The grant of Patents is governed by the Patents and Designs Act in force at the time of application, and copies of the Act and other official publications relating to Patents are to be seen at the Patent Office Library, 25 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.2, and are also to be seen at the Public Libraries at the principal cities of Great Britain.

An application to the Comptroller General, Patent Office at the above address for a copy of Instructions to Applicants for Patents, will ensure that the receiver has a concise statement of the official procedure and views on Patent matters. Any person who is the first and true inventor may make an application for a Patent, or any person may apply jointly with the first and true inventor.

It follows that two or more persons may make such an application, but one of them must be the first and true inventor, except in cases of an application from someone abroad.

A company or firm cannot obtain a Patent simply as a firm, they must apply jointly with the inventor.

Patents are granted for invent tions the subject matter of which is " a manner of manufacture," and not at all for ideas, simply as such.

An application must be for one invention only, for one Patent. It is very advisable indeed that anyone considering that they have an invention, should first of all make a search among the records, to see whether they have been anticipated, very few applicants now have inventions which, although they may appear novel to them, are really novel and unanticipated, and worth patenting. The would-be patentee can make a search himself at the Patent Office, London, or in the Public Libraries of the principal cities of Great Britain, or through a Registered Patent Agent. If the would-be patentee, either after a search or before, considers that it is worth his while to proceed, then if he decides to handle the matter himself, he should get the necessary forms either from The Controller of Stamps, Inland Revenue Office, Somerset House, London, or they may be obtained from the principal Post Offices at once in Great Britain, or at a few days' notice from any Money Order Office, in Great Britain.

What is termed Provisional Protection may be obtained for an invention by application on the proper forms, and which fixes the date of the Patent when granted, that is the Patent will be dated as from the date on which the application for Provisional Protection was received by the Patent Office, and the earlier this date is the better, as it may settle any question of priority.

If a Provisional Specification is only lodged with the Patent Office in the first instance, then the Complete Specification must be made within nine months from the date of first application. The necessary forms to be obtained and filled up for a Provisional Specification are Patent Form No. 1, and two Patent Forms No. 2, the No. 1 Form is stamped £1, and the Forms No. 2 are not stamped.

For use in making the Complete Specification later, Patent Forms No. 3 (stamped £3) will be required.

If the applicant applies for the Patent making his complete specification at once, the Patent Forms No. 1 (stamped £1) together with two Patent Forms No. 3 (one stamped £3 and one unstamped) will be required.

If the applicant has had no experience in Patent matters, then he is running a real risk in attempting to draw up the specification himself, as he may attempt to cover too much, or may cover too little, or may leave vital parts too vaguely or too exactly expressed, and expose the matter to danger from others later on, he is strongly advised to employ a Registered Patent Agent.

The fees of such Patent Agents can alwavs be ascertained before-hand, and so the expenses be known.

If, however, the applicant is very sure of himself, and decides to apply direct, then he should obtain access to copies of Patents on like subjects to his own invention, and consider them well, as to wording, and method of drawing up, etc.

Should he decide to still proceed himself, the necessary forms should be obtained, filled up and forwarded as directed thereon, An acknowledgment will be received in a few days from the Comptroller, giving the date to be taken as the date of first application, and bearing a number which is not the final number of the Patent if proceeded with and granted.

Application must be in English, and applicants must use their real names. The next few months may be used to do any work wanted on the invention, such as further developments or improvements, or making sure that it is not anticipated by any Complete Patents just issued, or to obtain any financial support that may be wanted. It should be very clearly realised that the Patent Office make no search whatever in the case of a Provisional Application, they merely for the fees stated by law, accept at that time what is stated by the applicant, and give it a date and number. Again when the Complete Specification is lodged with them the fees stated must firstly be paid (actually stamped forms are bought and used by the applicant), the Patent Office then make their search, and write the applicant as to any objections, etc., they may have as to the granting of a Complete Patent. These objections as such must be either refuted to the satisfaction of the Patent Office, or admitted, and the Specification revised to their approval, if required. Except in unusual cases a sealing fee of £1 must be paid inside 18 months from the date of first application, and Patent Form No. 12 is required, this is stamped £1.