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Patents Act, 1978 (Act No. 57 of 1978)

Regulations

Patent Regulations, 1978

Chapter 1 : Procedure in the patent office

Documents

 

 

12. Subject to the provisions of section 30(6)(c) of the Act, all documents other than drawings, priority documents or a specification lodged in terms of section 30(6)(a)(iii) shall be in one of the official languages of the Republic.

 

13. All documents shall be so presented as to permit of direct reproduction by photography, reprography or electronic means, as the case may be, in an unlimited number of copies. Where paper forms are used, all sheets shall be free of cracks, creases and folds. Only one side of a sheet shall be used, except where otherwise specified.

 

14. All documents which are not photocopies of other documents shall be on A4 paper which shall be strong, pliable, smooth, matt and durable or in such electronic form as authorized by the registrar for electronic services. Each sheet shall be used with its short sides at the top and bottom (except where inappropriate in the case of drawings).

 

15. Except for drawings, the minimum margins (which shall be kept completely blank) shall be as follows:

Top: 20 mm.

Left side: 25 mm.

Right side: 15mm

Bottom: 10 mm

 

16. In all original typed documents the typing shall be 11/2 line spacing or double spacing. The capital letters used shall be not less than 2,1 mm high. All documents except drawings shall be in typescript or printed and shall be in dark, durable colour.

 

17. Units of weight and measures shall be expressed in terms of the metric system. If a different system is used, such units shall also be expressed in terms of the metric system. Temperatures shall be expressed in degrees Celsius. If a different system is used, such temperatures shall also be expressed in degrees Celsius. For the other physical values, the units recognised in international practice shall be used. For mathematical formulae the symbols in general use, and for chemical formulae the symbols, atomic weights and molecular formulae in general use, shall be employed. In general, use should be made of technical terms, signs and symbols generally accepted in the field in question.

 

18. If a formula or symbol is used in the specification a copy of such formula or symbol, prepared in the same manner as drawings, shall be filed if the registrar so directs.

 

19. All documents, including drawings, shall be reasonably free from erasures and from alterations, overwritings and interlineations and shall, in any event, be legible.