practically attainable, and B. afterwards takes out a patent for the same result, but fully explains the means to be employed to attain it, the patent of B. is sustainable (a). As the object of such specifications is that the public, after a time, shall have the benefit of the discovery, the specification must be sufficient to enable others to make the invention (b). The meaning of the specification is for the Court, the words of art having been interpreted by the jury (c). The words of a specification are to be construed according to their ordinary and proper meaning, unless there be something in the context which may be explained by evidence to show that a different construction ought to be made (d). The interpretation of specification rests with the Court, and words of art with the jury. SECTION III. WHO IS ENTITLED TO A PATENT. The patent can only be obtained by the first and true in- The first and ventor, but originality of invention is not destroyed by previous true inventor. glimpses of the same thing (e). Nor is it defeated if the prior inventor or discoverer has never used it or made it known. No person can obtain a patent for an invention which has been communicated to him by another within the realm, though a patent may be granted to a British subject in his own name for an invention communicated to him by a foreigner, the subject of a state in amity with this country (ƒ). In case of simul- Case of simultaneous inventors, the party first obtaining the patent is the inventor in law (g). The patentee may assign the patent, or give an exclusive licence to use it; but a right of this nature is a matter of public record, and is created by deed, and can only be assigned by deed (h). taneous inventors. Any inventor of any improvement in instruments or munitions The benefit of an invention may be assigned to the War Department. of war, may, for valuable consideration, or without, assign to the Secretary of State for the War Department, on behalf of Her Majesty, all the benefit of the invention, and all letters patent obtained, or to be obtained, for the same (a). Petition to be presented. SECTION IV. HOW TO OBTAIN A PATENT. The patent law of 1852, now in force, describes the present method for obtaining a patent. Persons applying for letters patent for an invention must present a petition for the same (b), The humble petition of [here insert name and address of Petitioner] for, &c., Showeth, That your petitioner is in possession of an invention for [the title of the invention], which invention he believes will be of great public utility; that he is the true and first inventor thereof; and that the same is not in use by any other person or persons, to the best of his knowledge and belief. Your petitioner therefore humbly prays, That your Majesty will be pleased to grant unto him, his executors, administrators, and assigns, your royal letters patent for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, [Colonies to be mentioned, if any,] for the term of fourteen years, pursuant to the statute in that case made and provided. of great public utility; that I am the true and first inventor thereof; and that the same is not in use by any other person or persons, to the best of my knowledge and belief; [where a complete Specification is to be filed with the Petition and Declaration, insert these words:-"and that the instrument in writing under my hand and seal, hereunto annexed, particularly describes and ascertains the nature of the said invention and the manner in which the same is to be performed;"] and I make this declaration conscientiously believing the same to be true, and by virtue of the provisions of an Act made and passed in the Session of Parliament held in the fifth and sixth years of the reign of His late Majesty King William the Fourth, intituled "An Act to repeal an Act of the present Session of Parliament, intituled 'An Act for the more effectual abolition of oaths and affirmations taken and made in various departments of the state, and to substitute declarations in lieu thereof, and for the more entire suppression of voluntary and extrajudicial oaths and affidavits,' and to make other provisions for the abolition of unnecessary oaths." A. B. Declared at day of before me, this A.D. A Master in Chancery, or Justice of the Peace. pro accompanying it with a declaration (a) that the invention will be of public utility, and that the same is not in use by any other person, with a statement in writing, called the provisional specification, describing the nature of the invention. The application is then referred by the commissioners of patents to one of the law officers, to whom also the provisional specifications are submitted, and he may call to his aid such scientific or other persons as he may think fit, making the applicant pay to such persons such remuneration as the law officers shall appoint. If such law officer is satisfied that the visional specification describes the nature of the invention, he allows the same, and gives a certificate of his allowance, and such certificate is filed in the office of the commissioners, and thereupon the invention therein referred to may, during the term of six months from the date of the application for letters patent for the said invention, be used and published without prejudice to any letters patent to be granted for the same; and such protection from the consequences of use and publication is hereinafter referred to as provisional protection: Provided always, that in case the title of the invention or the provisional specification be too large or insufficient, it shall be lawful for the law officer to whom the same is referred to allow or require the same to be amended (b). Provisional Protection. The provisional speci fication to be referred to a law of ficer, who, may give a certificate of if satisfied, his allowance, which shall be filed. Inventor may deposit, in visional spe lieu of a pro cification, a The applicant for letters patent for an invention, instead of leaving with the petition and declaration a provisional specification as aforesaid, may, if he thinks fit, file with the said petition and declaration an instrument in writing under his complete hand and seal (hereinafter called a complete specification), particularly describing and ascertaining the nature of the said invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, such deposit to confer for specification, a limited time the like rights as letters patent. Letters patent granted to the first inventor not to be invalidated by protection obtained in fraud of the first inventor. Commission ers to cause protections which complete specification shall be mentioned in such declaration; and the day of the delivery of every such petition, declaration, and complete specification shall be recorded at the office of the commissioners, and indorsed on such petition, declaration, and specification, and a certificate thereof given to such applicant or his agent; and thereupon, subject and without prejudice to the provisions hereinafter contained, the invention shall be protected under this Act for the term of six months from the date of the application, and the applicant shall have during such term of six months the like powers, rights, and privileges as might have been conferred upon him by letters patent for such invention issued under this Act, and duly sealed as of the day of the date of such application; and during the continuance of such powers, rights, and privileges under this provision, such invention may be used and published without prejudice to any letters patent to be granted for the same; and where letters patent are granted in respect of such invention, then in lieu of a condition for making void such letters patent in case such invention be not described and ascertained by a subsequent specification, such letters patent shall be conditioned to become void if such complete specification, filed as aforesaid, does not particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed : and a copy of every such complete specification shall be open to the inspection of the public, as hereinafter provided, from the time of depositing the same, subject to such regulation as the commissioners may make (a). In case of any application for letters patent for any invention, and the obtaining upon such application of provisional protection for such invention, or of protection for the same by reason of the deposit of a complete specification as aforesaid, in fraud of the true and first inventor, any letters patent granted to the true and first inventor of such invention shall not be invalidated by reason of such application or of such provisional or other protection as aforesaid, or of any use or publication of the invention subsequent to such application, and before the expiration of the term of such provisional or other protection (b). Where any invention is provisionally protected under this Act, or protected by reason of the deposit of such complete specifica(b) Ibid. s. 10. (a) 15 & 16 Vict. c. 83, s. 9. tised. tion as aforesaid, the commissioners shall cause such provisional to be adverprotection or such other protection as aforesaid to be advertised in such manner as they may see fit (a). Grant of Letters Patent. for letters advertised, positions to and also op the same. The applicant for letters patent, so soon as he may think fit, Application after the invention shall have been provisionally protected under patent to be this Act, or where a complete specification has been deposited with his petition and declaration, then so soon as he may think fit after such deposit, may give notice at the office of the commissioners of his intention of proceeding with his application for letters patent for the said invention, and thereupon the said commissioners shall cause his said application to be advertised in such manner as they may see fit; and any persons having an interest in opposing the grant of letters patent for the said invention shall be at liberty to leave particulars in writing of their objections to the said application at such place and within such time and subject to such regulations as the commissioners may direct (b). So soon as the time for the delivery of such objections shall have expired, the provisional specification or complete specification (as the case may be), and particulars of objection (if any), shall be referred to the law officer to whom the application has been referred (c). Specification and objections to be referred to law officer. officer to order by or to whom be paid, costs shall It shall be lawful for the law officer to whom any application Power to law for such letters patent is referred, if he see fit, by certificate under his hand, to order by or to whom the costs of any hearing or inquiry upon any objection, or otherwise in relation to the grant of such letters patent, or in relation to the provisional (or other) protection acquired by the applicant under this Act, shall be paid, and in what manner and by whom such costs are to be ascertained; and if any costs so ordered to be paid be not paid within four days after the amount thereof shall be so ascertained, it shall be lawful for such law officer to make an order for the payment of the same; and every such order may be made a rule of one of Her Majesty's superior courts at Westminster or Dublin, and may be recorded in the books of |