A.35 (2) A joint patent shall be exercised subject to the following provisions — (a) each joint patentee is entitled to exploit commercially the patent to his or her benefit, but shall be required to pay equitable compensation, fixed by the Court in case of a disagreement, to the other joint patentee who is not directly exploiting the patent or has not granted a licence for exploitation in accordance with paragraph (b); (b) a joint patentee may grant a non-exclusive licence to exploit the patent, but shall be required to pay equitable compensation fixed by the Court in case of a disagreement to the other joint patentee who is not directly exploiting the patent or has not granted the licence for exploitation; the other joint patentee may oppose the grant of such licence provided he or she acquires the share of the joint patentee wishing to grant the licence and on condition that the price of that share shall be fixed by the Court in case of disagreement; (c) an exclusive licence or sole licence to exploit the patent may only be granted by agreement among the joint patentees; and (d) a joint patentee may assign his or her share in the patent, provided that the patentee notifies the other joint patentee of his or her intention and such other joint patentee shall have a right of first refusal to acquire a share during a period of three months computed from the receipt of that notification. (3) A joint patentee may institute proceedings for infringement on his or her rights on the patent after giving prior notice to the other joint patentee, and the other joint patentee may join the proceedings as a co-plaintiff and recover any damages in respect of any loss suffered as a result of the infringement. (4) If, in any proceedings under subsection (3), a joint patentee does not join the proceedings as a co-plaintiff, damages, if any, shall be awarded to the plaintiff as if he or she were the sole patentee, and the defendant shall not compensate the other patentee in respect of the same infringement. 31. (1) The Minister may, without the consent or authority of the patentee and after giving a hearing to the patentee and any other interested party, authorise a Government agency, other person or body to exploit the patented invention on the payment of adequate remuneration to the patentee where — (a) it is in the public interest to do so for purposes of national security, nutrition, health, development of other vital sectors of the national economy, social service; or (b) a court or administrative body has determined that the manner of exploitation of the invention by the patentee is anti-competitive or constitutes an abuse of the patent. (2) In the determination of adequate remuneration under subsection (1), the Minister shall take into account the economic value of the exploitation of the patented invention and the need for the elimination of anti-competitive practices. Compulsory licences in the public interest or for competition