Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-03-17
INVENTORS INTERESTS.

The Patent Bills Now Before Congress
The hostile patent bills that have pass
ed the House, and other bills now before
the Senate, says the Scientific American,
have not yet been reached. Meantime
hundreds Of letters and remonstrances
against the passage Of these bills have
been sent by individuals in all parts of
the country, and hundreds more will soon
be sent forward. If the friends of the
patent laws continue to pour in their pro-
tests for short time longer, it is be-
heVed this mischieYous legislation may be
postponed, and at last defeated. Nothing
has more powerful influence with Sena-
tors and Representatives than forcibIe
letters from their own tOwnsmen and con-
stituents. We therefore urge upon in
ventOrS, manufacturers and all who wish
to uphold the industries of the nation to
write directly to Senators, and give rea-
sons why these bills should be set aside.
Legislators need to understand the views
and feelings of the people they repre-
sent, and then they will speak and act ac-
cOrdingly.
For the convenience of readers we here
repeat the numbers and general nature OF
some Of the bills now before the Senate.
House bill 1925, introduced by the Hon.
Mr.. Calkins, of Indiana, provides sub
stantially that If the inventor or owner of
patent shall dare to attempt to sustain
his rights by bringing a suit against in
fringers he shall recover no costs, and
shall pay to the infringer's lawyer
counsel fee of $50. The bill was passed
in the House of Representatives by an
enormous majority on January 81, and is
now before the Senate for concurrence.
The members who voted for. it apparently
regard it as very upright proceeding to
encourage the inventor to reveal his in
ventiOn by passing laws to give him
patent, and then passing other laws to
deprive him of the benefit Of said patent.
This is the way Congress eXemplfies in
tegrity and fair dealing before the people.
House bill 1884, introduced by Mr..
Vance, of North Carolina, provides sub
stantlally that any person may use any
patented article he pleases without liabil-
lty, but shall become liable after receiv-
ing notice that patent exists; and may
then require the patentee to give him the
use of the patent for a royalty to be
named by the courts, thus rObbing the
patentee in the first instance, and then
depriving him of the control of his patent.
This bill was passed by the House, Jan
uary y, 1884, by vote of ia yeas to 6
nays.
House bill 3617, introduced by Mr.. An
ueISOH, Vi AdnSdS, TeuuceS Ino llIeulne OF
a patent from seventeen years to five
years. Not yet passed, but perhaps soon
will be by great majority, as there is no
member in the House who has so far
ventured to saya word in protest or speak
i'll favor of inventors or the present patent
system.
In the Senate the bill introduced by Mr..
voorhees,, of Indiana Is. 1868 provides
in effect that all patents shall be free to
the public. This bill caps the climax; it
has not yet been passed, but soon will be
If the members of the Senate share in the
views of the House majority.
The following is the text of Senator
Voorhees, bill:
Sec. 1868. Be It enacted, etc., That it shall be
n valid defense to any action for an infringe
ment OF any patent, or any suit or proceeding
to enjOin any person from the use of a pat
ented article, that the defendant therein, or
his assignOr, purchased the patented article
Tor use or consumption, and not for sale or
exchange, in good faith and in the usual
course Of trade, without notice that the same
was covered by patent, or without notice
that the seller had no right to sell such art-
Gle; and in all such cases notice received
after such purchase shall not have the effect
to impair in any way the right of such pur-
chaser az absolute owner.