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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5420, 10 August 1878, Page 1 (Supplement)

The I'aris correspondent of the DaVy Xt-v-s of the Ittth May, ISTS, send i the following communication to that journal in reference to piracies of Messrs. I'owland’s patent for their Macassar oil:- *' Messrs. A. Rowland and Sons, of Macassar oil colebritv, have, after long suffering, made a successful campaign in Paris against pirates of a product which we know on the authority of Lord Byron to be 'lncomparable.' Many tradesmen have been in-the habit of selling spurious Macassar oil in bottles labelled, to a cursory view, precisely like the genuine ones of Hatton-garden. The only difference was that the signature in red ink, the handwriting of which was precisely imitated, appeared on close insp’etio *. t«> be Bouland and Sou instead of Howland and Sou. But the 13 was artfully made to look like an It, and there being no W in the Trench alphabet, the subsli- * tution of U was not likely to attract attention here. The case is very like one I remember in the Rolls . Court when omnibuses were young, A rival to the ‘Omnibus Conveyance Company,’ painted on his omnibus ‘Omnibus Conveyance for Company/ bbt painted the word ‘ for’ in microscopic letters. Lord Langdale ruled that the fraud was i>.\lj>.ildo, ami-, granted an injunction. A material distinction in the present instance la that the seven shilling genuine Rowland bottle is marked on the spurious label 3s. Od., on which difference of price Messrs. Rowland aiul Sons made the obsevva ion that those who rob them of. their trade mark oan only sell * rubbish.' The Trench courts no more admit colorable alteration as an excuse for piracy, than does the English. Court of Chancery. But the difficulty in the present case arose from the long impunity which tho pirates had enjoyed, and it was suggested that thev might plead condonation. Armed, however, with opinions from MM. Menard, IJozcvoaw, and several other lawyers, who demonstrated that the right to prosecute only dates from the recent Treaty of Commerce, and therefore there had been no laches, Messrs. A.'Rowland and Sons launched a cloud of writs. Most of the defendants at once caved in, and pai l costs and small damages. But six who stood out, named Bonsoi, Blalze, Delettrea, Cnbrideus. Bletxzu, and I’auatieu, have just been cuist and cou trained in damages varying from 200 f. to 1500 f. and costs, and a perpit-ai injunction is awarded against them. Tho. case is important to English tradesmen, and, as oneof the counsel remarks, in his opinion to Frmclv ■ tradesmen, who cannot expect protection to their trado marks in England without reciprocity, Tur. Tliuuou: oulu.—" What does * transatlantic’ mean, mamma 1" "Across tho Atlantic, child. Hold your tongue aiid ask no more questions.’* “ Then does * transparent/ mean a cross mamma f* (lias to forfeit luy slate, and stand in tho corner.)