Legal Definitions - Patent Roll

A Patent Roll is a list of letters patent that are issued in the United Kingdom during a specific year. The first Patent Roll was issued in England in 1201. These rolls were initially used to grant offices, lands, licenses, peerages, and pensions. However, in later centuries, the Patent Rolls also included grants of patents for inventions.

For example, if someone invents a new machine, they can apply for a patent to protect their invention. If the patent is granted, it will be recorded on the Patent Roll for that year. This means that the inventor has exclusive rights to their invention and can prevent others from making, using, or selling it without their permission.

The Patent Roll is an important historical document that provides insight into the development of technology and innovation over time. It also serves as a legal record of patents granted in the United Kingdom.