From Alan Jones
Since I used to work in the Patent Office, and used to live in London, I fear many of my acquaintances may think I was behind the letter about patents from someone in London with the same name as me (Letters, 28 October). This is embarrassing since the letter might trap some people into breaking the law.
A British national in this country who applies abroad for a patent, without first gaining security clearance from the Patent office in Britain, breaks the law. Applying for clearance enables the Patent Office to check that there is nothing in the application which endangers security, for example a description of a new weapon.
In my opinion this reinforces the point made by my namesake that the government should withdraw its proposal to privatise the work of the front office of the Patent Office. Patent applications, which all relate to confidential material, and some of which relate to security material, should be dealt with by established civil servants, bound by the Official Secrets Act.
