Article 31

1. If the Office does not reject the application for declaration of invalidity in accordance with Article 30, it shall communicate such application to the holder and shall request him/her to file his/her observations within such time limits as it may specify.

2. If the holder files no observations, the Office may base its decision concerning invalidity on the evidence before it.

3. Any observations filed by the holder shall be communicated to the applicant, who may be called upon by the Office to reply within specified time limits.

4. All communications pursuant to Article 53(2) of Regulation (EC) No 6/2002 and all observations filed in that respect shall be sent to the parties concerned.

5. The Office may call upon the parties to make a friendly settlement.

6. Where the Office declares invalid the effects of an international registration in the territory of the Community; it shall notify its decision to the International Bureau upon becoming final.