Legal Definitions - letters patent

Definition: Letters patent are official documents issued by the government that grant a right or privilege to an individual or group. They can be open to public inspection and are often sealed by the government. There are two types of letters patent:

1. Historical letters patent that granted a right or privilege to an individual or group, such as the right to hold land or a title.
2. Modern letters patent that grant the exclusive right to use an invention or design for a specified period (usually 20 years) to the inventor or owner of the patent.

Examples:

• Historical letters patent: In medieval England, letters patent were used to grant land or titles to individuals. For example, King Henry VIII granted letters patent to his physician, Dr. William Butts, giving him the right to practice medicine throughout England.
• Modern letters patent: In 2007, Apple Inc. was granted a patent for the design of the iPhone, giving them the exclusive right to use and sell the design for 20 years.

Explanation: Letters patent are official documents that grant a right or privilege to an individual or group. In medieval England, they were used to grant land or titles, while in modern times, they are used to grant the exclusive right to use an invention or design. The examples illustrate how letters patent were used historically and how they are used today.