A person filing at, or sending to, the Patent Office, a document other than a Patents Form, or any party to any proceedings to which the document relates, may, within fourteen days of the filing or sending of the document, request the comptroller (giving reasons for the request) to direct that the document or any part of it specified by him be treated as confidential, and the comptroller may, at his discretion, so direct; and while the request is being considered by the comptroller, that document or part thereof (hereinafter referred to as the relevant document) shall not be open to public inspection.

Where such a direction has been given and not withdrawn, nothing in this rule shall be taken to authorise or require any person to be allowed to inspect the relevant document to which the direction relates except by leave of the comptroller.

The comptroller shall not withdraw any direction given under this rule nor shall he give leave for any person to inspect any relevant document to which a direction which has not been withdrawn relates without prior consultation with the person at whose request the direction was given, unless the comptroller is satisfied that such prior consultation is not reasonably practicable.

Where such a direction is given or withdrawn a record of the fact shall be filed with the relevant document to which it relates.

Where the period referred to in paragraph (1) above is extended under rule 110, the relevant document shall not be, or, if the period is extended after it has expired, shall cease to be, open to public inspection until the expiry of the extended period, and if a request for a direction is made the relevant document shall not be open to public inspection while the matter is being determined by the comptroller.