New-York tribune., 1876-01-31
CENTENNIAL STAMPED ENVELOPES.

PORTER BMNBRIDGEs CLAIM THAT THE GOVERN
MENT IS INFRINGING on THEIR TRADE MARK
THEIR RIGHTS NOT TO BIZ DIsIEGARDED.
IFRoM REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBrsEI I,
WAsnINGroY, Jan. 80. - The following letter
written by Dr. Macdonald, Centennial Commissioner
for the Post-O Office Department, explains itself;
Posr-OfFIcB DEPARTvrNT. MosEY oRDER QrFIcE,
W,sHINGroN. ID. G., Jan, ~, 1870;
cepc OF which acknowledge Jan. 49, 1876, you call
NewN0rk paper OF Jan. T. to -" onect that l1r' WAC
donald. Centennial Comms,ip9el Tor the Postohes De
parunent and Mr.. Il. ID. baz"n. Chief OF me otihp
Division, had, under the direction OF the Postmaster
General made arrangements for the manufacture OF
water inlalked, etc, and state that on April Is, $50,
by trademark letters patent No 2,37d the exclusive Eve
yeloes and cards was conferred upon our clients Meesrs'
Porter x BainbEid"e of this city"
In your later letter, dated Jan. % 1875, you again
call The attention the tights Of your clients. ana ask
that you will inform us rs speedily - consistently can
be done whether the GOycrnnent propose 10 disregard
the nights 81 your cllentsP
form reply the letters hoyc referred TO- that.
the receipt former letter communication was
addressed To the honorable CODuss urcr of Patents ask
ing OrformatiVn to the nature o Toe trdenark lot
tcrs patent issued 70 andeharaeer
of Il rights conferred upon them by the sam , and
whether In his opinion the manufacture and sale Dy te
Department OF stamped envelopes, "aierIndrKen U. -
"U. :. Centennial Postage" thercupOn, would be any
th sr matter of ynnr letter has been eau 5ed by the
delay OF the Patent Office In replying to my cOmmuica-
ton such reply having reached Office but yesterday
Tho Commissioner of Patents therein gives the state
mcnt OF the Examiner Of Trade-Marks, from which II
appears that "a certificate or reFistr non Tor uh9
mark" No. 1874. was s-ued to your clients April ~
1879 the essential feature Of such trademark, which
was appropriated 10 paper, enyelopct ana carr con
sisted OF tho word "Ccniennal anu wa' ''d Dy pelhS
printed upon the wrappers or labels oi the boxes con
taniug The paper or envelopes. or upon the labels
attached 20 the same" and 1t asO proposed TO use
Dy "wdtcrmarking on paper"
The opinion OF ne Oce to the rights OF your clients
IS stated follows: " II the word Centennial be a
lawful trade mark for the purpose staedaid a. present
advised IL Is the opinion oi tbe oi,r I'D " II isnH s
siye title to sad trademark dhe fact of registration
under the statute does not give sch tcl, then he pro
posed by the PosOnce Department Of said marx as
trademark would clearly an arrangement oil inc
rights Of the egstra Is. II Is not understood however
that the PostOtce Do arment designs using the Woid
IN question as trade-inark since IL Is not 70 nu'ae
made. but is itself distinctive or integral part of the
It would seem from this official statement OF the
much As the word centennial" II used IN the embossed
stamp upon the United states stamped euveo' or IN the
waterinark thereon would n't De d tihle-ih'rh Dut
distinctive integral part OF tho stamped envelope,
ths Department could use that word upon It, envelope
without infringement OF any rights acquired by your
clients under their certificate of registration
But ia the preparation ana examination OF various various
drsg gs embossed stamp upon the envelope - pe
the Centennial exhibition, II has been found that
the word Centennial" cannot conveniently b" dsed ot
nT ,n de.i ad"peI for such -ftmp renders
the thereon vi the WORD IN question Wholly unneecs
II would he too long word FOR water-mark in the
paper designed for stamped envelopes, A. II would gen
orally be- ODtcracd by the cutting up Of the paper ntO
pieces of small size IN the process Ot manufacturing
envelopes. Simple initials. shch as u o. " "Ou'u
answer the purpose much better.
From what have stated YOU VIII perceive that the
rights and privileges whether real or imaginary claimed
To been conferred upon yonr clients by their cel
registration for Trademark OF the WORD en-
trnuia are not be dsrr girded, trampied ulOn M
pcrrd otherwise affected by tine action OI this Depart
mcnt regard to tho stamped envelope for tno Cehten
uia Exhibition. Very respectfully, you Ohcdnt servant
{. r. MACDDNALD, superintendent
MNS PARaONS. Attorneys and COunsel0Is at Law
York.