seven years longer, or Congress will pass a special act for that purpose.

3. This was the law up to 1861; and is still in force as to patents granted anterior to that date. But a new act was then passed, extending the term of an original patent to seventeen, instead of fourteen years, and prohibiting any extension of such patents.

An inventor, before he can obtain a patent, must swear that he believes he is the inventor or discoverer of the art, machine or improvement, for which he solicits a patent. He must also give in writing a clear, minute description of it; and, when necessary, must make and deliver a model of his invention; which in all cases must be something new, unused and unknown before, or his application will be rejected. There is considerable expense attending the procurement of a patent right.

4. But when obtained, no person except the patentee, has any right to make, sell or use the article patented, until the time has expired for which this exclusive right was granted, without the permission of the patentee. Any person doing so is liable to a heavy penalty, and may be prosecuted in the Circuit Court of the United States; this court having original jurisdiction in all cases arising under the patent laws. But a writ of error or an appeal lies to the Supreme Court of the United States.

5. The Patent Office, when first established, was a bureau of the State Department, and the Commissioner of Patents acted under the direction of the Secretary of State. But after the creation of the Department of the

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Interior, in 1849, it was transferred to it, became a bureau of the new department, and the commissioner now acts under the general direction of its secretary.

THE COMMISSIONER OF PATENTS

6. Is appointed by the President and Senate. His duties are best explained in the language of the law itself, which, in speaking of the creation and appointment of this official, says that his duties shall be "to superintend, execute and perform all such acts and things touching and respecting the granting and issuing of patents for new and useful discoveries, inventions and improvements, as are herein provided for, or shall hereafter be by law directed to be done and performed."

He has the charge and custody of all books, records, papers, models, machines, and all other things belonging to the patent office; and has the privilege of sending and receiving letters and packages by mail, relating to the business of the office, free of postage. He has the power to appoint his clerks, examiners and subordinates; among whom are patent office agents, who may be appointed in not more than twenty of the principal cities and towns in the United States. It is their duty to forward to the patent office all such models, specimens and manufactures, as shall be intended to be patented.

7. In cases of appeal from the decision of the commissioner, the appeal may be made to the board of examiners, or to the Chief Justice of the District Court of the United States for the District of Columbia.

There is a seal for the patent office, which the commissioner keeps, and which he must affix to patents when granted, and to other papers and records issued from his office, which are wanted as evidence in other places.

He is also authorized to publish a classified and alphabetical list of all patents issued at the patent office. This he frequently does, for the information of the public.

CHAPTER LXVIII.

Copyrights.

1. A COPYRIGHT is an exclusive privilege given to any citizen of the United States to print, publish or sell any book, map, chart, engraving, or musical composition of which he or she is the author. This right is given by the laws of Congress. No State can give it. The object of the law is to encourage authors, and to compensate them for their labors. This compensation they would not receive if everybody might print and publish their productions. A copyright is a kind of property, and may be sold and inherited like other property.

2. A compliance with the laws on this subject is necessary, however, before the right can be secured. First, the author must deposit in the office of the clerk of the United States District Court of the district in which he resides, a printed copy of the title page of such book, map, chart, &c., and this must be recorded in the clerk's office. Second, within three months after the publication of the book or other work, the author must deposit a copy of it in the office of the same clerk. Third, he must also give information to the public, by causing to be inserted on the title page, or on the page immediately following it, the following words, viz.: "Entered according to act of Congress, in the year, by A. B., in the clerk's office of the district ofThe author or proprietor is also required to deposit a copy of his work in the office of the Secretary of the Interior within three months after its publication.

3. When all these legal provisions are strictly complied with, the author receives from the Department of the Interior his letters-his copyright-which secure to him, his heirs or assigns, the exclusive right to print, publish and sell his work for the term of twentyeight years. And if, in violation of this right, any person or persons shall print, publish, or sell the work thus secured to the author, he or they may be prosecuted for damages in the Circuit Courts of the United States, which courts have exclusive jurisdiction in these cases, with right of appeal to the Supreme Court.

4. The penalty for printing and publishing any work for which a copyright has been granted within twentyeight years from the time when the title page was recorded, is a forfeiture of every copy thus printed, and a fine of 50 cents for every sheet found in his possession. One half of this fine is paid to the author, and the other to the United States. But the suit for the recovery of any damage done or penalty incurred for the violation of the copyright laws, must be brought within two years after the cause of action arose.

5. Up to 1849 the department of the Secretary of State was charged with the duty of issuing copyrights, and with all other things pertaining to the duty of government in securing them to authors. But at that time the Department of the Interior was created, and this business was transferred from the Department of State to this department, together with all the books, maps, charts, papers and documents relating to copyrights.

Our government is not peculiar in securing this right to authors. In nearly every civilized country where literature is cultivated, you will find copyright laws.