Article 74
Procedures for the inspection of files 1. Inspection of the files of registered Community designs shall either be of the original document, or of copies thereof, or of technical means of storage if the files are so stored. The request for inspection of the files shall not be deemed to have been made until the required fee has been paid. The means of inspection shall be determined by the President of the Office. 2. Where inspection of the files relates to an application for a registered Community design or to a registered Community design which is subject to deferment of publication, which, being subject to such deferment, has been surrendered before or on the expiry of that period or which, pursuant to Article 50(4) of Regulation (EC) No 6/2002, is deemed from the outset not to have had the effects specified in that Regulation, the request shall contain an indication and evidence to the effect that: (a) the applicant for or holder of the Community design has consented to the inspection; or (b) the person requesting the inspection has established a legitimate interest in the inspection of the file, in particular where the applicant for or holder of the Community design has stated that after the design has been registered he/she will invoke the rights under it against the person requesting the inspection. 3. Inspection of the files shall take place on the premises of the Office. 4. On request, inspection of the files shall be effected by means of issuing copies of file documents. Such copies shall incur fees. 5. The Office shall issue on request certified or uncertified copies of the application for a registered Community design or of those file documents of which copies may be issued pursuant to paragraph 4 upon payment of a fee.