Article 12

1. [Request] A Contracting Party shall provide that, where an applicant or owner has failed to comply with a time limit for an action in a procedure before the Office, and that failure has the direct consequence of causing a loss of rights with respect to an application or patent, the Office shall reinstate the rights of the applicant or owner with respect to the application or patent concerned, if:
(i) a request to that effect is made to the Office in accordance with the requirements prescribed in the Regulations;
(ii) the request is filed, and all of the requirements in respect of which the time limit for the said action applied are complied with, within the time limit prescribed in the Regulations;
(iii) the request states the reasons for the failure to comply with the time limit; and
(iv) the Office finds that the failure to comply with the time limit occurred in spite of due care required by the circumstances having been taken or, at the option of the Contracting Party, that any delay was unintentional.

2. [Exceptions] No Contracting Party shall be required to provide for the reinstatement of rights under paragraph 1 with respect to the exceptions prescribed in the Regulations.

3. [Fees] A Contracting Party may require that a fee be paid in respect of a request under paragraph 1.

4. [Evidence] A Contracting Party may require that a declaration or other evidence in support of the reasons referred to in paragraph 1(iii) be filed with the Office within a time limit fixed by the Office.

5. [Opportunity to Make Observations in Case of Intended Refusal] A request under paragraph 1 may not be refused, totally or in part, without the requesting party being given the opportunity to make observations on the intended refusal within a reasonable time limit.