PATENTS, DESIGNS, AND TRADE-MARKS FIFTY-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1944 Session I, H-10

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1944 NEW ZEALAND

PATENTS, DESIGNS, AND TRADE-MARKS FIFTY-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly pursuant to Section 128 of the Patents, Designs, and Trade-marJcs Act, 1921-22

REPORT (The figures in parentheses are for 1942) I have the honour, in accordance with section 128, to submit my report on the administration of the Act during the year 1943. The applications received during the year for the grant of letters patent and for the registration of designs and trade-marks reached a total of 2,123 (1,562). This figure is higher than any total since 1939, when 2,652 applications were recorded. The fees received showed a corresponding increase and amounted to £13,657 (£11,668), while the expenditure was reduced to £4,824 (£5,900), resulting in an excess of receipts over expenditure of £8,833 (£5,768). Patents The trend of invention is indicated by the number of applications received in the following classes: electricity and magnetism, 92 (60) ; explosives and firearms, 74 (64); harvesting, 21 (5); medicines and surgical appliances, 39 (17); metal-working, 44 (26); telephony and telegraphy, 278 (227); and vehicles, 51 (27). Tbade-mabks Compared with the figures for the preceding year, a substantial increase was shown in the number of applications for the registration of trade-marks, the total received being 678 (398). It is interesting to note that the greater proportion of the applications was received from overseas —namely, 420, as against 258 from persons resident in New Zealand. The greatest number of applications was received in Class 5 (pharmaceutical, veterinary, and sanitary substances) 132 (68), followed by Class 3 (substances for laundry use, soaps, perfumery, cosmetics, &c.) 62 (47), and Class 24 (tissues (piece-goods) and textile articles) 54 (10). General The passing of the Patents, Designs, and Trade-marks Amendment Act, 1943, increased the power of the Court to extend the term of letters patent where losses have resulted to patentees by reason of hostilities and extended the rights of the Crown in regard to war inventions. The law in New Zealand was brought thereby substantially into line with that in Great Britain, and similarly the Patents, Designs, Trade-marks, and Copyright Emergency Regulations 1940, Amendment No. 1, made on the 9th June, 1943, followed closely the action taken there in regard to enemies. Conclusion The appendix contains : — A. Receipts and Payments Account for the Year ended 31st December, 1943. B. Table showing Receipts and Payments for each of the Last Ten Years. C. Total Number of Applications for Patents and for Registration of Designs and Trade-marks recorded for the Years 1914 to 1943 (inclusive). A. H. Ihle, Commissioner of Patents, Designs, and Trade-marks. The Patent Office, Wellington, 19th May, 1944.

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APPENDIX PATENT OFFICE A. —Receipts and Payments Account for the Year ended 31st December, 1943 Receipts £ Payments £ Patent fees .. .. .. .. .. 10,371 Salaries, &c. .. .. .. .. .. 3,639 Design fees .. .. .. .. .. 104 Fuel, light, power, and water .. .. .. 17 Trade-mark fees .. .. .. .. .. 3,072 Rent, maintenance, and repairs .. .. .. 267 Sales of Acts, Journals, &c. .. .. .. .. 110 Patent Office Journal .. .. .. .. 443 Postage, telegrams, and telephones .. .. .. 135 Printing and stationery, &o. ' .. .. .. 11l Refunds .. .. .. .. .. .. 212 Balance : Cash in Public Account .. .. .. 8,833 £13,657 £13,657 A. H. Ihle, Commissioner of Patents. I hereby certify that the Statement of Receipts and Payments has been duly examined and compared with the relative books and documents submitted for audit, and correctly states the position as disclosed thereby. Copyright fees are not included. —Cyril G. Collins, Controller and Auditor-General.

B.—Table showing Receipts and Payments for each of the Last Ten Years

C.—Total Number of Applications for Patents and for Registration of Designs and Trade-marks recorded for the Years 1914 to 1943 (inclusive)

Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given ; printing (485 copies), £3 10s.

Authority: E. V. Paul, Government Printer, Wellington.—1944.

Price 3d.]

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Year. Receipts. Payments. Surplus. Year. Receipts. Payments. Surplus. £ £ £ £ £ £ 1934 .. .. .. 12,376 4,709 7,007 1939 .. .. .. 14,134 6,846 7,288 1935 .. .. .. 12,889 4,477 8,392 1940 .. .. .. 12,241 6,076 6 165 1936 .. .. .. 13,270 5,222 8,054 1941 .. .. .. 13,148 5,713 7 435 1937 .. .. .. 13,407 5,623 7,784 1942 .. .. .. 11.668 5,900 5 768 1938 .. .. .. 14,754 6,790 7,964 1943 .. .. .. 13,657 4,824 8,833

Year. Patents. Designs. Trade-marks. Total. Year. Patents. Designs. Trade-marks. Total. 1914 1,574 55 687 2,316 1929 2,251 125 1,359 3,735 1915 1,299 89 565 1,953 1930 2,103 169 1,265 3,537 1916 1,261 113 666 2,040 1931 2,065 151 999 3,215 1917 1,329 83 619 2,031 1932 1,845 164 925 2,934 1918 1,386 53 695 2,134 1933 1,761 143 814 2,718 1919 1,880 74 1,272 3,226 1934 1,766 146 915 2,827 1920 2,193 109 1,391 3,693 19,35 1,730 185 943 2 858 1921 2,115 141 994 3,250 1936 1,836 124 1,096 3 056 1922 2,183 214 1,103 3,500 1937 1,832 193 889 2,914 1923 2,075 183 1,163 3,421 1938 1,960 160 860 2,980 1924 2,085 185 1,338 3,608 1939 1,821 137 694 2,652 1925 2,046 203 1,332 3,581 1940 1,277 108 626 2,011 1926 2,137 204 1,143 3,484 1941 1,214 108 534 1 856 1927 2,052 145 1,325 3,522 1942 1,104 60 398 1,562 1928 2,070 163 1,201 3,434 1943 1,384 61 678 2,123