Talk:Letters patent

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[edit] Royal Charter

How is the relation (in English language) between the concept of a (royal) Charter and a (royal) Letters patent? As far as my eyes can se, there is no references between these two articles. /Tuomas 13:23, 11 Oct 2004 (UTC)

A Royal Charter is one form of letters patent, generally for incorporating a group of individuals. Look at the Royal Charter of the BBC for an example. Pmadrid 21:24, 19 Nov 2004 (UTC)

[edit] Confusion between a patent and a letters patent

Regarding this:

The earliest known Letters Patent were granted by Henry VI in 1449 to John of Utynam which gave him a 20-year monopoly for a method of making stained glass, required for the windows of Eton College.

there seems to be a confusion between a patent and a letters patent - letters patents are probably predating modern patents for invention. --Edcolins 19:04, 31 May 2007 (UTC)

Google searches suggest that John of Utynam (a weird name, by the way, suspiciously close to the latin word utinam) really was granted letters patent giving him the monopoly specified, so there's no misuse of terminology or anything like that. BUT, yeah, 1449 is way too late to be the earliest known letters patent. I'm just removing it. Doops | talk 04:27, 1 June 2007 (UTC)

Thanks for your prompt response. --Edcolins 19:33, 1 June 2007 (UTC)

It might be productive to reiterate here for others not involved in the discussion (i.e. not you two above :D) that the modern usage of "patent" as something protecting a new discovery, ultimately derives from the usage in this article (as is described in the "History of patent law" article), and that its not uncommon to see legal texts/historical texts/etc referencing "a patent of George IV containing provisions for the erection of an orphanage in Sometown"... ( and other topics... you get the point.) It just happens so that a large number of such patents provided for monopolies over new discoveries. 202.89.152.148 (talk) 10:19, 21 January 2008 (UTC)

Patents of invention (commonly called "patents") were granted by letters patent (under the great seal of England). However, this is merely the most popular use of the term. Historically, letters patent were used for many purposes. Originally patents of invention were patents of monopoly, giving the grantee a monopoly in a particular trade. Under the stature of Monopolies 1623, this was restricted to inventors and for 14 years. Previously, the crown granted monopolies in other circumstances, but Elizabeth and Charles I both found it necessary to repeal a number of monoplies due to public opposition. I had not heard of John of Utinam, but his grant must have been in the nature of a patent of invention, and the fiorst of its kind by many years. Peterkingiron (talk) 22:38, 21 January 2008 (UTC)