The New York herald., 1872-11-23
TIE VIENNA EXHIBITOR
ne Pstsnt Laws ef neutrality-suspicious.
items q to the Security to Foreign Inventors
by the Austrian Consul General and
United States Commissioner Van
Buren-Patent Stealing TO Be
Strictly Prohibited at tho
worlds Fair Of 1873.

Letter from Consul-General Havemeyer.
10 THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
In your esteemed paper Of the Goth inst. find
an article entitled "The Vienna Exhibition In
which the European, and more especially the Aus
trian, Patent laws are disapprovingy criticised
and word OF warning addressed to Americans
proposing TO send exhibits to the International
Exposition Of 1873. Your correspondent, although
protesting to be, is not really correctly informed
and l would sincerely regret Ii erroneous state
ments OF like nature were to take root In indus
trial and commercial circles In this country and
thereby to prejudice, perhaps, the American par
hcipation In the Vienna exhibition. You win,
snder these circumstances certainly excuse the
request to lay before your numerous readers the
following rectlfying commentary on the above
mentioned article:-
The Patent laws Of Austria Hungary require the
patentee to put In operation his invention, dis
covery, &c, within one year from the date OF his
patent. This regulation is, however, interpreted
In so liberal spirit by the Patent Bureau, forming
part OF the Imperial Ministry OF Commerce, that
hardly anybody can complain. Upon application
Of the patentee the authorities grant, without any
di1iculty and exception, an extension for another
or second term OF one year, and, II good and valid
reasons are shown, even for q third year. More
over, the obligations ito operate" or ito CON-
mence operating" the patent are enforced with
equal liberality proofs Of the actual manufacture
OF few specimens Of the patented article in local
factories being accepted suficient evidence and
no restraint being put upon the importation OF
such patented articles manufactured in foreign
parts. In this respect Austria Hungary Is by far
more liberal than other Continental States, for In
stance France, where the importation OF patented
articles is now most strictly prohibited, compelling
the patentee to establish expensive manufactures
on French soil. For the poor inventor IL is made
easier in Austria-Hungary than in any other State
He can Obtain patent Tor one year at an expense
OF about twelve to fourteen dollars Its extension
for snother year will only cost him about ten dol
lars more. II his invention possesses the least
merit or is OF any value 1t s certainly not unlikely
that he will be enabled In two years to complete
tion. Should adverse circumstances prevail, over
which he has no control, he win still have third
years grace. The studlous Infringement OF valu-
able patents Is assuredy not confined to Austria,
but practised everywhere where patents exist. 1t
will be apparent to any one that the Austrian Pat
ent laws afford every protection, and are really
framed In the sole interest OF the honest, genuine
and mer1torfous inventor and patentec
AS regards the International Exposition OF 1873,
the interests OF foreign inventors are cared for In
the most extensive manner. A law has been passed
by both houses OF the Rechsrath awaiting only the
lndOubted acquiescence OF the Hungarian Legis
ature, which imposes the issue OF sO-called "pro-
lection certificates to such exhibitors who may
which is issued free OF stamp duty tax will grant
full protection to the owners OF patented Inventions
until the end OF December, 1873. II the inventor
pleases he may obtain patent for another year
according TO the general rules, and thus he will
enjoy the protection OF his invention through 1873
and 1874 for the small sum OF about fifteen dollars,
and during this period OF two years he will have
ample opportunity Of beginning to work his patent
In Austria Hungary.
Under such circumstances there can be no fear
Of American inventors standing in danger OF being
pirated, or OF being overcharged with heavy costs
and obligations. The Director In Chief OF the
Worlds Fair, Baron Schwartz-Senborn, lays the
greatest stress upon the most imposing representa-
don OF American genius In the industrial compcti-
GOn OF all nations, and will be certainly the first to
assist in removing all hindrances which might be
In the way.
have the honor to be, SIR yours very respect
tully, ia. HAyEMEYER,
ConsulGeneral Of Austria Hungary.
NEW YORK, Nov. q. 1879