THE LAW OF PATENTS.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 10266, 8 February 1899, Page 5

THE LAW OF PATENTS.

TO TIIE EDITOR OF THE PRESS. Sir, —"Inventor," in to-day's issue, has again afforded additional information on this really great ana important question. I say great because, if there were no inventors we should be in a starving and semi-savage state, and the world would be populated by a loathsome and miserable people. Almost all tho benefits that civilisation enjoys are due to the years of thought of tike original inventor of some entirely new machine, design, or method. The honest and true inventor is really a "patent" in himself. In justice, such an originator deserves the applause and protection not only of the laws of his country, but the individual and collective support of the community. It seems fair, as suggested by "Inventor," that no patent of the same kind should be granted to another for twelve months, of which the application and specifications are in general similar to the original patent. It is comparatively easy to copy or steal another person's idea, and, with the assistance of a friend with money, and probably the necessary < tools, time, and conveniences to make it, to jump the claims of the inventor, leaving him perhaps almost penniless. There Are those now whose inventions would. increase the value of New Zealand's worth by a million a year could it be possible for all to be sup* plied at once, independent of the improvements that will follow its use to the second year, and, I may add, for ever after.- But as "Inventor" puts it, the mechanic may "dawdle" at his work, putting you out of time and gear, to your utter ruin. But a genuinely honest inventor would, recognise liberally the improvement suggested by an . ~equally honest man, and; jtrive; him a due _ proportion of the" benefits,' if .'"anffi"'"lffat*'__a;jrt "* T* accrue,from his idea.,,l cannot~nelp tlunki . ing that there ought to be a wide margin of discrimination between the original patefat and a similar one, which probably is nothing more than a copy or imitation, with but ' / few alterations, neither of them perhaps im- '- provements. Where originality and utility are combined to tbe benefit of all, recognition and reward ought to be encouraged and pro* tected. >W.W. B. February 4th. ' /