278Use of the term “patent attorney”: supplementary provisions
(1)The term “patent attorney” may be used in reference to a solicitor, and a firm of solicitors may be described as a firm of “patent attorneys”, without any contravention of section 276.
(2)No offence is committed under the enactments restricting the use of certain expressions in reference to persons not qualified to act as solicitors—
(a)by the use of the term “patent attorney” in reference to a registered patent agent, or
(b)by the use of the term “European patent attorney” in reference to a person on the European list.
(3)The enactments referred to in subsection (2) are section 21 of the [1974 c. 37.] Solicitors Act 1974, section 31 of the [1980 c. 46.] Solicitors (Scotland) Act 1980 and Article 22 of the [S.I. 1976/582 (N.I.12).] Solicitors (Northern Ireland) Order 1976.