JAPAN'S ENTERPRISE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9210, 13 April 1908, Page 2

JAPAN'S ENTERPRISE.

COMING EXHIBITION ON AMBITIOUS LINES. Elaborate preparations are progressing in Japan for the Grand Exhibition of 1912. It is hoped to ensure a success unprecedented in Europe or America. The enterprise aims at exacting for home industries the recognition which has been established by fighting prowess, and thus to provide Japan with full credentials for admittance to the ranks of first-class Powers. The success or otherwise of the enterprise will be of far-reaching consequence to Japan. The interests of the country demand that an early opportunity should be taken to elucidate the position of Japan a 6 a party to the International Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property. It is much to be regretted that there exists an unpleasant impression regarding the security afforded to foreigia interests by compliance, with the regulations of the Japanese Patents and Designs Law. The extend of foreign support which will be afforded to the tcoming exhibition will depend on the promptness with which confidence is restored. Sufficient publicity has not been given to the anomalous system of ..trade mark registration, and, consequently, a number of valuable trade marks have been registered by Japanese to the exclusion of the owners. Up to the present the courts have ruled that no protection would.be extended to foreign trade marks known and used in Japan before the enactment of the laws of 1899 unless such trade marks had been registered. It would appear that the authorities have now adopted an entirely different attitude. The Patent Bureau has stated its desire to receive particulars of all trade marks which are still in use and were in U6e prior to July 1, 1899. The committee of the Yokohama Foreign Board of Trad© took occasion to state that the announcement was a very liberal one. In view of the new attitude adopted by the authorities, it may seem ungenerous to express the opposite opinion, but" the fiberalitv would be move apparent if the suggestion had been accompanied by statistics as to the number of such trade-marks which heretofore were protected against appropriation. " MISLEADING IMITATION." There fexist grievances respecting the infringement of trade marks which actually have been registered. The laws of 1899 forbid registration of a trade mark similar to one that has already been repistered. It is a tribute to their lofty ideals that the words "similar to" liflve beon interpreted by the courts in Japan to mean what is generally understood by the words "identical with." A simple remedy for any misunderstanding would be the alteration of the law by the insertion of the words "misleading imitation. It is desirable that the "interpretation and administration of the Patents and Designs Laws of Japan should achieve the purpose for which those laws were promulgated. The urgency of the -matter cannot be overestimated. Japan has proved herself a formidable rival in the markets of the Far East. The comincr exhibition may be double<»d»ed in effect, and manufacturers can ill-nfford to display their wares for the edification of competitors unless there be some reasonable inducement. A few years ago foreign manufacturers would have been eager to exhibit thoir wares for which a ready market would hay* been found witlun recent times. But the prospect is now changed, and foreign manufactures arp in r>roceF« of being ousted by home Industries winch havo flourished cxv ceedinclv under th© blessings of an increasingly protective tariff and cheap labour. ___»■■ _- — — •