Hearings
Article 13
1. The Board of Appeal shall hold a hearing if it considers this to be necessary or if a party so requests. The request shall be submitted within two weeks from notification to the party of the closure of the written part of the proceedings. This period may be extended by the Chairman. 2. The summons to the hearing shall be communicated to the parties by the Registry. 3. If a party who has been duly summoned to a hearing does not appear as summoned, the proceedings may continue without that party. 4. Hearings before the Board of Appeal shall be public, unless the Board of Appeal, of its own motion or at the request of a party, decides otherwise, for serious reasons. 5. The hearing shall be opened and directed by the Chairman, who shall be responsible for its proper conduct. The Chairman and the other members may put questions to the parties or their representatives. 6. The Registrar shall be responsible for drawing up minutes for every hearing. The minutes shall be signed by the Chairman and the Registrar and shall constitute an official record. Before the minutes are signed, witnesses or experts shall be given an opportunity to verify and confirm the content of the parts of minutes recording their evidence. 7. The hearing may be held by video-conference or by using other communication technology if the technical means are available.