Red Patent Leather was created in 1984.

Royal letters patent are published orders from a monarch giving someone a specific right or title. Letters patent are the precursor to patents now given to inventors.

Patent law derives from the letters patent ("open letters") given by sovereigns to an individual or corporation to endow them with rights, title, or (as in this case) a monopoly. Letters patent date back to 1331 in England, but even in Ancient Greece there are records of creators being granted a temporary monopoly on their inventions.

Patents derive from "letters patent," or open letters, showing that the bearer had the exclusive rights to the invention; the earliest is considered to be in 15th century Italy.

Thomas Terrell has written:

'The law and practice relating to letters patent for inventions' -- subject(s): Patent laws and legislation, Patent practice

'Terrell on the law of patents' -- subject(s): Law, Patent, Patent laws and legislation