WIRELESS PATENTS

Hokitika Guardian, 1 September 1928, Page 4

WIRELESS PATENTS

NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE GOVERNMENT.

WELLINGTON, August 28. Tho general manager of the Amalgamated Wireless Company of Australasia, Mr Fisk, who returned to Sydney to-day, has it is understood, been visiting New Zealand in connection with a heavy claim for roynlities in connection with wireless patents used by the broadcasting service and wireless receivers Tijs important 'question, which may ultimately involve every user of wireless sets, has been in abeyant p in the Dominion for several years but the owners of wireless patent lights hare net abamlnne-.l any of their Haims to substantial compensation for the use of essential patents. The Amalgamated Wireless representatives

um! postal officials are not disposed to discuss the claim, though they admit it is now the subject of active negotiation, and the 'Government is directly concerned so far as the claim affects the Broadcasting Company. When the present agreement with the New Zealand Broadcasting Company was .made in 1924 Parliament ajrproved an amendment of the Post and 'telegraph Act, which showed that the wireless patent question would ultimately have to be decided. It was therefore enacted that Ifor the purposo of the law relating to patents the AVire. less Broadcasting Company is to he regarded as the agent of the Postmas-ter-General, and that any payment in respect to inventions from any person or company which is declared to be the agent of the Post and Telegraph Department shall he taken into consideration as if it was received from the Crown. 'l’he final sub-clause of this section reads:—“No person shall have any right of action against any person or company being the agent ol the Post and Telegraph Department in respect of any infringement of any patent arising out of the making use or exercise of any invention, the subject matter of the patent, in connection with any licensed broadcasting service.”

This law joins the Crown with the Broadcasting Company in any claim for royalties, blit docs not protect wireless dealers, whose anxiety over the situation was shown some months ago when a representative of that trade interviewed the Postmaster-General in regard to pending royalty claims.

It is evident that this question in rapidly coming to a head, and important developments may he expected at an early date.