Patents Act, 1978 (Act No. 57 of 1978)

Chapter XV : Offences and penalties

Purchase

(1)	Any officer or employee of the patent office who buys, sells, acquires or traffics in any invention or patent or any right under a patent, shall be guilty of an offence and on conviction liable to a fine not exceeding R500.

(2)	Every purchase, sale or acquisition, and every assignment of any invention or patent, by or to any such officer or employee shall be null and void.

(3)	Nothing in this section contained shall apply to the inventor or to any acquisition by bequest or devolution by operation of law.