Post Office Act 1969

10 (1) Where, in pursuance of an agreement made before the appointed day in relation to an invention claimed under a complete specification, between the department of the Postmaster General and the applicant for the patent, or any person from whom he derives title, being an agreement to which the Post Office has become a party by virtue of this Act, communication of the invention is made to the Post Office or a person authorised by it to investigate the invention or its merits, the invention shall not be deemed to have been anticipated by reason only of that communication or of anything done in consequence thereof for the purposes of the investigation.

(2) An authorisation to investigate an invention given under subsection (1) of section 51 of the [1949 c. 87.] Patents Act 1949 by the department of the Postmaster General and in force immediately before the appointed day shall remain in force on and after that day as if given by the Post Office and, in relation to that invention, the said subsection (1) shall have effect as if references to a government department included references to the Post Office.