Disciplinary Board Decision

Published: 23 November 2006
By: Michael Ralph

Disciplinary Board Decision

On 1 May 2006, Mr T.V. Smith issued a formal complaint against a member in connection with the member's handling in 2004 of Mr Smith's US patent application. Under section 7.1 of the Regulatory and Disciplinary Procedures of CIPA, the Disciplinary Board dismissed the complaint without considering the substance thereof on the basis that it did not comply with the procedural rules, having been filed some 20 months after the actions complained of. The Board found that there were no proper grounds on which to extend the time beyond the stipulated six-month period. The Board considered that in the circumstances the member's name should be withheld from the published announcement of the decision.