The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-11-08
FARM ANDGARDEN.
Look Out for Patent Swindlers.

LOOK Out Tor Patent SW1ndlerS.
The American Agriculturist the edi-
tor of which is terror to swindlers,
says:
ga farmer sees gate, a clevis, or
some other useful continuance illustra-
ted in the Agriculturist or some other
paper, and it meeting his wants he
makes one like it and uses it. His
neighbor living several miles off sees
the affair and makes one like it, and
so the thing gets into use throughout
a large section of country. At length
there comes along a man who claims
he holds a {patent upon the gate or
other device, that the farmer has in
fringed on his rights, and threatens
immediate prosecution if royalty is
not paid. In nine cases out of ten the
farmer is inundated by the assurance
of the fellow, and to avoid trouble
pays the sum demanded, and the fell
low, who is in nine cases out OF ten a
swindler, goes on to fleece the next
farmer. This, in brief is the story
which comes to us SO often that we
are sure that large amount Of swind-
ling is carried on in this manner. Be-
ing in Washington while ago, we
had an interview with the Commission
er of Patents, with q view to see what
could be done to stop this now grievous
nuisance.
The Commissioner is entirely in
sympathy with the farmers, and is
ready to do all in his power to save
them from imposition. He told us
several things in relation to the mat
ter which lis not advisable to publish,
as the rogues would be put upon their
guard. We give our friends the fol-
lowing advice. In the first place, do
not be frightened. Most farmers are
willing to make almost any sacrifice in
order to avoid anything that looks like
a lawsuit, and these swindlers know
it. Acting upon this knowledge, they
buster and threaten. Let them blow.
They cannot, Iunder any circumstances,
bring you into court under several
months, and s:bluff'' is their chief re-
lance. If a man claims that you have
infringed his patent, demand to see
the patent. If he can not show it, or
give you it's date Of issue and the name
in which it was issued, do not bother
with him. Demand the date, and it
you get it tell him to call again. Pay
no money until you have written to the
Patent Office at Washington, to ascer-
tain if such q patent was issued on
such date. Be particular about the
date. Do not fear, that being an TN
known individual the application will
be unnoticed. 1t is q part of
the business Of the Office to an
swer just such letters. If the pre-
tended owner of the patent is a fraud,
he, finding that you are not frightened
and know what you are about, will
not trouble you any more. Still there
are cases in which the farmer may
have unwittingly infringed upon the
patent-right Of an inventor. Publish
ers of journals are sometimes imposed
upon by persons who send them draw
ings of things that have already been
patented. An honest owner of pat
ent is likely to be fair man, and
when you are fully convinced that you
have unwittingly trespassed upon his
rights, there will generally be no diff.
Guilty in effecting a settlement. It is
only the pretender who bluff and blus-
ter. Do not be afraid of any who try
intimidation, but adopt the course we
Lave here cOunseled.