§ 139 Clause 88, page 82, line 20, after "institution" insert "or reproducing in legible form any information in such custody otherwise than in legible form".
§ 140 Page 83, line 4, leave out from "court" to "a" in line 7 and insert "does not include".
§ Clause 89
§ 141 Leave out Clause 89 and insert the following new clause:
§ Obtaining evidence for proceedings under the European Patent Convention.
1076§ .—(1) Sections 1 to 3 of the Evidence (Proceedings in Other Jurisdictions) Act 1975 (provisions enabling United Kingdom courts to assist in obtaining evidence for foreign courts) shall apply for the purpose of proceedings before a relevant convention court under the European Patent Convention as they apply for the purpose of civil proceedings in a court exercising jurisdiction in a country outside the United Kingdom.
§ (2) In the application of those sections by virtue of this section any reference to the High Court, the Court of Session or the High Court of Justice in Northern Ireland shall include a reference to the comptroller.
§ (3) Rules under this Act may include provision—
- (a) as to the manner in which an application under section 1 of the said Act of 1975 is to be made to the comptroller for the purpose of proceedings before a relevant convention court under the European Patent Convention; and
- (b) subject to the provisions of that Act, as to the circumstances in which an order can be made under section 2 of that Act on any such application.
§ (4) Rules of court and rules under this Act may provide for an officer of the European Patent Office to attend the hearing of an application under section 1 of that Act before the court or the comptroller, as the case may be, and examine the witnesses or request the court or comptroller to put specified questions to the witnesses.
§ (5) Section 1(4) of the Perjury Act 1911 and section 1(4) of the Perjury Act (Northern Ireland) 1946 (statements made for the purposes, among others, of judicial proceedings in a tribunal of a foreign state) shall apply in relation to proceedings before a relevant convention court under the European Patent Convention as they apply to a judicial proceeding in a tribunal of a foreign state.
Lord ORAMMy Lords, I beg to move that this House doth agree with Amendments Nos. 139 to 141. In relation to Amendment No. 141, perhaps I need only make the point that it is designed to implement Article 132(2) of the European Patent Convention. I beg to move that this House doth agree with the Commons in their Amendments.
§ Moved, That this House doth agree with the Commons in the said Amendments. —(Lord Oram.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.