Art34eTPEPC1973

Métadonnées

• Nom affiché : Art34eTPEPC1973
• Numéro d'article : 34
• Dossier / langue : English
• Tag langue : #English
• PDF original : Articles/English/Articles 026-050/Article 034 (English version)/Art34eTPEPC1973.pdf

Comment:

The collection represents purely an internal research tool for the purpose of Directorate Patent Law of the European Patent Office. No guarantee can be given for its completeness or correctness. The documents produced before 1969 cannot be provided in English as this was not an official language in the period before that date. These documents therefore are provided in French and German.

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Art. Nr. 34 MPO Stimmrecht

Entwurf, der dem nebenstehenden Dokument zugrunde liegt	Art. Nr. im Entwurf/ Dokument	Dokument, in dem der Art. behandelt wird	Fundstelle im Dokument
BR/33/7o	m	BR/34/7o	Rdn. 29-32
BR/33/7o	k	BR/53/7o	Rdn. 27
VE 1971 (Ue)	35 n	BR/168/72	Rdn. 65
BR/88/71	35 m	BR/125/71	Rdn. 117-120
BR/184/72	32	BR/209/72	Rdn. 7

Dokumente der MDK

1. 1972	32	M/146/R 2	Art. 34

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MUNICH DIPLOMATIC CONFERENCE FOR THE SETTING UP OF A EUROPEAN SYSTEM FOR THE GRANT OF PATENTS

- 1973 -

Munich, 30 September 1973 M/ 146/R 2 Original: English/French/German

CONFERENCE DOCUMENT

Drawn up by : General Drafting Committee Subject : Convention : Articles 27 to 54

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a) Artikel 17 Absatz 2 dahingehend, daß die Prüfungsabteilungen aus einem einzigen technisch vorgebildeten Prüfer bestehen, wenn die Erfahrungen dies rechtfertigen; b) die Dauer der in diesem Übereinkommen festgesetzten Fristen; dies gilt für die in Artikel 93 genannte Frist nur unter den in Artikel 94 festgelegten Voraussetzungen; c) die Ausführungsordnung. (2) Der Verwaltungsrat ist befugt, in Übereinstimmung mit diesem Übereinkommen folgende Vorschriften zu erlassen und zu ändern: a) die Finanzordnung; b) das Statut der Beamten sowie die Beschäftigungsbedingungen für die sonstigen Bediensteten des Europäischen Patentamts, ihre Besoldung sowie die Art der zusätzlichen Vergütung und die Verfahrensrichtlinien für deren Gewährung; c) die Versorgungsordnung und Erhöhungen der Versorgungsbezüge entsprechend einer Erhöhung der Dienstbezüge; d) die Gebührenordnung; e) seine Geschäftsordnung. (3) Der Verwaltungsrat ist befugt, den Präsidenten des Europäischen Patentamts zu ermächtigen, Verhandlungen über den Abschluß von Abkommen mit Staaten oder internationalen Organisationen zu führen und diese Abkommen mit Genehmigung des Verwaltungsrats für die Europäische Patentorganisation zu schließen.

Artikel 32

Stimmrecht (1) Stimmberechtigt im Verwaltungsrat sind nur die Vertragsstaaten. (2) Jeder Vertragsstaat verfügt über eine Stimme, soweit nicht Artikel 34 anzuwenden ist.

Artikel 33

Abstimmungen (1) Der Verwaltungsrat faßt seine Beschlüsse vorbehaltlich Absatz 2 mit der einfachen Mehrheit der vertretenen Vertragsstaaten, die eine Stimme abgeben. (2) Dreiviertelmehrheit der vertretenen Vertragsstaaten, die eine Stimme abgeben, ist für die Beschlüsse erforderlich, zu denen der Verwaltungsrat nach den Artikeln 7, 11 Absatz 1, 31, 37 Absatz 1, 38 Absätze 2 und 5, 44, 85, 94, 134, 151 Absatz 3, 154 Absatz 2, 155, 156 Absätze 2 bis 4,161,162,165 und 171 befugt ist. (3) Stimmenthaltung gilt nicht als Stimmabgabe. (a) Article 17, paragraph 2, so as to provide, in the light of experience, that an Examining Division shall consist of a single technical examiner; (b) the time limits laid down in this Convention; this shall apply to the time limit laid down in Article 93 only in the conditions laid down in Article 94; (c) the Implementing Regulations. (2) The Administrative Council shall be competent, in conformity with this Convention, to adopt or amend the following provisions: (a) the Financial Regulations; (b) the Service Regulations for permanent employees and the conditions of employment of other employees of the European Patent Office, the salary scales of the said permanent and other employees, and also the nature, and rules for the grant, of any supplementary benefits; (c) the Pension Scheme Regulations and any appropriate increases in existing pensions to correspond to increases in salaries; (d) the Rules relating to Fees; (e) its Rules of Procedure. (3) The Administrative Council shall be competent to authorise the President of the European Patent Office to negotiate and, with its approval, to conclude agreements on behalf of the European Patent Organisation with States and with international organisations.

Article 32

Voting rights (1) The right to vote in the Administrative Council shall be restricted to the Contracting States. (2) Each Contracting State shall have one vote, subject to the application of the provisions of Article 34.

Article 33

Voting rules (1) The Administrative Council shall take its decisions other than those referred to in paragraph 2 by a simple majority of the Contracting States represented and voting. (2) A majority of three-quarters of the votes of the Contracting States represented and voting shall be required for the decisions which the Administrative Council is empowered to take under Article 7, Article 11, paragraph 1, Article 31, Article 37, paragraph 1, Article 38, paragraphs 2 and 5, Article 44, Article 85, Article 94, Article 134, Article 151, paragraph 3, Article 154, paragraph 2, Article 155, Article 156, paragraphs 2 to 4, Article 161, Article 162, Article 165 and Article 171. (3) Abstentions shall not be considered as votes.

MÜNCHNER DIPLOMATISCHE KONFERENZ
ÜBER DIE EINFÜHRUNG EINES EUROPÄISCHEN PATENTERTEILUNGSVERFAHRENS 1973

(München, 10. September bis 6. Oktober 1973)

MUNICH DIPLOMATIC CONFERENCE

FOR THE SETTING UP OF A EUROPEAN SYSTEM FOR THE GRANT OF PATENTS, 1973 (Munich, 10 September to 6 October 1973)

CONFERENCE DIPLOMATIQUE DE MUNICH

POUR L'INSTITUTION D'UN SYSTÈME EUROPÉEN DE DÉLIVRANCE DE BREVETS (1973) (Munich, 10 septembre - 6 octobre 1973)

VORBEREITENDE DOKUMENTE

ausgearbeitet von der Regierungskonferenz über die Einführung eines europäischen Patenterteilungsverfahrens herausgegeben von der Regierung der Bundesrepublik Deutschland

PREPARATORY DOCUMENTS

drawn up by the Inter-Governmental Conference for the setting up of a European System for the Grant of Patents and published by the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany

DOCUMENTS PRÉPARATOIRES

élaborés par la Conférence intergouvernementale pour l'institution d'un système européen de délivrance de brevets et publiés par le Gouvernement de la République fédérale d'Allemagne

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(i) that only the most important provisions should remain in the Convention, (ii) that in principle the provisions providing for sanctions should remain in the Convention, and lastly (iii) that all the provisions which the Administrative Council would be empowered to amend should be incorporated in the Implementing Regulations.

I. EXAMINATION OF THE DRAFT CONVENTION (BR/184/72)

(a) Articles which had been re-drafted 5. Mr VAN BENTHEM drew the attention of the Committee to a number of provisions which had been entirely redrafted in comparison with the Second Preliminary Draft Convention as it had stood after the 5th meeting of the Conference. 6. It was noted that it would be preferable at a later date to indicate at each Article of the Convention any rules in the Implementing Regulations relating to the provision in question. This would enable an overall view to be obtained of all the rules envisaged in connection with any one provision of the Convention.

In addition, observations were made about the following provisions:

Articles 32 and 33

7. Paragraph 3 of Article 32 has become paragraph 3 of Article 33, since it is a voting rule.

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INTER-GOVERNMENTAL CONFERENCE FOR THE SETTING UP OF A EUROPEAN SYSTEM FOR THE GRANT OF PATENTS

Brussels, 6 June 1972 BR/209/72

- Secretariat -

MINUTES

of the

second meeting of the Co-ordinating Committee

held in Brussels from 15 to 19 May 1972

1. The second meeting of the Co-ordinating Committee was held in Brussels from 15 to 19 May 1972 with Dr HAERTEL, President of the German Patent Office, in the Chair.

Representatives of the Commission of the European Communities, of the IIB and of WIPO took part as observers. The representatives of the Council of Europe sent their apologies for being unable to attend. The list of those taking part in the meeting is given in Annex I to this report.

2. The Co-ordinating Committee - hereinafter referred to as the Committee - adopted the provisional agenda as contained in BR/174/72, supplemented as follows:

BR/209 8/72 1:07PM/prk

.../...

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Article 32(351+35 n, paragraph 3) Voting rights (1) The right to vote in the Administrative Council shall be restricted to the Contracting States. (2) Each Contracting State shall have one vote, subject to the application of the provisions of Article 34. (3) Abstentions shall not be considered as votes.

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INTER-GOVERNMENTAL CONFERENCE FOR THE SETTING UP OF A EUROPEAN SYSTEM FOR THE GRANT OF PATENTS

Brussels, 24 April 1972 BR / 184 / 72

- Secretariat -

DRAFT CONVENTION ESTABLISHING A EUROPEAN SYSTEM FOR THE GRANT OF PATENTS (Text drawn up by the Conference Drafting Committee 8 to 24 March and 10 to 20 April 1972)

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As a further consequence of the elimination of the unanimity requirement, the Conference deleted paragraph 2. Those delegations that had advocated the retention of this provision on constitutional grounds were assured that in no event would decisions of this nature which would be likely to infringe national laws be contemplated by the Administrative Council.

The Conference noted that in practice the 3/4 majority provided for in paragraph 3 and the 2 / 3 majority provided for in paragraph 4 would give much the same number. For reasons of simplicity it therefore decided to provide for a 3 / 4 majority for all the decisions referred to in these two paragraphs. The Conference also added to this list the decisions provided for in Article 42 b, paragraph 1, and Article 42 c, paragraph 2. All decisions not mentioned, including the decision to set up the Board, merely require a simple majority, as provided for in paragraph 5.

The Conference finally discussed whether the 3 / 4 majority and the simple majority should be calculated from the total number of Contracting States or from the number of Contracting States represented and voting in the Administrative Council. It decided in favour of the second solution and specified that abstensions should not be counted as votes.

Article 35 n (Weighting of votes) Several delegations opposed the principle of weighting of votes. They pointed out that other international conventions for the protection of industrial property

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116. In connection with this Article it was examined whether the right of the Administrative Council to set up committees should be expressly laid down in the Convention. As the Conference was of the opinion that such committees should have just as little power of decision as that vested in the Board, it considered it sufficient to deal with the matter in the Rules of Procedure of the Administrative Council.

The Conference deferred examination of the question of whether different rules should be applicable to the setting up of a finance committee.

Article 35 m (Voting Rules) 117. The German, Netherlands and United Kingdom delegations proposed providing for a majority of only three-quarters in all the cases which, under paragraph 1, required unanimity. The difficulty of arriving at a unanimous decision would in many cases necessarily lead to undesirable delays in the entry into force of decisions. It was also hardly advisable to allow, in Article 162, that the Convention itself could be revised without the agreement of all the Contracting States when decisions of far less import taken by the Administrative Council required unanimity. The Conference adopted this proposal.

As a result of the unanimity requirement being eliminated, the voting rules laid down in paragraph 1 B, C and D were also deleted.

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INTER-GOVERNMENTAL CONFERENCE FOR THE SETTING UP OF A EUROPEAN SYSTEM FOR THE GRANT OF PATENTS

Brussels, 7 July 1971 B R / 125 / 71

- Secretariat -

M I N U T E S

of the 4th Meeting of the Inter-Governmental Conference for the setting up of a European System for the Grant of Patents (Luxembourg, 20 to 28 April 1971)

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Article 35m continued: (4) The following shall require a two-third majority of the votes of the Contracting States : (a) the adoption and amendment of the other rules and regulations referred to in Article 35a, paragraph 1 B; (b) the decisions under Article 35a, 1 C; (c) the adoption of the budget of the European Patent Office and of any amending or supplementary budgets; (d) the adoption and amendment of the Rules of Procedure of the Administrative Council; (e) the appointment of the President of the European Patent Office. (5) All other decisions of the Council shall require a simple majority of the votes of the Contracting States.

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Article 35m Voting rules (1) A. The following shall require the unanimous vote of the Contracting States : (a) amendment of the Implementing Regulations to this Convention referred to in Article 35a, paragraph 1 A; (b) the decisions referred to in Article 35a, paragraph 1 E; (c) the decisions referred to in Article 35a, paragraph 3. B. Any Contracting State which is not represented at a meeting of the Administrative Council may vote in writing. C. If, within two months following the date of a communication addressed to it to this end by the President of the Administrative Council, any Contracting State not represented at a Council meeting has not stated its position, it shall be deemed not to be opposed to the adoption of the decision in question. In such an event, and subject to the provisions of paragraph 2 , the decision in question shall take effect four months after the date of the above-mentioned communication from the President of the Council. D. Abstentions shall not prejudice the adoption of the decisions referred to in the present paragraph. (2) If one or more Contracting States declare that the entry into force of a decision under paragraph 1 requires, by virtue of their national constitution, the execution of certain formalities, such decision shall only take effect after the last of the Contracting States having made a statement to this effect has notified the Administrative Council that the required formalities have been completed. (3) The following shall require a majority of three-quarters of the votes of the States represented in the Administrative Council : (a) a decision to convene a Conference for the purpose of reviewing the Convention, as referred to in Article 162, paragraph 2 , and (b) a decision on the accession of a State, as referred to in Article 165, paragraph 2.

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INTER-GOVERNMENTAL CONFERENCE FOR THE SETTING UP OF A EUROPEAN SYSTEM FOR THE GRANT OF PATENTS

- Secretariat -

Brussels, 15th February 1971 BR / 88 / 71

ESTABLISHING

A EUROPEAN SYSTEM FOR THE GRANT OF PATENTS

- Stage reached on 29 January 1971 -

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oral proceedings using an official language of one of the Contracting States other than one of the three working languages of the European Patent Office. The Conference noted that Re. Article 34, No. 2 already made provision for a reduction in-fees on behalf of parties in the situation in question.

Article 35a (Adoption and amendment of general rules) 65. The Conference endorsed the principle proposed by Working Party I, making provision for the Administrative Council to be enabled to amend Article 55, paragraph 2, in such a way that an Examining Division might be composed of a single technical examiner (paragraph 1(a)). The Conference also noted that this option seemed to have obtained acceptance among most of the interested circles.

The Conference nevertheless thought it necessary to lay down that such a decision could only be taken by a qualified majority of three-quarters of the Administrative Council. Article 35n was duly amended to that effect. (BR/150/72).

As regards the request made by certain organisations (cf. BR/169/72, point 43) that, when applying paragraph 1(a), the option should not be ruled out of retaining - for certain areas of technology - an Examining Division made up of three examiners, it was noted that this provision gave the Administrative Council the power to act according to the conditions obtaining.

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INTER-GOVERNMENTAL CONFERENCE FOR THE SETTING UP OF A EUROPEAN SYSTEM FOR THE GRANT OF PATENTS

Brussels, 15 March 1972 BR / 168 / 72

- Secretariat -

M I N U T E S

of the 5th Meeting of the Inter-Governmental Conference for the Setting up of a European System for the Grant of Patents

Parts 1 and 3

(Luxembourg, 24-25 January and 2-4 February 1972)

Abstimmungen

(1) Dreiviertelmehrheit der vertretenen Vertragsstaaten, die eine Stimme abgeben, ist erforderlich für: a) die Beschlüsse nach Artikel 35a Absatz 1 Buchstaben b und c, Absatz 2 und Absatz 3; b) die Annahme des Haushaltsplans des Europäischen Patentamts und gegebenenfalls der Berichtigungshaushaltspläne oder der Nachtragshaushaltspläne sowie die Beschlüsse nach Artikel 43 Absatz 1 und Artikel 44 Absatz 2; c) die Ernennung des Präsidenten des Europäischen Patentamts; d) die Beschlüsse nach Artikel 35c; e) die Annahme und Änderung der Geschäftsordnung des Verwaltungsrats. (2) Für die übrigen Beschlüsse des Verwaltungsrats ist die einfache Mehrheit der vertretenen Vertragsstaaten erforderlich, die eine Stimme abgeben. (3) Stimmenthaltung gilt nicht als Stimmabgabe.

Stimmenwägung

(1) Jeder Vertragsstaat kann für die Annahme und die Änderung der Gebührenordnung sowie, falls dadurch die finanzielle Belastung der Vertragsstaaten vergrößert wird, die Annahme des Haushaltsplans des Europäischen Patentamts und gegebenenfalls eines Berichtigungshaushaltsplans oder Nachtragshaushaltsplans nach einer ersten Abstimmung, in der jeder Vertragsstaat über eine Stimme verfügt, unabhängig vom Ausgang der Abstimmung verlangen, daß unverzüglich eine zweite Abstimmung vorgenommen wird, in der die Stimmen nach Absatz 2 gewogen werden. Diese zweite Abstimmung ist für den Beschluß maßgebend. (2) Die Zahl der Stimmen, über die jeder Vertragsstaat in der neuen Abstimmung verfügt, errechnet sich wie folgt: a) Die sich für jeden Vertragsstaat ergebende Prozentzahl des in Artikel 44 Absatz 3 vorgesehenen Aufbringungsschlüssels für die besonderen Finanzbeiträge wird mit der Zahl der Vertragsstaaten multipliziert und durch fünf dividiert. b) Die so errechnete Stimmenzahl wird auf eine ganze Zahl aufgerundet. c) Dieser Stimmenzahl werden fünf weitere Stimmen hinzugezählt. [d) Die Zahl der Stimmen eines Vertragsstaats beträgt jedoch höchstens 30.]

Voting rules

(1) The following shall require a majority of threequarters of the votes of the Contracting States represented and voting: (a) the decisions referred to in Article 35a, paragraph 1 sub-paragraphs (b) and (c) and paragraphs 2 and 3; (b) adoption of the budget of the European Patent Office and, where necessary, of amending or supplementary budgets, and the decisions referred to in Article 43, paragraph 1 and Article 44, paragraph 2; (c) the appointment of the President of the European Patent Office; (d) the decisions referred to in Article 35c; (e) the adoption and amendment of the Rules of Procedure of the Administrative Council. (2) All other decisions of the Administrative Council shall require a simple majority of the votes of the Contracting States represented and voting. (3) Abstentions shall not be considered as votes.

Weighting of votes

(1) In respect of the adoption or amendment of the Rules relating to Fees and, if the financial contribution to be made by the Contracting States would thereby be increased, the adoption of the budget of the European Patent Office and of any amending or supplementary budget, any Contracting State may require, following a first ballot in which each Contracting State shall have one vote, and whatever the result of this ballot, that a second ballot be taken immediately, in which votes shall be given to the States in accordance with paragraph 2. The decision shall be determined by the result of this second ballot. (2) The number of votes that each Contracting State shall have in the second ballot shall be calculated as follows: (a) the percentage obtained for each Contracting State in respect of the scale for the special financial contributions, pursuant to Article 44, paragraph 3, shall be multiplied by the number of Contracting States and divided by five; (b) the number of votes thus given shall be rounded upwards to the higher whole number; (c) five additional votes shall be added to this number; [(d) nevertheless each Contracting State shall have a maximum of 30 votes].

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REGIERUNGSKONFERENZ ÜBER DIE EINFÜHRUNG EINES EUROPÄISCHEN PATENTERTEILUNGSVERFAHREN INTER-GOVERNMENTAL CONFERENCE FOR THE SETTING UP OF A EUROPEAN SYSTEM FOR THE GRANT OF PATENTS CONFERENCE INTERGOUVERNEMENTALE POUR L'INSTITUTION D'UN SYSTEME EUROPEEN DE DELIVRANCE DE BREVETS

ZWEITER VORENTWURF EINES ÜBEREINKOMMENS ÜBER EIN EUROPÄISCHES PATENTERTEILUNGSVERFAHREN

sowie ERSTER VORENTWURF EINER AUSFÜHRUNGSORDNUNG ZUM ÜBEREINKOMMEN ÜBER EIN EUROPÄISCHES PATENTERTEILUNGSVERFAHREN und ERSTER VORENTWURF EINER GEBÜHRENORDNUNG

SECOND PRELIMINARY DRAFT OF A CONVENTION ESTABLISHING A EUROPEAN SYSTEM FOR THE GRANT OF PATENTS

with FIRST PRELIMINARY DRAFT OF THE IMPLEMENTING REGULATIONS TO THE CONVENTION ESTABLISHING A EUROPEAN SYSTEM FOR THE GRANT OF PATENTS and FIRST PRELIMINARY DRAFT OF THE RULES RELATING TO FEES

SECOND AVANT-PROJET DE CONVENTION INSTITUANT UN SYSTEME EUROPÉEN DE DÉLIVRANCE DE BREVETS

ainsi que PREMIER AVANT-PROJET DE RÉGLEMENT D'EXÉCUTION DE LA CONVENTION INSTITUANT UN SYSTÈME EUROPÉEN DE DÉLIVRANCE DE BREVETS et PREMIER AVANT-PROJET DE RÉGLEMENT RELATIF AUX TAXES

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26. With regard to acquired rights, the Working Party adopted a provision similar to that safeguarding acquired rights in the event of a revised text of the Convention not being ratified, as it felt that the problems were very similar (see Article b).

Article k - Languages 27. The text of paragraph 2 is derived from the text of Article 67 of the PCT.

Article 1 - Transmission of certified true copies 28. The Working Party felt that it would be premature to provide for the transmission of certified true copies of the Implementing Regulation at the same time as true copies of the Convention. It was acknowledged that it was not yet known whether these Implementing Regulations would have the status of a diplomatic document. Where appropriate, the provisions of Article 1 would have to be completed on the basis of decisions subsequently taken on this matter at the Conference.

A. General Remarks

29. It was pointed out that the retention or deletion of certain provisions would depend on the status of the Protocol in relation to the Convention. The Working Party wondered whether provision should he

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INTER-GOVERNMENTAL CONFERENCE FOR THE SETTING UP OF A EUROPEAN SYSTEM FOR THE GRANT OF PATENTS

Brussels, 8 October 1970 BR / 53 / 70

- Secretariat -

MINUTES of the Meeting of Working Party II (Luxembourg, 1-4 September 1970 - 2nd meeting)

I

1. The second meeting of Working Party II was held at Luxembourg, from Tuesday 1 to Friday 4 September 1970; under the Chairmanship of Mr. R. LABRY, Counsellor at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (France).

The Commission of the European Communities and the International Patent Institute attended the meeting as observers. (1). 2. The Working Party would draw attention to the provisional nature of the wording of the texts it adopted.

Bearing in mind the timetable laid down for the meetings of the other Working Parties, the outcome of which might lead the Working Party to revise some of the provisions which it had previously adopted, in particular those relating to the Administrative Council, (1) The list of those attending the meeting is given in the Annex.

BR. 53 e/70 scn/PB/prk

Article k

Voting rights (1) The right to vote in the Administrative Council shall be restricted to the Contracting States. (2) Each Contracting State shall have one vote, subject to the application of the provisions of Article n.

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INTER-GOVERNMENTAL CONFERENCE FOR THE SETTING UP OF A EUROPEAN SYSTEM FOR THE GRANT OF PATENTS

Brussels, 13 March 1970 B R / 33 / 70

- Secretariat -

FIRST PRELIMINARY DRAFT CONVENTION ESTABLISHING A EUROPEAN SYSTEM FOR THE GRANT OF PATENTS

Provisions relating to the Administrative Council Text drawn up by Working Party II (4 to 6 March 1970)

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32. It was noted that unanimity, two-thirds majority and simple majority, as provided for respectively in paragraphs 1, 3 and 4, was to be calculated on the basis of the votes allocated to all the Contracting States, and not on the basis of the votes of only those Contracting States whose representatives took part in any given deliberations.

Article n - Weighting of votes 33. The Working Party noted its agreement to the principle whereby certain decisions may be subject to a voting procedure where the votes of the Contracting States would be weighted. However, the Working Party noted that experience in the various international organisations active in the field of industrial property showed that in a large number of cases decisions were taken by a general consensus. It therefore appeared expedient to the Working Party to provide for weighting of votes only as a type of "safeguard clause" for the Contracting States bearing the heaviest responsibilities in decisions having financial consequences or having a special importance. In so doing, the Working Party drew on the principle adopted in Article 8 of the Agreement of The Hague, of 6 June 1947, establishing the International Patent Institute, as revised at The Hague on 16 February 1961. 34. The Working Party was of the opinion that this principle should apply only to some of the decisions which require a two-thirds majority under Article m (3). 35. The Working Party had a thorough exchange of views on those of the decisions requiring a two-thirds mejority which could be the subject of a second ballot where the votes of the Contracting States would be weighted. It was

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might have the effect that the financing of the European Patent Office would depend too heavily and for too long upon the contributions of the Contracting States.

For reasons of efficiency, the Working Party finally agreed that it would be expedient to subject both the adoption and the amendment of the Rules relating to fees and the adoption of the budget (and consequently the fixing of the rates at which the Contracting States would contribute to revenue) to one and the same voting rule: two-thirds majority (subject, however, to the provisions laid down in Article n regarding the weighting of votes).

31. As regards decisions requiring unanimity (paragraph 1), the Working Party provided for several mechanisms which should, in its opinion, facilitate the taking of such decisions by the Council:

(i) any Contracting State may abstain, without such abstention prejudicing the adoption of the decision in question;

(ii) any State may vote in writing if it is not represented at a meeting of the Council at which a decision is to be adopted;

(iii) where a State is not represented and fails to state its position within a fixed period, it shall be deemed not to be opposed to the adoption of the decision in question.

With a view to solving any difficulties such as those referred to a propos of Article a (1 A) (cf. point 11, paragraph 3, page 7 above) the Working Party adopted the provision contained in Article m (2).

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However, the Working Party did not rule out that the Administrative Council could - by way of a gentleman's agreement, for example, - allow, in exceptional cases and in so far as necessary, another language to be used in any particular discussion, provided that the State whose representative used such another language bore the financial consequences of interpretation from that language into the three languages mentioned in paragraph 1.

Article k - Voting rights 27. No comment.

Article 1 - Select Committees of the Administrative Council 28. The Working Party believed that certain links should be organised between the Administrative Council and a Select Committee, in particular in order to determine the proportion of the expenses of the European Patent Office which will fall exclusively upon the group of States linked by a special agreement.

In so far as these matters touch upon fields falling under the work of Working Party IV; they should, where appropriate, be studied together with the latter.

Article m - Voting Rules 29. The Working Party did not believe it necessary to fix a standard quorum for the deliberations of the Council. 30. The Working Party discussed a proposal whereby the Rules relating to fees could only be adopted or amended by unanimous vote. It agreed that such a requirement would make any increase in these fees too difficult, which

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INTER-GOVERNMENTAL CONFERENCE FOR THE SETTING UP OF A EUROPEAN SYSTEM FOR THE GRANT OF PATENTS

Brussels, 20 March 1970 B R / 34 / 70

- Secretariat -

MINUTES

of the meeting of Working Party II (Luxembourg, 4-6 March 1970)

I 1. The first working meeting of Working Party II, set up by the Conference at the latter's meeting of 13-16 January 1970, was held at Luxembourg from Tiednesday 4 to Friday 6 March 1970.

In accordance with the decision taken by the Working Party at its inaugural meeting held at Luxembourg on 16 January 1970, the Chair was taken by Mr. LABRY, Counsellor at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (France).

The Commission of the European Communities, BIRPI and the International Patent Institute (IIB) took part in the meeting as observers. The representative of the General Secretariat of the Council of Europe, who had also been invited to take part in the meeting, apologized for being unable to attend (1). (1) See list of participants in the meeting of the Working Party given in Annex II. As regards Annex I, see point 38 on page 16 .

BR/34 e/70 kel/RT/mrk

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Article m contd. (2) If one or more Contracting States declare that the entry into force of a decision urder paragraph 1 requires, by virtue of their national constitution, the execution of certain formalities, such decision shall only take effect after the last of the Contracting States having made a statement to this effect has notified the Administrative Council that the required formalities have been completed. (3) The following shall require a two-third majority of the votes of the Contracting States: (a) the adoption and amendment of the other rules and regulations referred to in Article a, paragraph 1 B; (b) the decisions under Article a, 1 C; (c) the adoption of the budget of the European Patent Office and of any amending or supplementary budgets; (d) the adoption and amendment of the Rules of Precedure of the Administrative Council; (e) the appointment of the President of the Eurcpean Patent Office. (4) All other decisions of the Council shall require a simple majority of the votes of the Contracting States.

Voting rules

(1) A. The following shall require the unanimous vote of the Contracting States: (a) amendment of the Implementing Regulations to this Convention referred to in Article _A^3 a, paragraph 1 A; (1) the decisions referred to in Article _A^3 a, paragraph 3. B. Any Contracting State which is not represented at a meeting of the Administrative Council may vote in writing. C. If, within two months following the date of a communication addressed to it to this end by the President of the Administrative Council, any Contracting State not represented at a Council meeting has not stated its position, it shall be deemed not to be opposed to the adoption of the decision in question. In such an event, and subject to the provisions of paragraph 2, the decision in question shall take effect four months after the date of the abovementioned communication from the President of the Council. D. Abstentions shall not prejudice the adoption of the decisions referred to in the present paragraph. (b) is decision 10.1114 is in Antion 29

B R̅ / 33 e / 70 bm

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INTER-GOVERNMENTAL CONFERENCE FOR THE SETTING UP OF A EUROPEAN SYSTEM FOR THE GRANT OF PATENTS

Brussels, 13 March 1970 BR/33/70

- Secretariat -

FIRST PRELIMINARY DRAFT CONVENTION ESTABLISHING A EUROPEAN SYSTEM FOR THE GRANT OF PATENTS

Provisions relating to the Administrative Council Text drawn up by Working Party II (4 to 6 March 1970)

BR/33 e/70 mrk

Article 2 34
Voting rights

(1) The right to vote in the Administrative Council shall be restricted to the Contracting States. (2) Each Contracting State shall have one vote, subject to the application of the provisions of Article 36 .