Article 14

1. [Relief Measure Before the Expiry of a Time Limit] A Contracting Party may provide for the extension of a time limit for an action in a procedure before the Office in respect of an application or a registration, if a request to that effect is filed with the Office prior to the expiry of the time limit.

2. [Relief Measures After the Expiry of a Time Limit] Where an applicant, holder or other interested person has failed to comply with a time limit (‘‘the time limit concerned’’) for an action in a procedure before the Office of a Contracting Party in respect of an application or a registration, the Contracting Party shall provide for one or more of the following relief measures, in accordance with the requirements prescribed in the Regulations, if a request to that effect is filed with the Office:
(i) extension of the time limit concerned for the period prescribed in the Regulations;
(ii) continued processing with respect to the application or registration;
(iii) reinstatement of the rights of the applicant, holder or other interested person with respect to the application or registration if the Office finds that the failure to comply with the time limit concerned occurred in spite of due care required by the circumstances having been taken or, at the option of the Contracting Party, that the failure was unintentional.
 

3. [Exceptions] No Contracting Party shall be required to provide for any of the relief measures referred to in paragraph (2) with respect to the exceptions prescribed in the Regulations.

4. [Fee] Any Contracting Party may require that a fee be paid in respect of any of the relief measures referred to in paragraphs (1) and (2).

5. [Prohibition of Other Requirements] No Contracting Party may demand that requirements other than those referred to in this Article and in Article 8 be complied with in respect of any of the relief measures referred to in paragraph (2).