The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-08-18
NO PATENTS In JAPAN
Manufacturers There Steal the
Foreign Inventions.
MARVELLOUS SKILL IN IMITATION
let an American send Goods TO TOKYO
and the Jap ArtIftcers VIII soon
Duplicate Them.
Chicago Record.

Chicago Record.
Tokyo. July IA visit 20 the exposf
fion a. Kyoto or an examination or us
catalogue is sufficient 20 convince any
one that efforts 10 build up al export
trade IN general merchandise from TIC
United States 10 this country ~oul1 De
wasted. II represents an epitoFne OF the
progress OF the people for the last i"ers-
fy-fge years. and demonstrates the facil-
tty and the accuracy Of the japanese IN
Initiating the arts and industries OF other
nations II contains in its department OF
manufactures q sample Of almost every
thfng that enters into the wants OF civil
feed men. and most Of the articles are OK
act reproductions % inventions thaf are
stu protected by patents in Europe and
the United states.
One OF the weak spots in the national
morals Of Japan is the refusal of the gov
eminent to make patent and trademark
treaties for there is no protection what
ever against piracy in japan. SUI. Wneh
you reproach him with this, the japanese
gives you a knock-down argument in de-
Tense OF his country. As Mr.. MatzudiaTa-
the chief examiner in the Japanese patent
Office. who WAS q commissioner TO the
Woid'e fair. remarked the other day:
'sThe United States and the European
powers have refused to recognize Japan
as a civilized nation They have refused
10 SUBMIT fbeif Elp1eHtS 10 RAOtfIttVit
of our courts, and have forbidden las 20
make cur own tariff. They insist that
their subjects In Japan shall be tried before
their own eonsuls, under the laws of their
osn country because our laws are not
good enough for them. and they VIII not
allow rs to- impose duty OF more than
per cent upon imported merchandise.
Then they blamo us for not being willing
to make n treaty 70 protect their patents.
Under the new treaties that take effect IN
1850 japan viii become "A member Of the
International patent and trademark
union. and WIN give tao inventions OF for
eigners tho same protection that it's OWL
receive. If that is not satisfactory our
government would he willing 20 have
them go into effect tomorrow instead OF
four years hence"
While Mr.. Matzudlara presents the GEL
fshness Of other nations IN Z forchle and
truthful manne~ IL does not Justify the
wholesale robbery that Japanese manu-
faeturers have committed upon Ameri-
can and European inventors. TWO wrongs
do not make a right in this or any other
case. and IL Is not a fair example OF or
dinary japanese equity. Every novelty
and invention for which they have any
Use will be reproduced here within three
months after II appears in the United
States or London. and will be sold for
about one-laif what II costs there. Ev-
cry japanese who goes abroad IS always
on the lookout for some useful and profit
able process or article which his people at
home may use. The japanese merchants
at New York. Chicago and other cities I'm
.he United States. as well as in Europe,
are continually sending samples OF popn-
lar designs ard useful utensils 10 their
friends at home. even toys and games and
puzzles. The famous fifteen puzzle was
sold by peddlers on the streets Of Tokyo
within three months after IL appeared in
the United States. having been sent overt
by Japanese merchant in New York.
They have an advantage here In not be-
Ing compelled 20 paw n royalty. as we'll as
In the low price of their labor, so that
when they acquire the inventions Of for
eignors they can reproduce and sell the
goods much cheaper than they cost at
home. The Japanese are splendid chem
lists. also. and they are able 10 analvZe
patent medicines. chemicals and patents
or that sort and manufacture them to
suit the demands or their own market.
They have no respect for trade marks
but initiate them on their own goods. oven
20 the name Of the manufacturers. It Is
bad enough to have them steal our pat
entg. but when they put on labels like the
genuine 10 deceive the public II is carry
ing n wicked practice n little too far and
IS adding insult 20 injury.
For example. Won will find perfectug
presses I'm nearly all the printing Offices
Of japan bearing the name of r IT. Hoe
Co. New York-the inscription being
cast In raised letters upon tho iron. Ev-
cry one 81 these machines was marufact-
ured - Japan without the permission or
the knowledge Of the Hoe company Some
years ago tho American Trading Company
imported half dozen Hoe presses for a
dealer In printing materials in Tokyo
= ~. \ .
or sen each. \ few months later Mr.
Morse. president OF the American Trad
fnr Company called or the local dealer
20 pay his respects and found thirty or
forty similar presses IN his wareruom all
hearing the name OF II. II. Hoe &, Co.
New York
"Ah" remarked Mr.. Morse. "vou arc
importing presses on your own account ."
Ne" was the reply, we arc making
them ourselves"
''But YOU have no rirht 10 put that
name on any machines Won make" ex-
claimed Mr. Morse. with Indignation.
They cast them at The foundry I'm that
way" was the answer; hut do not zee
who Is going 70 prevent us There is no
foreign patent law Tn Japan"
'But there Is n moral law which every
honorable business man should recognize
and obey, and. while no one can prevent
you from rohhing the Hoe company. YOU
NAENI 10 Aff SatlNNNA WIN stealing their
machine only and not their reputation"
The Japanese machines were sold at SiT5
nj a large profit. or SO less than they cost
In tho United States.
Tho same IS true 81 typecaxing ma
chimes and other printers supplies. and
another notable example Of Japsnese
thieVefy is offered bv the local reproduc-
ton OF Fairbanks scales There used 60
be large shipments from the United States
but now they are initiated exactly trade
mark. name. decorations and everything
and are sol.i az about onc-hslf the price
they bring in the United States There IS
"a large display in the exposition ar Kvoto
and you can ind them in almost every
shop throughout the whole empire where
goods aye weighed Indeed. the factory
where thev are made IS commonly known
rs the Fairbanks scale factory" al
though tho Fairbanks have not the
slightest interest in the concern beyond
the dafu.re Il does - their trade
Mason & Hawiiu orgaus THAI sell Tor $50
IN the United States are manufactured fn
Osaka and sold For So 20 people "a no sun
pose they are imported from the United
States Singer SEWING machines a05
other machines patertcd under the laws
or the United States are rcnro3ucea here
exactly except that the table is made
very low 10 suit the habit the Japansse
have 90 sitting on the floor. They ma kc
their OWN telephones and electric lieht
apparatus OF American PATENTS without
asking leave or paying royalty. The tele-
phone they have here Is an Improvement
on that we are accustomed 70 n that a.