New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-30
UNION FOR PROTECTION.
TENDENCY OF COMMERCIAL NATIONS
TOWARD INTERNATIONAL
RECIPROCITY.
MORRIS g. WISE TELLS OF THE OBJECTS OF THE
INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR THE PRO
lection OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY.

INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR THE PRO-
lection OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY.
To the Editor Of The. Tribune.
Sir The attention Of statesmen and OF political
economists toward the establishment Of new and
reciprocal relations between the various CONNER
cial countries with view OF securing beneficial re-
suits for the nations is a subject which commands
earnest and most serious consideration Dew
eral leading commercial countries have already
taken most important initial step toward the Sc
curing OF closer relations in direction which
transcends In importance the mere making ana en-
tering into Of commercial treaties.
aude to the establishment Of the International
Union for tho Protection OF Industrial Property.
which has been some years In operation under the
control and direction Of the countries who have
thus far entered into said union. the headquarters
central office being located at Berne. Switzer-
land
The countries which have thus far signhed their
adhesion to this international union Belgium.
SPAIN France, Italy, the Netherlands. Portugal,
Switzerland and Tuns.
OBJECT OF THE UNION.
The object Of the union is to give international
protection in the countries comprising the same. TO
all species Of Industrial property, and thus. uti-
mately obviating the necessity for seeking proec-
ton by separate registrations In each OF the coun-
tries.
marks which have been registered in the country
of origin by the citizens thereof are deposited, and
the owners thereby secure protection In all the
other countries which members Of the Inter
national Union.
1t only needs a glance discover how important
this subject U.s. and how the commerce OF all CIV
ized nations may be protected in practical man.
ner most effectually by an extension of this plan
The United States Great Britain and Germany
have not vet signifed their adhesion to the Inter-
national Union, but 1t certainly Will only require
short time for those leading commercial nations
(and the minor who will be compelled thereby
to follow their example) to be found enrolled In
great central union having for it's primal object the
protection of the said class OF industrial property
The real and vital importance however to the
human race is not to be found In the mere regis
tration OF trademarks which arc used In inter-
national commerce. This Is important, In so far AS
II goes but II Is only very small part or dennite
and well-considered scheme which will ultimately
find rational development In the minds OF the en-
lightened men OF all nations. and the end will
eventually come In the shape OF a grand interna-
tional cooperative union having for It's object the
conservation and protection Of honest commerce
and commercial property in all parts OF tho CIVIL
lied world
There is no reason why the American inventor
should not at some future day secure protection
for his invention In all other countries. as well as
his own, by depositing the description OF his In
vention in a central bureau of deposit and paying
therefor q single fee.
Amy who has had any experience In the mat
ter OF obtaining foreign patents we'll knows that
the cost Of obtaining and Of maintaining tn" same
is something stupendous in amount and virtually
prohbitory to % per cent Of all the inventions that
are patented in any single country.
HOW MANY PATENTS ARE LOST.
II Is also a matter Of general knowledge that
many patents are lost by reason Of noh-com-
pance with tho varying arbitrary statutes and
laws regulating tho use and ownership or patented
inventions ir the various countries
Thus for Instance. 1t has been decided ny our
sibiy secures an American patent which WI ,. IS
supposed to continue in force for term OF seven
for the same invention. the American patent ex-
prcs with the earliest date Of expiration OF any
foreign patent he may have secured .
1t does not need much argument to show the I'm I'm
portance Of International co,operaen ~ .ne
known as trade marks, and the principe WI nar no
artists artist '"'' '0@'
merce viii in time tend to the enactment by inter-
national agreement Of uniform international laws
on the subjects Of bimetalc standard OF vaue'
OF bills of ladng and commercial paper; the liab-
ity OF common carriers import and expor, duties
make UP the life OF commerce
INTERNATIONAL COURTS.
A natural evolution will then follow in lettering
the social conditions Of the human race, and per-
hnps the most important feature which VIII logi-
caly and finally follow In the footsteps OF this re-
cproca work the part OF the nations VIII be
found In the necessary establishment OF interna-
tiona courts armed with the power TO adjudicate
upon the questions which will Of necessity arise In
the carrying out OF the details OF SAID
From the decision by such an international court
nails Itha citizens OF the different countres) the
ad istmcnt OF the differences between the nations
49,, aofa oh
ton is but short step. and the realization OF
,hs u wnSn Un1 's OF viii
become possible OF an early and practicai solution
shown in the foregoing statement. the establish
ment OF the International Union for the Protection
which bids fair to be one OF the most potent ana
important factors OF our civilization IN the near
Tho attention Of Congress cannot be too strongly
OF having the United States. which u.s. or ought 20
be- seeking foreign commerce. enroll in the lnterna-
believe that the reluctance Of England to enter
the union Is assigned somewhat as reason Tor me
TO assume that II SO large and important a com
mercial nation as the United states Joins with
France and the other smaller nations already en-
rolled Germany and Great Britain will speedily
This age Of electric and rapid inter-communica-
ton between the various countries has united their
HE; and the trend OF human thought is certainly
in the direction OF cementing by close and friendly
ties the universal DlOtpeTnoou VI man anu 40
ing this cause the grandest work Of the coming
century the as yet limited operations OF the Inter-
national Union at Berne, Is important II serving
an index finger. pointing the way.
New-York July 2 1896 MORRIS s. WISE .
he WAS DISPOSED TO CRITICISE.
From The San Francisco Post.
Il attended Barnpms Circus at New-London
Conn. a few days ago" remarked travelling man
sitting beside one OF those shrewd. practical old
Yankees that We read about and seldom see. ex
ht,, ftr no ma