Information concerning corresponding foreign applications

(1) The applicant shall, if requested by the Registrar, furnish him with the date and number of any application for a patent filed by him abroad relating to the same or essentially the same invention as that claimed in the application filed with the (2) The applicant shall also, if requested by the Registrar, furnish him with the following documents relating to any foreign application referred to in sub-section (1)– (a) a copy of any communication received by the applicant concerning the results of any search 20 or examination carried out in respect of the (b) a copy of the patent granted on the basis of the (c) a copy of any final decision rejecting the foreign application or refusing the grant requested in the foreign application; and (d) a copy of any final decision invalidating the patent granted on the basis of the foreign application referred to in sub-section (1). (3) Sub-section (2)(a) and (c) shall not apply where the Office of the Registrar is an elected Office within the meaning of section 55 and has received or will receive an international preliminary examination report. (4) Any document furnished pursuant to this section– (a) shall, if not in English, be accompanied by a translation thereof in English, verified by the translator that the translation is, to the best of his knowledge, complete and faithful; and (b) may be used only for facilitating the evaluation of the novelty and inventive step of the invention for which the patent application is made.