Section IV
Communication and Publication
in Relation to Patents
and Certificates of Addition
Article 29
Formalities for Conversion of an Application
for a Certificate of Addition
into a Patent Application
Any patentee who wishes to obtain a principal patent for a change, improvement or
addition rather than a certificate of addition expiring with the initial patent shall comply with
the formalities laid down in Articles 14 and 16.
Article 30
Independence of the Right to Exploit Patents Relating to
the Same Subject Matter
Any person who has obtained a patent for an invention related to the subject matter of
another patent shall have no right to exploit the invention already patented and, conversely,
the holder of the earlier patent may not exploit the invention that is the subject of the new
patent.
Article 31
Communication of Descriptions and Drawings
of Patents and Certificates of Addition
(1) The descriptions and drawings of granted patents and certificates of addition shall
be kept by the Organization which, after publication of the grant of patents or certificates of
addition as provided in Article 33 below, shall communicate them on request.
(2) After the same date, any person may obtain an official copy of the said descriptions
and drawings.
(3) The provisions of the preceding two paragraphs shall apply to official copies
furnished by applicants seeking to avail themselves of the priority of an earlier filing and to
the documents authorizing certain such applicants to claim that priority.
(4) The applicant for a patent or for a certificate of addition wishing to avail himself
abroad of the priority of his filing before the patent or certificate of addition is granted may
obtain an official copy of his application.
Article 32
Publication of Patents and Certificates of Addition
(1) The Organization shall publish the following details for each patent or certificate of
addition granted:
(i) the number of the patent or certificate of addition;
(ii) the name and address of the owner of the patent or certificate of addition;
(iii) the name and address of the inventor, unless he has requested not to be mentioned
in the patent or certificate of addition;
(iv) the name and address of the agent, if any;