372 [Assembly 



year, under penally of forfeiture, that (lie invcnllon or discovery is 

 kept in use, 



Rome grants patents to cill/:cns or foreigners for new inventions 

 and for importalions new in llie Roman Stales, for from five to fifteen 

 years, for a lax of about $20 a year ; disuse of the patented article, 

 or non-payment of the tax, will forfeit the patent. No opposition can 

 be made to the patent, on the ground of the want of novelty in the 

 invention, after six months from the time of the grant. Infringement 

 is punishable by damages to the patentee, and forfeiture of the wrong- 

 fully made article, half to the patentee, and half to the public. 



Portugal grants patents to inventors, including both foreign and na- 

 tive, from one to fifteen years, for about $5 a year. The thing pa- 

 tented must be put into use within half the time of the patent, and 

 also publicly exhibited twice a month, on previous notice, in the gov- 

 ernment journals, or the grant will be forfeited. Infringement is made 

 a crime, and declared to be, and is punishable as piracy. 



Sweden grants patents of invention for 15 years, an:l of importation 

 for 5 years. No government fees are charged. The patentee, in 

 sixty days after the grant, must publish his specification three times, 

 at length, in the government paper, and no opposition can be made 

 to the patent unless made within six months after such publication ; 

 and in case opposition be made, the controversy is to be decided by 

 arbitration, without appeal. In case of conflicting applications for 

 patents, the first applicant in order of time has the preference. The 

 patent may be granted to either a resident or a foreigner ; but if to a 

 foreigner, he must within one year place it in the name of a resident 

 of the country. Proof must be furnished within two years from the 

 grant, that the invention has been put into active use. Infringement 

 is made penal by fine and forfeiture. 



Spain grants patents both of invention and importation, for 5, 10 or 

 15 years, to any applicant, fo: about §15 a year. Disuse of the thing 

 patented for a year and a day, after the grant, will forfeit the patent. 

 Among conflicting applications, the first in order of time has the pre- 

 ference. 



