Patents [No. 40 of 2016 (2) Each application dividing an initial application, as provided in subsection (1), shall be entitled to a filing date and, where appropriate, the priority date of the initial application. 49. A person making an application for the grant of a patent for an invention may, at any time before the grant, notification of rejection or refusal to grant the patent, withdraw the application, in a prescribed manner, upon payment of a prescribed fee. 50. (1) If a complete specification is not lodged within twelve months from the date of filing of an application for the grant of a patent, the application lapses unless— (a) an appeal has been lodged in respect of the application; (b) the period within which such appeal may be lodged has not expired; or (c) the delay in accepting the specification was not due to any neglect on the part of the applicant. (2) Despite subsection (1), where an application is made for an extension of the period for the acceptance of a complete specification, the Registrar may grant an extension for a period not exceeding three months, upon payment of a prescribed fee. 823 Withdrawal of application Lapse of application PART V EXAMINATION, PUBLICATION AND OPPOSITION 51. (1) Where a person making an application for the grant of a patent has paid the prescribed fee and the application has not lapsed, refused, withdrawn or treated as withdrawn by the Registrar, the Registrar shall conduct a formalities examination to ascertain compliance of the application with this Act and its regulations. (2) If an application for the grant of a patent is found, after an examination, referred to in subsection (1), to comply with the requirements of this Act, the Registrar shall cause to be conducted a prior art search. (3) Where the Registrar is of the opinion, after conducting an examination, referred to in subsection (1), that an application is not compliant with the requirements of this Act, the Registrar shall notify the applicant, in writing, to make relevant amendments to the application, within a prescribed period. (4) Where the applicant fails to, after the notification referred to in subsection (3), make the relevant amendments, the Registrar shall, in writing, refuse the application. Examination for compliance with requirements