5
(2) An application comprising more than one invention shall be divided into two or
more independent applications.
(3) Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2), applications may include in their claims:
(i) where the subject matter of the application is one or more products, the
manufacturing process or processes and the application or applications of such product or
products;
(ii) where the subject matter of the application is one or more processes, the means of
carrying out the processes or the product or products deriving from the carrying out of the
process or processes.
22.—(1) Any person wishing to avail himself of the priority of an earlier filing in
accordance with the Paris Convention shall be required to attach to his application or to
submit within a period of six months as from the filing of the application, on pain of
inadmissibility:
(i) a written declaration giving the date and number of such earlier filing, the country in
which it was made and the name of the applicant;
(ii) an official copy of such earlier filing issued by the country of origin of the priority,
accompanied by a translation in the French language;
(iii) a written, legalized authorization from the applicant or his successors in title
empowering such person to avail himself of the priority if such person is not the person who
made the initial filing.
(2) The provisions of paragraph (1) shall remain valid for a group of priorities claimed
by the applicant.
23.—(1) Admissibility of the application shall be conditional on payment of the
prescribed application fee.
(2) Payment shall only be effective on receipt of the payment voucher enabling a
receipt to be drawn up in due form. The receipt shall be valid only if it bears the
authentifying stamp of the Agency.
(3) The Agency shall give a filing date which shall be the date of receipt of the
application on condition that, at the time of receipt, the application fee has been paid and the
application, drawn up in compliance with Article 17(1) and (3), contains the elements referred
to in paragraph (2)(i) and (ii) of that Article. The implementing decree shall lay down the
details of these requirements.
24.—(1) The administrative examination of the application shall consist in checking
that the prescribed fee has been paid and that the main elements of the filing are correct:
(i) drawing up of the application;
(ii) correct presentation of the description and claims;
(iii) presence of the drawings and their correct execution for reproduction purposes;
where appropriate:
(iv) the powers of the representative or agent;
(v) the required translations;