UNIFORMITY IN TRADE MARKS

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1023, 12 January 1911, Page 6

UNIFORMITY IN TRADE MARKS

Imperial-Conference a : resolution was passed affirming the desirability of making' provision for such uniformity. as might'be practicable in the granting • and protection : of' trade marks and patents .within the Empire. The matter was referred to. the Board of Trado, .who..'suggested, that it could be more satisfactorily dealt with by a committee.under the control of the. Imperial secretariat. ' To assist tho work of such 'a committee, the Patent. Office, 'at the request, of the board,'; prepared' a useful memorandum embodying . in • tabulated form tho variations in the statutes of. the United Kingdom, and showing generally the rioints of similarity and the material points' of difference between" the law of tho -"United Kingdom and that 'of .the self-governing Dominions. In addition to the many points specifically dealt with, ■it was'suggested 'that, special provisions should be adopted in regard to the registration of cotton marks, which are of n higllly complicated and technical character. It was also intimated that at an early data the Government would, initiate legislation to prohibit the use of the device of the Geneva red cross ns a .trade mark,' and it was proposed to excludo. from Registration; marks that wore common to a trado.and could not,..therefore, bo distinctive, such as the word "Albert" in the biscuit trade. Copies of the memorandum wero duly sent to tho Govern; nicnts of the Dominions overseas, who were asked to adopt these and certain specified provisions of the Imperial Act, and. in accordance with their own suggestion, to send representatives to n, conference in London to discuss all '.ho subjects in detail. To those requests most of the Governments liavo now replied, but .their answers disclose so' great a diversity of opinion tlmt the Board of Trade and tho Colonial Office, it ,is stated, have determined not to proceed further in tho matter.—"Manchester Guardian."