What are the powers of the Disciplinary Committee?

Where the Disciplinary Committee is not satisfied that the Affected Person has been convicted or guilty of any matters referred to in rule 17(1)(a) to (g) of the Patents (Patent Agents) Rules 2001 (please refer to question 1), it will dismiss the complaint.

The Disciplinary Committee is not empowered, when conducting an inquiry into a complaint, to recover on behalf of the complainant any financial loss or damages suffered by him because of the negligence of a patent agent.

Where the Disciplinary Committee is satisfied that the registered patent agent against whom a complaint has been lodged ("the Affected Person") has been convicted or guilty of any matters referred in rule 17(1)(a) to (g) of the Patents (Patent Agents) Rules 2001 (please refer to question 1), it shall

- reprimand the Affected Person;

- order that the registration as a patent agent be suspended for a period not exceeding 12 months;

- order that the registration as a patent agent be cancelled; or

- make such other order deem appropriate.