20 CAP. 400] Patents (2) Any examination or investigation required in terms of subsec­ tion (1) may, on the direction of the Registrar, be undertaken by an examiner who shall report his findings on any such examination or investigation to the Registrar. (3) An examination or investigation required by the provisions of this Act shall not be deemed to warrant the validity of any patent, and no liability shall be incurred by the Government, the Minister, the Registrar or any officer of the Patent Office by reason of or in con­ nection with any such examination or investigation or report or other proceeding consequent thereon. (As amended by G.N. No. 185 of 1964) Ante-dating and post­ dating of applications 17. (1) At any time after an application has been lodged under this Act 'and before acceptance of the complete specification, the Registrar may., at the request of the applicant and upon payment of the prescribed fee, direct that the application shall be post-dated to such date as may be specified in the request: Provided that­ (i) no application shall be post-dated under this sub­ section to a date later than six months from the date on which it was actually lodged or would, but for this subsection, be deemed to have been so lodged; and (ii) a convention application shall not be post-dated under this subsection to a date later than the last date on which, under the provisions of this Act, the application could have been made. (2) Where an application or specification lodged under this Act is amended before acceptance of the complete specification, the Registrar may direct that the application or specification shall be post-dated to the date on which it is amended or, if it has been returned to the applicant, to the date on which it is again lodged under this Act. (3) Where, at any time after an application or specification has been lodged at the Patent Office and before acceptance of the com­ plete specification, a fresh application or specification is lodged in respect of any part of the subject-matter of the first-mentioned appli­ cation or specification, the Registrar may direct that the fresh appli­ cation or specification shall be antedated to a date not earlier than the date of lodging of the first-mentioned application or specification. (4) An appeal shall lie from any decision of the Registrar under subsection (2) or (3).