§ 'If any person uses on his place of business, or on any document issued by him, or otherwise, the words "Patent Office" or any other words suggesting that his place of business is, or is officially connected with, the Patent Office, he shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £500. '.—[Mr. Clinton Davis.)
§ Brought up, and read the First time.
§ 11.45 a.m.
§ Mr. Clinton DavisI beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time.
This clause corresponds to a new clause proposed in Committee by my hon. Friend the Member for Nottingham, West (Mr. English). I promosed to consider the points that he made. It also corresponds 2063 to Section 92(2) of the 1949 Act. Although, as I said in Committee, I do not consider the clause to be necessary for purely domestic matters, we have the new factor of European business.
The point made by my hon. Friend was that some countries permit practitioners to describe their firms as "patent bureaux", and there is a risk that the word "office" might be used in this country in that context. I therefore think that it is right to continue the law as set out in Section 91(2), which is what the clause effectively does.
The penalty of £500 has been fixed after consultation with the Home Office.
§ Question put and agreed to.
§ Clause read a Second time, and added to the Bill.