POSITION EXPLAINED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20080, 28 October 1939, Page 5

POSITION EXPLAINED

ENEMY PATENT RIGHTS NO WIDE CONFISCATION (British Official Wireless.) Reed. Oct. 10, RUGBY, Oct. 27 Since statements have appeared tc he effect that enemy-owned patents, designs, copyrights, and trade marks n Britain are being confiscated or compulsorily transferred to nonenemies the British Patent Office takes the opportunity both of categorically denying this charge and of explaining the position relating to enemy-owned trade marks, etc. What is evidently referred to in these reports is the power given by he Patents, Designs, Copyright and Trade Marks Emergency Act for the grant, in proper cases and under strictly regulated procedure, to persons who are not enemies or enemy subjects of licenses to work patented inventions, use registered designs, or produce or perform copyright works belonging to enemies. The object of ‘his legislation is to enable articles or substances in question which cannot now be made here or supplied to this country by the enemy proprietors concerned to be produced here. Payment of Royalties

The licenses granted do not deprive the enemy owner of his property in the patent, design, or copyright, and ‘.hey will be made subject to proper conditions, including the payment o! royalties to the custodian of enemy property.

So far as enemy-owned trade marks are concerned,, it is only in comparatively rare cases where it is difficult or impracticable to describe or refer to an article or substance without tire use of tlie enemy-owned trade mark that power is given for the temporary suspension—not confiscation —of trademark rights in individual cases In favour of a person who desires to deal in the article or substance, and to establish another description for it