56.—(1) The proprietor of a registered trade mark may apply to the Registrar on Form TM 27B for such alteration of his mark as is permitted under section 20 of the Act.
(2) The proprietor shall provide to the Registrar such evidence in respect of the application as the Registrar may require.
(3) Where the Registrar proposes to allow such alteration, he shall publish the mark as altered in the Trade Marks Journal.
(4) Any person claiming to be affected by the alteration may, within 2 months from the date of the publication of the alteration, file with the Registrar a notice of opposition to the alteration in Form TM 11.
(4A) [Deleted by S 370/2004]
(5) The notice of opposition shall contain a statement of the grounds upon which the person opposes the alteration, including, where relevant, how the alteration would be contrary to section 20(2) of the Act.
(6) Rules 29(2) to (8) and 31 to 40 shall apply, with the necessary modifications, to any proceedings arising from the notice of opposition.
(6A) For the purposes of the application of the rules referred to in paragraph (6) —
(a)
any reference to the applicant shall be read as a reference to the proprietor;
(b)
any reference to the application for registration shall be read as a reference to the application for alteration referred to in paragraph (1);
(c)
any reference to the date of publication of the application for registration shall be read as a reference to the date of publication of the alteration;
(d)
any reference to the notice of opposition shall be read as a reference to the notice of opposition referred to in paragraph (4); and
(e)
any reference to the opponent shall be read as a reference to the person referred to in paragraph (4).