New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-08-26
THE UNIVERSAL EXHIBITION.
INTERNATIONAL PATENT CONGRESS.

rur ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND hh0Vi10
UoNs NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. BY COUNT AN
GRASSY.
,,pox THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRiBuNS'I
VIENNA. Aug. 1.-THE International Patent
coneress announced by Programme No 80 OF tne luz
ueral Exhibition Commission has just adjourned a'er
session OF five days duration. As the time vi "s'o
bling approached there much solicitude among quo
friends Of patent protection as to the propape '.
the Congress for il mad been made known that at least
enc Department OF Ithe Austrian GoVernment-tus' Vi
Commeroe-was opposed to the whole movement IL was
said also that the Prussian Government dld not looA
with favor upon any agitation on the part OF
calculated 10 press upon It the duty OF eh"oV
ing new and more stringent laws for the pro
lection of inventors Under these circumstances
Il was feared that the supporters OF the anupatent
movement In EuTO would be present IN force ana Una.
The Congress might ind itself divided upon fundamental
principles aud fail to accomplish good result But
these fears were realized. The Congress had none
Of the official character which its projectors hoped IL
would have The Austrian Government, which eoun'
tenanced the movement at first, afterward declined 10
aocred any delegates to the Congress- and assumed he
attitude polite and non-committal Observance Inc
English Government appointed delegate, but with no
powers other than make report upon the proceed
iugs The Swiss Government sent delegate
with similar instructions Greece alone accred-
tied delegates with authority TO speak officially
the wishes and pledge the future action OF
her Government The American representative, MI
Thatcher had at most only semtofhcial character
He was appointed believe, by the State Department
but under no act Of Congress- and although ne no DOUBT
represented fairly the wellunderstOOd wishes OF the
American people on the question of an internauonsi
patent law he had right to claim TO speak authorl-
tativey for the United States Government HIS useiu
mess was considerably impaired by the lateness of his
arrival in Vienna. days before the opening OF the
Congress Mr. Jay teegraphed TO Mr.. Thatcher inform
ing him Of the immediate organization of the Assembly
and requesting his presence. Mr. Thatcher arrived nov"
ever day after the preparatory committee mad
perfected all necessary arrangements, and nnGng tha
the Congress was likely have little official character,
and also aboring under the disadvantage of the non
arrival Of the papers he had prepared the subject OF
the proposed international patent law he decided TO
take no active part in the meetings.
The Congress was in reality only respectable de-
batting society," Of which anybody could become mem
Der by the payment small Of s. 80 1t was an
able body OF however, and while 1t failed
TO realize the expectations of its projectors it has no
doubt done good work calling public attention 10
the rights OF inventors, and in. opening the way Tor
future assemblies Of like character and for conferences
between the accredited agents Of the principal nations
Of the world which may in the end result in some sys
OF international patent law. About 200 persons
consisting chiefly OF inventors, engineers, manutac
turers and university professors, who had enrolled
their members Of the Congress and paid the
required fee, assembled in the main hail of the jury
pavilion. nd called TO order by Baron schWarz,
who made a short address Of welcome in the name OF
the Archduke Rainer the President Of the Commission
assuring the members that he took great in
terest in the subject, and expressing a hope
that the discussion would bring about the most
desirable result. Mr. William Siemens Of London was
then elected President Of the Congress, and Baron
6chwarz Honorary President The President announced
the OF the members Of the Preparatory Commit
tee which, according 70 the Imperial programme, had
been appointed prepare the work of the Congress
These names were follows: DR.. Won Rosas, Vienna;
Or. Langen, Cologne Dr. Klostermann, Bonn; Dr.
Grothe Berlin; DR.. Andree, Osnabruck Prof A. Bauer
Vienna: DR.. Hartig Dresden Carl Pieper, Dresden;
DR. Ratkowsky Vienna; Prof. Dr. ". F Exner Vienna
Baron schwarz-senborn, Vienna; MI. Webster, Mr..
wineman, London. Eng Hamilton A. HILL Boston; VIM.
p. Blake New-HaveD, L. s. This Committee held
several preliminary meetings and adopted series OF
general comprehensive resolutions in favor OF patent
protection and the early adoption Of international
patent law One Of the first resolutions the fol
lowing effect:
That general experience statistics show that
patent protection judicously gwen with due regard to
Inventors on hand and the public interests on
the other stimulates useful inveutions that such n-
ventiOns cheaper production increase consumption ad
vance the progress OF civilization and add largely 10
popular enjoyment and national wealth that experience
and statistics equally prove that the absence OF sueh
protection 10 inventors. the inventive genius or the
nation augushes and the national industry Tags behind
the age that the want OF protection in any country
lions native inventors &c seek home where
their genius VIII be appreciated protected ana rewarded
1t was evident that the Congress was ready accept
these general principles, but the members wished 10
give more distinct and specific expression Of their
views upon several points. The final result was the
adoption OF three leading resolutions or statements with
supplemental paragraphs as follows;
The protection Of inventions is to he guaranteed by
the OF all civilized nations under the condition OF
complete publication OF the same because: a. The
sens Of right OF civilized nations demands the legal pro-
lection OF intellectual work. b. This protection affords
ne only
new technical ideas without loss Of time. and IN re
able manner the general knowledge OF the public C.
ventor remunerative, ana induces thereby COM
petent to devote time and means TO the
and useful technical methods and Improvement. 20
attract capital from abroad, which IN the absence Oh
patent protection will find means OF secure investment
elsewhere q. BY the obligatory complete publication
Of the patented invention the great sacrnces IN tn9
otherwise impose upon the industry OF all countries
will be considerably lessened C. BY the protection u
Invention the secrecy OF manufacture which one OF
the greatest enemies Of industrial progress viii lose ITS
chief support Great injuries wiil De lnncteq upon
native inventive talent enigratDg 10 more congenlal
W beiTs ts the holder Of patent viii aim
sell make most efectua eXeruons Tor speedy In
PRODUCTION OF his invention.
H. An effective and useful patent law must be based
upon the following principles a. The inventor or ms
legal alone can obtain patent aud sueh
81 a foreigner A system OF preliminary examinations
should be adopted for the purpose Of carrying out the
"a maj period e Compete and detailed descriptions
such a. the aud manufacture possible
must be published when the patent is issued d. The
the inventor ascending scale Of taxes should be
established 70 annul useless patents as soon |
obtinable y public with ease II rs desirable that
should he adopted by which patentees should
when public interest demands 1t, give the OF
their for adequate compensation 70 proper
person. Ihe failure 70 introduce an invention in
the patented invention has been applied at all If