contact are omitted in the application, the prosecution of the application shall be suspended up to the receipt from the applicant (or his successor in title) of the data concerning the new address for correspondence.

Section 25 Withdrawal of Application 372. A patent application shall be withdrawn at the request of the applicant

upon payment of the fee prescribed pursuant to Government Decision No. 774 of August 13, 1997 or by inaction thereof in the cases provided for by the Law and the present Regulations.

373. The withdrawn patent application shall have no legal effects; the subsequent actions of the applicant cannot be based on such application (upon filing the subsequent application priority cannot be claimed from the filing date of the withdrawn application or of the additional material thereof). The application withdrawn before the publication shall not be included in the prior art.

374. The request for withdrawal may not be revoked. 375. The decision to refuse the application shall be issued on the basis of the

applicant’s request for withdrawal of the patent application. The mention of the withdrawal of the published applications shall be published in BOPI and shall be entered in the National Registers of Patent Applications.

Section 26 Procedure Where the Applicant is not Entitled to File a Patent Application 376. If a third party provides evidence to the AGEPI that he has instituted

proceedings against the applicant for the purpose of seeking a decision that he is entitled to the grant of the patent, AGEPI shall stay the proceedings for grant unless the third party consents to the continuation of such proceedings. Such consent must be communicated in writing to the AGEPI and it shall be irrevocable. However, proceedings for grant may not be stayed before the publication of the patent application.

377. Where evidence is provided to the AGEPI that a final decision has been taken in the proceedings concerning entitlement to the grant of the patent, AGEPI shall inform the applicant and any other party that the proceedings for grant shall be resumed as from the date stated in the communication, unless a new patent application under Article 16, paragraph (1), of the Law, has been filed. If the decision is in favour of the third party, the proceedings may not

be resumed after a period of three months of that decision becoming final, unless the third party requests the resumption of the proceedings for grant.

378. When giving a decision on the suspension of proceedings or thereafter, AGEPI may set a date on which it intends to resume the proceedings for grant before it regardless of the stage reached in the proceedings referred to in Rule 376 of the present Regulations opened against the applicant. The date is to be communicated to the third party, the applicant and, where appropriate, any other party. If no evidence has been provided by that date that a final decision has been taken, AGEPI may resume proceedings.

379. Where the person adjudged by a final decision to be entitled to the grant of the patent files a new patent application under Article 16, paragraph (1), of the Law, the original patent application shall be deemed to be withdrawn on the date of filing the new application.

380. The filing fee and examination fee, prescribed pursuant to Government Decision No. 774 of August 13, 1997, shall be paid in respect of the new patent application within two months after the filing thereof.

381. As from the date on which a third party provides evidence to the AGEPI that he has instituted proceedings concerning entitlement and up to the date on which AGEPI resumes the proceedings for grant, the patent application may not be withdrawn.

382. An authenticated copy of the court decision shall be presented to the AGEPI by the person concerned. The court decision shall be entered in the National Register of Patent Applications and shall be published in BOPI.

Section 27 Ex Officio Examination 383. Subject to Article 88 of the Law, AGEPI may revoke or, where

applicable, suspend its decisions in respect of the patent application examined or the patent granted of its own motion, if relevant documents are identified, before the issuance of a patent by the AGEPI, which may influence the patentability of the invention, in particular the compliance with the requirements of novelty, inventive step and industrial application and, respectively, the said decisions.

384. Ex officio examination shall be carried out by the Examining Board. 385. If a decision has been revoked, AGEPI shall take a new decision in

respect of the patent application or the patent granted after the settlement of grounds which have determined the revocation of the initial decision.

Section 28 Issuance and Maintenance of the Patent 386. AGEPI shall, within one month after the expiry of a period of six months

of the publication of the decision to grant a patent, issue a patent pursuant to Article 60, paragraph (1), of the Law. The patent shall be formed of a certificate for a patent, signed by the Director General of AGEPI, to which the specification shall be annexed. The specification of the patent shall

include the front page (title sheet), the description, the claims, any drawings, where appropriate, and the search report on the basis of which the patentability of the claimed invention was assessed.

387. Where there is more than one owner, the patent shall be issued to the owner designated by contract between the applicants, failure to submit such a contract shall lead to the patent being issued to the applicant first named in the application. The co-owners of the patent and the inventors may request that duplicate copies of the patent be supplied to them upon payment of a fee prescribed pursuant to Government Decision No. 774 of August 13, 1997.

388. Fees prescribed pursuant to Government Decision No. 774 of August 13, 1997 for the issuance and maintenance of the patent for a period from the filing date up to the issuance of the patent, including for the year of issuance, shall be paid not later than six months from the date of publication of the decision to grant a patent.

389. If the owner fails, within the prescribed time limit under Rule 388 of the present Regulations, to file the proof of payment of the fee for the issuance and maintenance of the patent for the indicated period, the proceedings for issuance and maintenance of the patent shall be suspended, such fact being notified to the owner.

390. If the owner fails, within six months from the date of expiry of the time limit provided for in Rule 388 of the present Regulations, to file the request for re-establishment of the omitted time limit and the proof of payment of the corresponding fee, AGEPI shall issue the decision to forfeit the owner’s rights deriving from the patent, which shall be communicated to the owner and shall be published in BOPI.

391. The owner of the patent may request a duplicate copy of the patent be supplied to him upon payment of a fee prescribed pursuant to Government Decision No. 774 of August 13, 1997, after the publication in BOPI of the mention of the loss or destruction of the original.

Section 29 Publication of Particulars of the Issued Patents 392. AGEPI shall monthly publish in BOPI the list of issued patents. The date

of issuance of a patent shall be the date on which the particulars of the issued patent are published in BOPI. The following particulars of the issued patents shall be published in BOPI:

(11) Number of the patent; (13) Code of the type of document; (51) International Patent Classification; (21) File number; (22) Date of filing; (45) Date of publication of the mention of the decision to grant a patent: the number of BOPI, the year.

393. The owner of the patent shall be entitled to file with the AGEPI a request for correction of errors made in the patent.

Section 30 Extension of the Term of a Short-Term Patent and of a Utility Model

Certificate 394. The request for extension of the term of a short-term patent shall be

examined within four months from the date of filing thereof, upon payment of a fee prescribed pursuant to Government Decision No. 774 of August 13, 1997 and filing of a request for documentary search in respect of the invention which forms the subject-matter of the short-term patent.

395. The search shall be carried out pursuant to Section 12 of the present Chapter for the purpose of establishing whether the subject-matter of the short-term patent is not comprised in the prior art. If a search report drawn up by an international searching authority was annexed to the patent application, a supplementary documentary search shall be carried out on the basis of such report, upon payment of a fee prescribed pursuant to Government Decision No. 774 of August 13, 1997. The search report pursuant to Rules 258-261 of the present Regulations shall be drawn up on the basis of the carried out search.

396. If it is revealed that extension of the term of a short-term patent is possible by way of amendments and upon payment of the fee prescribed pursuant to Government Decision No. 774 of August 13, 1997, the owner of the patent shall be invited to make any amendments or to submit his own amended version of the description and claims without extending beyond the content of the original application.

397. The decision on extension of the term of a short-term patent in the original form or amended with the text of the accepted claims shall be delivered to the owner; the relevant mention shall be published in BOPI and shall be entered after the publication in the National Register of Short-Term Patents.

398. AGEPI shall, within two months after the publication in BOPI of the mention of the decision under Rule 397 of the present Regulations, reprint and deliver to the owner a new specification of the short-term patent which will additionally include the search report.

399. If AGEPI, after carrying out the search, reveals that the subject-matter of the short-term patent is comprised in the prior art, i.e. relevant materials covering all the features in the claims were selected, it shall issue the decision to refuse the request for extension of the term of a short-term patent, which shall be delivered to the owner together with the search report. If AGEPI, after carrying out the search, reveals that the subject-matter of the short-term patent is not comprised in the prior art, it shall issue the decision to extend the term of a short-term patent.

400. The utility model certificate, registered and issued in accordance with the Provisional Regulations on the Protection of Industrial Property in the Republic of Moldova, approved by the Government Decree No. 456 of July 26, 1993, “on the Protection of Industrial Property in the Republic of

Moldova”, may be renewed by the filing of a relevant request on a form approved by AGEPI. The request for renewal shall be filed before the expiry of the fifth year of validity of the certificate. The provisions relating to the maintenance, surrender, limitation, cancellation, anticipated loss of rights to patent shall apply mutatis mutandis to the utility model certificate.

Section 31 Revocation of Patent 401. Any person concerned may require revocation, in whole or in part, of the

patent by filing within such meaning with the competent court a reasoned request for revocation of the patent, which shall be accompanied by the copies of the relevant materials.

402. In the case of patents issued at the responsibility of the applicant, pursuant to the provisions of Article 97, paragraph (4), of the Law, the court shall, upon decision, suspend the proceedings for examination of the request for revocation before the presentation of a copy of the substantive examination and research report, drawn up by the AGEPI at the request of the person who has requested the revocation of the patent.

Section 32 Surrender of Patent 403. The request for surrender of patent signed by the owner(s) shall contain

the following data: a) the name or denomination and address of the owner; b) the name and address of the representative, where appropriate; c) the address for correspondence, where appropriate; d) particulars of the patent which forms the subject-matter of the request for

surrender; e) the date of communication to the inventor(s), confirmed by their

signature, of the owner’s intention to surrender the patent; f) the consent signed by the inventor to take over the right in the patent,

where appropriate. 404. Surrender of patent shall only be entered in the National Register of

Patents for Invention with the consent of the person who benefits from the real right entered in the register or in whose name the entry was made under Article 62, paragraph (4), of the Law.

405. If one of the owners surrenders the patent, the validity of the patent shall not be suspended and the patent shall remain in possession of the other owners.

406. The request for surrender of patent shall only be deemed to have been filed upon payment of the fee in the amount prescribed pursuant to Government Decision No. 774 of August 13, 1997.

407. Where certain data referred to in Rule 403 of the present Regulations are omitted in the request for surrender of patent, AGEPI shall notify the applicant of the deficiencies noted. A time limit of two months shall be

allowed for remedying the deficiencies in the request for surrender of patent. If the deficiencies are not remedied in due time and a request for extension of the prescribed time limit is not filed, AGEPI shall reject the request for surrender of patent.

408. If the owner surrenders the patent, the inventor shall have a preferential right to file a request for acquisition of that right in his name upon payment of the fee for entry of the corresponding amendment in the National Register of Patents for Invention and of the fee prescribed pursuant to Government Decision No. 774 of August 13, 1997 for reprinting of a new specification of the patent.

409. Where the owner surrenders the patent and the inventor approves of the grant of the patent in his name, a request shall be filed with the AGEPI drawn up on a form expressing the desire of the inventor to be granted the patent in his name, signed by the inventor.

410. If the subject-matter of the patent is a license contract, surrender of patent shall only be possible with the consent of the licensee. If a license contract has been registered, surrender of patent shall be entered in the National Register of Patents for Invention only after the expiry of a time limit of two months from the date on which the owner of the patent has presented to the AGEPI a document stating that the owner has informed the licensee of his intention to surrender the patent. If, before the expiry of such time limit, the owner provides evidence to the AGEPI that the licensee has given his consent, surrender of patent shall be immediately registered.

Section 33 Limitation of Patent 411. The request for limitation of patent shall contain the following data:

a) the name or denomination and address of the owner; b) the name and address of the patent attorney, where appropriate; c) the address for correspondence, where appropriate; d) the number of the patent whose limitation is requested; e) the complete text of the amended claims and, where appropriate, of the

description and drawings as amended; 412. If a request for limitation concerns a patent against which opposition is

filed or revocation proceedings is initiated, the request shall be deemed not to have been filed.

413. If a license contract has been entered in the National Register of Patents for Invention, the request for limitation shall only be admissible where the owner of the patent has the consent of the licensee or upon expiry of a time limit of two months from the date on which the owner of the patent has informed the licensee of his intention to limit the patent.

414. Where certain data referred to in Rule 411 of the present Regulations are omitted in the request for limitation of patent, AGEPI shall notify the applicant of the deficiencies noted. A time limit of two months shall be allowed for remedying the deficiencies. If the deficiencies are not remedied

in due time and a request for extension of the prescribed time limit is not filed, it shall reject the request.

415. If a request for limitation of patent is admissible, AGEPI shall examine whether the amended claims constitute a limitation vis-á-vis the claims as granted or amended in opposition proceedings and comply with the requirements of Article 37 and Article 87 of the Law. If the request for limitation of patent does not comply with these requirements, the owner of the patent shall be given one opportunity to correct any deficiencies noted by an amendment of claims and, where appropriate, of the description and drawings, within three months. If the deficiencies are not corrected in due time, it shall reject the request.

416. If limitation of patent is admissible, AGEPI shall issue the decision to limit the patent which shall be delivered to the patent owner. Limitation shall take effect on the date on which the mention of the decision on limitation is published in BOPI.

417. The particulars of the decision to limit the patent shall be entered in the National Register of Patents for Invention.

418. The applicant shall, for the purpose of obtaining a new specification of the patent as amended, pay, within two months of receipt of the decision to limit the patent, the fee prescribed pursuant to Government Decision No. 774 of August 13, 1997 for the printing of a new specification of the patent.

419. The reprinted specification of the patent shall be issued within two months after payment of the fee for reprinting, and the particulars concerning the issuance of the limited patent shall be published in BOPI and shall be entered in the National Register of Patents for Invention.

420. If the fee specified under Rule 418 of the present Regulations has not been paid within the prescribed time limit, it may still be validly paid within two months of notification of a communication pointing out the failure to observe the time limit, provided that a fee for the printing of a new specification of the patent is paid in a twice amount.

421. The particulars of the limitation of patent may be additionally published in electronic form.

Section 34 Examining Board 422. The Examining Board may be formed, where necessary, within the

examining subdivision and shall consist of a chairman and two or four members appointed by an order of the head of the examining subdivision.

423. The specialists having any personal interest in the examined case may not be members of the Examining Board.

424. The Examining Board shall be formed in the following cases: a) the claimed invention relates to more than one field and requires the

participation of examiners in different fields; b) the claimed invention is complicated and there are doubts as to the

accuracy of the decision to be issued (especially, in the case of decisions

on refusal of an application or limitation of the extent of protection by exclusion of certain features from the claims);

c) for examination, where applicable, of oppositions, under Article 57 of the Law and Rules 327-348 of the present Regulations, and reexamination of appealed decisions, under Rule 353, letter d), of the present Regulations;

d) for ex officio examination under Rules 383-385 of the present Regulations.

425. The Examining Board shall, on the basis of the examination results, issue a decision by a simple majority of its members, which shall be signed by the chairman and by the members of the Board having voted for such decision, it shall be entered in the Register of Issued Decisions and shall be communicated to the applicant for or owner of the patent or other persons concerned.

CHAPTER IV SUPLEMENTARY PROTECTION CERTIFICATE

Section 1 Application for a Certificate 426. The application for a certificate shall be filed on a form approved by

AGEPI, within six months following the date on which the pharmaceutical and phytopharmaceutical product has been granted authorization for marketing thereof on the territory of the Republic of Moldova or within six months following the date on which the main patent has been issued, if the authorization for marketing has been granted before the issuance of the main patent. Failure to observe the prescribed time limit shall lead to the application for a certificate being rejected.

427. The application for a certificate shall contain: a) a petition for the issuance of a certificate; b) the name or denomination and address of the applicant; c) the name and address of the representative, where appropriate; d) the number of the main patent and the title of the invention; e) the number and date of the authorization for marketing of the

pharmaceutical and phytopharmaceutical product. 428. The application for a certificate shall be accompanied by:

a) a copy of the authorization for marketing, identifying the authorized pharmaceutical and phytopharmaceutical product;

b) an abstract of the characteristics of the pharmaceutical and phytopharmaceutical product;

c) proof of payment of the fee for filing of the application for a certificate, prescribed pursuant to Government Decision No. 774 of August 13, 1997.

Section 2 Procedure for the Grant of a Certificate 429. AGEPI shall, within one month from the date of filing the application for

a certificate, carry out the formal examination thereof and shall check whether the requirements provided for in Rules 427-428 of the present Regulations have been satisfied. If these requirements have been satisfied, such fact shall be notified to the applicant. If the formal examination reveals that the necessary documents are omitted in the application or that they do not meet the prescribed requirements, it shall notify the applicant of the deficiencies noted and shall invite him to remedy them within three months from the date of dispatch of the corresponding notification.

430. An examination shall, within two months of conclusion of the formal examination, be carried out in order to establish whether: a) the content of the application documents complies with the requirements

laid down in Article 70 of the Law and in Rules 427-428 of the present Regulations;

b) the requirements provided for in Article 71 of the Law have been satisfied;

c) the characteristics of the pharmaceutical and phytopharmaceutical product are covered by the claims of the main patent.

431. AGEPI shall, for the purpose of establishing whether on the date of filing the application the product has not constituted the subject-matter of a certificate and whether it is protected by a main patent in the Republic of Moldova, carry out a search covering the supplementary protection certificates and patents for the pharmaceutical and phytopharmaceutical products of the Republic of Moldova, as well as the applications for certificate filed with the AGEPI, having a date earlier to the filing date of the application. AGEPI shall, following the search, draw up a search report indicating the particulars of the main patent and the documents selected in the prior art.

432. If the application for a certificate meets the requirements laid down in Rule 430 of the present Regulations, the following data shall be published in BOPI: a) the number of the application; b) the date of filing of the application; c) the name or denomination and address of the applicant; d) the number and date of the main patent; e) the title of the invention; f) number and date of the authorization; g) the product identified by the authorization.

433. If the application for a certificate does not meet the requirements laid down in Rule 430 of the present Regulations, the applicant shall be invited to correct the deficiencies in the application within three months. If the deficiencies are not corrected in due time, AGEPI shall issue the decision to

reject the application and shall publish it in BOPI within two months of issuance of the decision.

434. Any person concerned may file with AGEPI a written opposition against the grant of the supplementary protection claimed. Opposition shall not be deemed to have been filed until the proof of payment of the fee prescribed pursuant to Government Decision No. 774 of August 13, 1997 has been filed.

435. Opposition shall be notified to the applicant, stating the grounds therefor and the name of the person who has filed it. The applicant may file his point of view within two months from the date on which he was notified of the opposition.

436. If the opposition is reasoned, AGEPI shall issue the decision to reject the application for a certificate, which shall be communicated to the applicant and published in BOPI within two months of issuance.

437. The applicant may appeal the decision to reject the application for a certificate before the Board of Appeals, within two months of delivery of the decision and upon payment of the fee prescribed pursuant to Government Decision No. 774 of August 13, 1997.

438. If no opposition has been filed at the expiry of the prescribed time limit or if any opposition filed has been rejected, AGEPI shall issue the decision to grant a certificate which shall be communicated to the applicant.

439. The supplementary protection certificate shall be issued to the owner within two months of delivery of the decision to grant a certificate, upon payment of the fee prescribed pursuant to Government Decision No. 774 of August 13, 1997.

440. The following particulars of the supplementary protection certificate shall be published in BOPI: a) number of the certificate; b) date of issuance of the certificate; c) name or denomination and address of the owner of the certificate; d) number and date of the main patent; e) title of the invention; f) number and date of the authorization for marketing, as well as the

pharmaceutical and phytopharmaceutical product identified by it; g) date of entry into force of the certificate; h) date of expiration of the certificate.

Section 3 Validity of Certificate 441. The certificate shall take effect, under Article 69, paragraph (2) and (3),

of the Law, upon payment of the annual fees prescribed pursuant to Government Decision No. 774 of August 13, 1997 for maintenance of the certificate.

442. Validity of the certificate shall terminate: a) upon expiry of the time limit provided for in Rule 441 of the present

Regulations;

b) if the owner surrenders the certificate; c) if the annual maintenance fee has not been paid within the prescribed time

limit; d) in the event of withdrawal of the authorization for marketing of the

product. 443. Any person concerned may require revocation by the Board of Appeals

of Chisinau of a certificate throughout its term of validity on any of the following grounds: a) the certificate has been issued in violation of requirements provided for in

Rules 429-440 of the present Regulations; b) the main patent has lapsed before the expiration of its legal term of

validity; c) the main patent has been revoked in whole or in part to the effect that the

product covered by the certificate is no longer protected by that patent;

d) grounds are in existence after the lapse of the main patent which justify the revocation or limitation of the certificate.

CHAPTER V EURASIAN PATENT APPLICATION

Section 1 Filing of the Eurasian Patent Application 444. AGEPI shall act as a receiving Office for the Eurasian patent

applications the applicants of which are natural or legal persons of the Republic of Moldova or foreign natural or legal persons having their residence or principal place of business in the Republic of Moldova, under Article 15 of the Eurasian Patent Convention.

445. The Eurasian patent application shall be drawn up by the applicant in four copies in compliance with the requirements provided for in the Eurasian Convention and shall be signed by the applicant or his representative.

446. The form of the Eurasian patent application shall be elaborated by the Eurasian Patent Office and shall be completed by the applicant by typewriting or printing, in Russian. The description, the claims and the drawings shall also be drafted in Russian.

447. The provisions of Article 31, paragraph (2), and Article 45, paragraph (2), of the Law shall be satisfied at the date of registration of the Eurasian applications.

448. If priority of one or more national filings is claimed in a Eurasian patent application, the relevant priority document or documents shall be filed with the AGEPI together with the application.

449. At the same time as he files the Eurasian paten application with the AGEPI, the applicant shall pay the fee prescribed pursuant to Government Decision No. 774 of August 13, 1997 for the receipt, formal examination (for

the purpose of establishing whether it complies with the formal requirements) and transmittal of the application to the Eurasian Patent Office.

450. The Eurasian paten application filed with AGEPI shall have the same legal status as the Eurasian paten application filed with the Eurasian Patent Office, where it has been transmitted to the Eurasian Patent Office before the expiry of the period of eight months from the date of filing thereof with the AGEPI.

Section 2 Formal Examination of the Eurasian Patent Application 451. The Eurasian paten application, filed with AGEPI (by post or directly by

the applicant or his representative), shall be accorded a date of filing. 452. AGEPI shall, within one month from the filing date, examine the

Eurasian patent application and check whether it contains at least the following elements: a) a request for the grant of a Eurasian patent; b) information identifying the applicant or allowing the applicant to be

contacted; c) a part which outwardly resembles a description of the invention; d) proof of payment of the fee for the receipt, formal examination and

transmittal of the Eurasian patent application to the Eurasian Patent Office, prescribed pursuant to Government Decision No. 774 of August 13, 1997;

e) a set of the documents mentioned as annexes to the Eurasian patent application, in four copies.

453. If the Eurasian patent application meets the requirements of Rule 33 of the Regulations to the Eurasian Patent Convention, AGEPI shall mark it with the registration number and the filing date accorded to it, in accordance with the date of filing thereof with the AGEPI.

454. Subject to Rule 34 of the Regulations to the Eurasian Patent Convention, AGEPI shall send to the address of the applicant a certificate acknowledging the receipt of the Eurasian patent application. The certificate shall state the registration number of the Eurasian patent application, the date of receipt, the title of the invention, the data concerning the applicant and his representative, if appointed, and also the filing date of the Eurasian patent application, if accorded.

455. AGEPI shall, within ten working days from the expiry of each month, send to the address of the Eurasian Patent Office notification of all Eurasian patent applications filed with AGEPI in the previous month.

456. If, following the formal examination of the Eurasian patent application, AGEPI reveals deficiencies as to the compliance with the requirements provided for in Rule 33 of the Regulations to the Eurasian Patent Convention, the application shall not be accorded a date of filing and AGEPI shall notify the applicant of the need to amend or complete the application subject to the provisions of Rule 33 of the Regulations to the Eurasian Patent Convention.

The date of filing shall not be accorded to the Eurasian patent application until all the deficiencies noted have been remedied.

457. If one of the documents indicated by the applicant as annex is omitted in the Eurasian patent application or if the application documents are not submitted in four copies, AGEPI shall notify this to the applicant and shall invite him to supplement the application with the required documents within two months of dispatch of the notification.

458. If the Eurasian patent application meets the requirements of Rule 33 of the Regulations to the Eurasian Patent Convention, AGEPI shall transmit to the Eurasian Patent Office three copies of the application, within four months of the filing thereof. AGEPI shall send notification to the applicant informing him of the transmittal of the Eurasian patent application to the Eurasian Office and of the need for payment to the latter of the unitary procedural fee, under Article 15(2) of the Eurasian Patent Convention.

459. AGEPI shall complete the file of the Eurasian patent application, shall attach the proof of payment of the formal examination and transmittal fees prescribed pursuant to the Government Decree No. 774 of August 13, 1997, a copy of the accompanying letter and copies of all the certificates and notifications sent to the applicant and the Eurasian Patent Office.

460. AGEPI shall keep the Eurasian patent applications which do not meet the requirements of Rule 33 of the Regulations to the Eurasian Patent Convention and which have not been amended or completed by the applicant, and shall notify the Eurasian Patent Office of the impossibility of transmittal to the Eurasian Patent Office.

461. A Eurasian patent application shall be deemed not to have been filed if: a) all the materials under the provisions of Rule 33 of the Regulations to the

Eurasian Patent Convention or of Rule 452 of the present Regulations have not been filed prior to the expiration of eight months from the date of receipt by the AGEPI of the Eurasian patent application;

b) the Eurasian patent application has not been received by the Eurasian Office prior to the expiration of 14 months of its receipt by the AGEPI.

CHAPTER VI INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION FILED UNDER THE PCT

Section 1 Registration of the International Application 462. International applications filed under the PCT may be the subject of

proceedings before the AGEPI. In such proceedings, the provisions of that Treaty shall be applied, supplemented by the provisions of the Law and of the present Regulations. In case of conflict, the provisions of the PCT shall prevail. Where reference is made to the PCT, such reference shall include the Regulations under that Treaty.

463. The provisions of Article 31, paragraph (2), and Article 45, paragraph (2), of the Law shall be fulfilled at the date of registration of the international applications.

464. AGEPI shall act as a receiving Office for the registration of international applications, for the purpose of patenting inventions in other states, in accordance with the provisions of the PCT.

465. AGEPI shall be competent to act as a receiving Office within the meaning of Rule 19 of the Implementing Regulations to the PCT if at least one of the applicants is a resident or national of the Republic of Moldova. Any person shall be treated as a resident of the Republic of Moldova if it is in possession of a real and effective industrial or commercial establishment in the Republic of Moldova, under Rule 18.1 (b) (ii) of the Regulations to the PCT.

466. A legal entity, under Rule 18.1 (b) (ii) of the Regulations to the PCT, shall be treated as a national of the Republic of Moldova if it is registered as a legal entity in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Moldova.

467. When there is doubt as to the nationality or residence in the Republic of Moldova, AGEPI shall be entitled to request a documentary confirmation within that meaning.

468. An international application shall be drafted by the applicant in compliance with the requirements provided for in the PCT and its Regulations and shall be filed with AGEPI into one of the languages: English, French, German, and Russian.

469. An international application may be filed: a) on a form elaborated by the International Bureau of WIPO; b) in the form of a computer print-out whose format and content correspond

to the PCT form; c) in a PCT-EASY form, being accompanied by a PCT-EASY diskette.

470. The application form, the description, the claims and the abstract shall be typewritten or printed into one of the languages specified in Rule 468 of the present Regulations.

471. If the international application has been filed prior to the expiration of thirty days from the filing date of the national application, the examination of the international application shall start after the expiration of thirty days from the filing date of the national application.

472. The international application shall be filed with the AGEPI in three copies so as to allow direct reproduction, and the first copy to be transmitted to the International Bureau of WIPO shall be qualitative enough as to allow reproduction in an unlimited number of copies.

473. If the international application is filed in less than the number of copies or if not all the copies allow direct reproduction, AGEPI shall promptly notify the applicant of the need to pay for the preparation of copies under Rule 21.1(c) of the PCT Regulations.

474. Filing of the international application shall be accompanied by the payment with the AGEPI of the international filing, search and transmittal

fees within one month from the date of filing of the international application, prescribed pursuant to Government Decision No. 774 of August 13, 1997.

475. If the required fees are not paid within the prescribed time limit and amount, AGEPI shall notify this to the applicant and shall give him an opportunity to pay the fees within one month of dispatch of the notification, upon payment of an additional fee. If the prescribed fees and the additional fee are not paid in due time, the international application shall be deemed to be withdrawn.

476. AGEPI shall accord the international application which meets the requirements of Article 11, paragraph (1), of PCT an international filing number. Such number and the international filing date shall be entered in the application form.

477. The original copy of the registered application, the filing and search fees shall be transmitted to the International Bureau of WIPO and concomitantly a search copy shall be transmitted to the International Searching Authority if the application meets the requirements of national security, established in the Law No. 618-XIII on State Security of October 30, 1995 (Official Gazette of the Republic of Moldova, 1997, No. 10-11, Art. 117) and other normative acts in the field.

478. AGEPI shall, as the receiving Office, transmit the international application to the International Bureau of WIPO and the International Searching Authority not later than the twelfth month from the filing date of the international application or not later than fifteen days prior to the expiration of thirteen months from the priority date.

479. If the application is deemed to be withdrawn for non-payment of the fee by the applicant, the registered copy of the application shall be transmitted to the International Bureau of WIPO together with the notification of withdrawal not later than fifteen days prior to the expiration of thirteen months from the priority date.

480. If the registered copy of the application is transmitted to the International Bureau of WIPO under Rule 479 of the present Regulations, but the applicant has not yet paid the search fee, the search copy shall not be transmitted to the International Searching Authority, and a corresponding note shall be made in the registered copy of the international application.

481. If in the international application or in a separate letter the applicant has asked the AGEPI to transmit an authenticated copy of the priority document to the International Bureau of WIPO, but has not paid for the preparation and transmittal of the document, AGEPI shall inform the applicant of the need to pay such fee under the existing tariffs, and after the presentation of the proof of payment it shall prepare and transmit the copy to the International Bureau of WIPO. In such a case, the applicant shall be responsible for the non­ observance of the time limits provided for in the PCT.

Section 2 Opening of the National Phase 482. The national phase shall begin immediately after the expiry of the thirty-

first month from the date of filing or the date of priority of the international application. The national phase may, at the request of the applicant, begin before the expiry of such time limit, provided that the request for opening of the national phase drafted in the state language on a form approved by AGEPI, a copy of the international application and the translation thereof in the state language are submitted.

483. The translation of the international application in the state language, including the description of the invention, the claims, the drawings, where applicable, and the abstract, shall be furnished in the version in which the international phase was finished.

484. The applicant shall annex to the documents mentioned in Rule 482 of the present Regulations the proof of payment of the corresponding national fee pursuant to Government Decision No. 774 of August 13, 1997. If the fee for opening of the national phase is not paid within two months from the filing of the above-mentioned documents, the international application shall be deemed to be withdrawn.

485. Upon opening of the national phase, the applicant may request the grant of a patent and/or a short-term patent.

486. The examination of the international application in the national phase shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Law and of the present Regulations.

487. The date of filing shall be the date of international filing and it shall be entered in the National Register of Patent Applications, under Article 11.3 of the PCT.

488. Where the priority of an earlier national application is claimed in the international application, AGEPI may require that a copy of that application and a translation thereof in the state language be furnished within three months from the date of dispatch of the notification.

489. An international application shall be treated as a national patent application and shall be considered as comprised in the prior art within the meaning of Article 8, paragraph (3), of the Law, if the conditions provided for in Article 43 of the Law and in the present Regulations are fulfilled.

490. A translation of the international application shall be regarded as the authentic text of the international application in any proceedings before AGEPI, except for revocation proceedings, in the event of the international application or national patent granted on the basis of that application in the language of the translation conferring protection which is narrower than that conferred by the international application in the language in which it was filed.

491. The particulars of an international application which has entered into the national phase shall be published in BOPI within six months from the date of

opening of the national phase, provided that the applicant shall furnish to the AGEPI a translation of the application in the state language.

492. AGEPI shall treat the international application as a national application, in the conditions of fulfillment by the applicant of the requirements provided for in Article 33 of the Law, where the receiving Office has refused to accord the application an international filing date or has stated that the international application is considered withdrawn, or if the International Bureau of WIPO has stated that the application has been considered withdrawn for lack of receipt of the original thereof.

CHAPTER VII FINAL PROVISIONS

Section 1 Amendments and Additions of Application Documents 493. Amendments and additions of application documents concerning the

description, claims, abstract and drawings shall be made by filing replacement sheets. Replacement sheets shall be filed for each copy of the relevant document of the application in the state language or of the translation thereof in the state language, in accordance with the requirements of the present Regulations.

494. If amendments concern linguistic misprints, errors in bibliographic data etc. and do not lead to the diminution of image quality in the case of reproduction, the need for introduction of corrections may be expressed by a letter of the applicant, without submission of replacement sheets.

Section 2 Correspondence 495. Subject to Article 32, paragraph (4), of the Law, correspondence shall be

carried out in the state language. If, during the course of proceedings before AGEPI, any documents are filed in a language other than the state language, a translation thereof in the state language shall be filed within two months from the date of filing of the documents, otherwise the documents shall be deemed not to have been filed.

496. Correspondence with the applicant shall be delivered to the address indicated in the patent application in the name of the person designated for correspondence with the AGEPI or in the name of his representative. If such a person is not designated, the correspondence shall be delivered to the address of the applicant first named in the application.

497. Correspondence shall be maintained for each application separately. 498. The documents sent to the AGEPI after the filing of the application shall

contain a reference to the application number and the signature of the applicant or his representative. Otherwise, they shall be not admissible for examination.

499. The applicant may furnish documents or communications in electronic form or by electronic means of communication, signed subject to the requirements provided for in Rule 29 of the present Regulations. In such a case, filing with the AGEPI within one month of a copy of the document or the communication on paper privately signed by the applicant shall be necessary, accompanied by a statement on the identity of the information furnished on paper with the information furnished by electronic means or in electronic form. Otherwise, the documents shall be deemed not to have been filed.

500. In proceedings before AGEPI, any notification shall extend the time limit for examination to a period equal to the time limit that has elapsed from the date of dispatch of the notification up to the date of receipt of the response.

Section 3 Additional Documents 501. In the period of examination of the patent application, the applicant shall,

of his own volition or upon notification from AGEPI, be entitled to submit materials supplementing, amending or correcting the application documents, without modifying the subject-matter of the invention.

502. The applicant may, of his own volition, correct or amend the application documents, without modifying the subject-matter of the invention, within two months from the regular national filing date without payment of the fee, and after the expiry of two months, upon payment of the fee, but not later than after the date of issuance of the decision to grant a patent or to refuse a patent application.

503. Additional documents submitted by the applicant and containing modifications and additions may be admissible, if they relate to: a) features existing in the description and drawings of the regular national

filing and consisting of corrections and explanations thereto; b) the content of the claims, but relying on features existing in the

description and drawings of the initial filing; c) drawings, but relying on features existing in the description; d) features which do not form the subject-matter of certain new claims or

which do not introduce new features in the original claims, they being destined for a better understanding of the invention or the application field of the invention;

e) other additional documents, amendments and/or additions, where necessary.

504. The additional documents shall modify the subject-matter of the claimed invention if they contain features supposed to be included in the claims and not included in the original application documents (the description, the claims, the drawings and other graphic documents necessary for the disclosure of the subject-matter of the invention), but which may serve as a basis for establishing the priority of the invention.

505. If the additional documents modify the subject-matter of the invention, these documents shall not be taken into consideration in the part modifying the subject-matter, and the applicant shall be entitled to file them in a separate patent application. Upon filing such an application, priority of the invention shall be established on the date of filing of the additional documents, under Rule 233 of the present Regulations.

Section 4 Extension of Time Limits and Continuation of Proceedings after Non-

Observance of the Time Limit 506. The request for extension of a time limit or for re-establishment of the

omitted time limit shall be drafted in a free form. 507. The time limit necessary for re-establishment may be indicated by the

applicant directly in the request for extension or several consecutive applications may be filed, provided that each subsequent application is filed prior to the expiry of the time limit re-established by the previous application.

508. Failure to observe the time limit for filing the request for extension shall lead to the request being deemed inadmissible, such fact shall be notified to the applicant.

509. An applicant for or owner of a patent shall file the request for re­ establishment of the omitted time limit, drafted in a free form, not later than six months from the date of expiry thereof. Otherwise, the patent application shall be deemed to be abandoned and refused, and a decision on loss of rights shall be issued in respect of the patent, such fact being notified to the applicant.

510. Proof of payment of the corresponding fee in the amount prescribed pursuant to Government Decision No. 774 of August 13, 1997 and all the necessary documents shall be annexed to the request for re-establishment of the time limit. Otherwise, the request for re-establishment of the omitted time limit shall be deemed not to have been filed, such fact being notified to the applicant.

Section 5 Re-establishment of Rights 511. An applicant for or owner of a patent who, in spite of all due care

required by the circumstances having been taken, was unable to observe a time limit vis-á-vis the AGEPI shall have his rights re-established upon request if the non-observance of this time limit has the direct consequence of causing the refusal of the patent application or of a request, or the deeming of the application to have been withdrawn, or the revocation of the patent, or the loss of any other right or means of redress.

512. Re-establishment of rights shall be made upon payment of the fee prescribed pursuant to Government Decision No. 774 of August 13, 1997 and filing of the documents stating the grounds for non-observance of the time limit.

513. At the same time as he files the request for re-establishment of rights, the applicant shall file the act confirming the observance of the omitted time limit.

514. For re-establishment of rights in respect of a patent, the act provided for in Rule 513 of the present Regulations shall be the proof of payment of the fee, prescribed pursuant to Government Decision No. 774 of August 13, 1997, for the period of grace of six months and of the annual maintenance fee in the prescribed amount, whose time limit for payment was omitted.

515. If the request for re-establishment of rights does not state the grounds for non-observance of the time limit, the applicant for or owner of a patent shall submit these grounds, confirmed by acts, within the time limit indicated in the notification from AGEPI.

516. AGEPI shall, within one month, examine the request for re­ establishment of rights, the acts certifying the grounds for non-observance of the time limit, the compliance with the requirements provided for in Rules 513-515 of the present Regulations, and shall decide on the admission or refusal of the request for re-establishment of rights.

517. If the request for re-establishment of rights does not meet the requirements laid down in Rules 511-515 of the present Regulations, AGEPI shall notify the applicant for or owner of the patent of the reasons which serve as ground for refusal of the request for re-establishment of rights and shall invite him to submit his possible observations on the intent to refuse this request within three months of dispatch of the notification. If the documents submitted by the applicant for or owner of the patent do not certify the grounds for non-observance of the time limit or if any response has not been submitted within the prescribed time limit, AGEPI shall decide to refuse the request for re-establishment of rights.

518. Particulars of the applications upon which the procedure for re­ examination has been resumed and reinstated patents shall be published in BOPI.

Section 6 Time Limits 519. Computation shall start from the date of dispatch of the procedural acts,

the date of dispatch being deemed to be the date on which the procedural acts were marked by the relevant subdivision of AGEPI with the date of dispatch.

520. Procedural acts, mailed to AGEPI, shall be deemed to be performed if they have been delivered to the post office prior to the expiration of the prescribed time limit, in accordance with the applied post office stamp.

521. Any procedural act, sent to AGEPI by facsimile or by electronic means of communication prior to the expiration of the prescribed time limit, shall be deemed to be performed in due time if the original of the act has been submitted with the AGEPI within one month from the date of expiry of the prescribed time limit.

Section 7 Registers of AGEPI 522. Keeping of registers shall be carried out in accordance with the

provisions of the legislation in force. 523. The mentioned registers shall contain the following entries:

a) number and date of filing of the patent application; b) title of the invention; c) classification symbols assigned to the application; d) family name, given names, address and the State in which the

residence/principal place of business of the applicant for or owner of the patent;

e) family name, given names and address of the inventor(s); f) family name, given names and address of the representative; g) priority data (date, State and file number of the previous application); h) in the event of a division of the application, the numbers of all the

divisional applications; i) in the case of divisional applications or new applications under Article 16,

paragraph 1(b), of the Law, the information referred to in sub-paragraphs (a) and (g) with regard to the earlier application;

j) date of publication of the application; k) date of filing of the request for substantive examination; l) date on which the application is refused, withdrawn or deemed to be

withdrawn; m) date of publication of the mention of the grant of the patent; n) date of filing opposition; o) date and purport of the decision on opposition; p) dates of stay and resumption of proceedings; q) date of issuance of the patent; r) date of re-establishment of rights; s) rights and transfer of such rights relating to a patent application or a

patent. 524. Transfer of rights relating to a patent application shall, upon request, be

entered in the National Register of Patent Applications, provided that the documents certifying the transfer have been filed with AGEPI and the fee prescribed pursuant to Government Decision No. 774 of August 13, 1997 has been paid.

525. The provisions of Rule 524 of the present Regulations shall apply mutatis mutandis to the entry of assignment or transfer of a license and the entry of a right or transfer of a real right relating to a patent application and enforcement of such application.

526. Entries provided for in Rules 524 and 525 of the present Regulations shall, upon request, be erased, provided that the fee prescribed pursuant to Government Decision No. 774 of August 13, 1997 has been paid. The application shall be accompanied by documents certifying the exhaustion of

rights or by a statement in which the owner of the right expresses his consent to the erasure of the entry in the register.

Section 8 Procedures for Public Inspection 527. After the publication of the patent application in BOPI, any person shall

be entitled to obtain inspection of the files by requesting copies of the documents relating to such patent application, subject to the filing of a request therefor and payment of the corresponding fee pursuant to Government Decision No. 774 of August 13, 1997.

528. Files relating to a patent application which is withdrawn and has not been published earlier may only be made available for inspection with the written consent of the applicant or on request of the court.

529. Prior to the publication of the patent application, AGEPI may communicate to third parties, upon payment of the corresponding fee pursuant to Government Decision No. 774 of August 13, 1997, the following bibliographic data: a) the number of the patent application; b) the date of filing and, where priority has been claimed, the date of priority,

the State and the file number of the previous application; c) the name or denomination of the applicant; d) the title of the invention.

530. The parts of the file which shall be excluded from inspection shall be: a) the documents relating to the draft decisions and notices which are not

communicated to the parties; b) the documents used for the preparation of AGEPI decisions and notices,

within the limits of the Law No. 982-XIV of May 11, 2000, on Access to Information (Official Gazette of the Republic of Moldova, 2000, No. 88­ 90, Art. 664);

c) the documents relating to the designation of the inventor, if he has waived his right to be mentioned in the application documents;

d) the documents relating to the amendment of or objections to members of the Board of Appeals.

531. If the documents which are not excluded from inspection bear confidential inscriptions, inspection of the files shall be of the copies of such documents, omitting the said inscriptions.

532. Restrictions on inspection of the files, under Rules 530 and 531 of the present Regulations, shall not apply to inspection of the files by courts.

533. Subject to the restrictions provided for in Article 96 of the Law and in Rule 531 of the present Regulations, AGEPI may, upon request, communicate information contained in the files, subject to the payment of the fee prescribed pursuant to Government Decision No. 774 of August 13, 1997.

534. The applicant shall be entitled to request from AGEPI copies of the files mentioned in the notification, decision or search report. AGEPI shall, within two months from the date of receipt of the request, send copies of the files,

upon payment of the corresponding fee pursuant to Government Decision No. 774 of August 13, 1997.

Annex 2 to the Government Decree No. 528 of September 1, 2009 List of Abrogated Government Decrees

1. Government Decision No. 456 of July 26, 1993, “on the Protection of Industrial Property in the Republic of Moldova”.

2. Paragraph 2 of the Government Decision No. 837 of December 21, 1995, “on Amendment and Abrogation of Certain Government Decisions of the Republic of Moldova (Official Gazette of the Republic of Moldova, 1996, No. 17-18, Art. 124).

3. Government Decision No. 281 of May 22, 1996, “on Amendment of the Provisional Regulations on the Protection of Industrial Property in the Republic of Moldova” (Official Gazette of the Republic of Moldova, 1996, No. 40-41, Art. 339).

4. Government Decision No. 492 of May 29, 1997, “on Abrogation of Certain Provisions of the Provisional Regulations on the Protection of Industrial Property in the Republic of Moldova” (Official Gazette of the Republic of Moldova, 1997, No. 43-44, Art. 460).

………….. Government Decisions 528/01.09.2009 Decision on the Approval of the Regulations on the Procedure of Filing and

Examination of a Patent Application and of Grant of a Patent // Official Gazette 138-139/593, 08.09.2009