The New York herald., 1872-11-23
General Van Buren's View OF the Sub.
tect.
NEW YORK, Nov. 20, 1872

NEW IORk, NOV. ~, 1917.
70 THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
Under above heading the HERALD OF to-day con-
tains a long communication from Paris over the
signature Of Mr.. B. b. Hotchkiss warning American
Inventors against sending their inventions to the
International Exhibition at Vienna, for fear OF
piracy. Mr. Hotchkiss believe to be q very worthy
gentleman, the owner OF a valuable patent here,
which he has been striving to introduce into sew.
eral European countries. In Austria, it appears.
he has met with vexations and difficulties
which have sorely tried his temper and aroused all
his belligerent American qualities, and he has
made up his mind to break up the Exhibition. His
contributions to various journals here and abroad
breathe vengeance, and yet he very properly says
shat If treaty can be made between Austria and
the United States protecting American inventors
IN the former country his opposition will be with.
arawn. There is no question that our Patent laws
are far in advance OF those OF other countries Our
pohcy is to protect our inventors and secure them
, fair return for their valuable conceptions.
The policy OF Europe is to throw an
invention open to the people. We have
thus become the greatest inventive people in the
world, while valuable patents avoid the countries
where piracy is countenanced and encouraged.
Great international exhibitions, which OF late years
have become popular as agents OF the worlds
progress and civilization, may well be considered
as anordng the most excellent opportunities OF
Inducing change in the iliberal policy which thus
acts to the exclusion OF some OF the most valuable
Of labOr-saving Inventions
The Austrian authorities have already in view
Of the approaching exhibition, manifested their
desire to bring about some such change. In April
Of this year treaty was ratified between the
two countries upon the subject OF trade marks
which provides that "every reproduction OF trade
marks which in the countries or territories Of the
one OF the contracting parties are affixed TO GER
IL forbidden in the countries or territories OF the
other OF the contracting parties and shall give to
seedngs to pree9 such and n to
cover damages for the same AZ may be authorized
oy the laws OF the country on which the counter
Of that country.n And in addition law has lately
oeen passed by the Austrian Parliament permit
ling every exhibitor to receive from the chief
director certificate, which certificate is granted
without cost, and operates as patent during the
sxn,pltlon Mara ana and fGr t two month months after
absolute patent by the payment OF little over ten
ionars. But the oppressive feature OF the Aus
TRAN patent laws, and the one under which Mr..
Hotchkins has suffered is the one that compels the
manufacture OF the patented article in Austria
becomes void. This obnoxious provision, and
others similar, have been striving for months to
have abrogated, and with that view have been
engaged IN correspondence with the proper au-
shorltes OF both countries, and have forwarded to
Washington draft Of . treaty containing the
necessary provisions, which have strong hopes
will be favorably entertained at Vienna.
beg to suggest however, that efforts similar to
that OF your correspondent will not prove service
able In bringing about the adoption OF the treaty.
Bravado and threats Of abscnttng ourselves from
the Exhibition will hardly tend TO bring the Aus
trian government to our view Of the case. BY this
means the American department OF the Exhibition
NAV be made comparative failure to the disap-
pOtntment Of the Austrian authorities and TO the
shame and disgrace OF our country; but our In
ventors would not be benefited, nor the cause OF
and Paris were worth millions Of dollars to this
country and the one now approaching will aIord
us the opportunity OF making the older
agricultural nations acquainted with the superb
ority OF our inventions and perhaps oil creating o
large and important market for our machinery OF
various kinds, IL Is strictly forbidden to take
copies OF anything exhibited without written con-
sent OF the owner and chief director and although
u nls possible skifu mechanic may here and there
carry away with him valuable idea believe that
the disposition OF the authorities Is to guard against
pfracIes, ana that We shall make great mistake II
we follow the counsel Of the croakers ITO stay at
homo and make mouths at the rest OF the worid.u
THOMAS Il. VAN BUREN,
United States Commissioner.
Young HIPPOPOTAMUs,-The birth OF young