Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-12
TRADE MARKS AND LABELS.


Two Bflls Reported by the House
Committee ON Patents.
The House committee On patents has re-
ported favorabiy two bills relating to trade
marks and labels
House bill S62o. favorab,y reported as
explained by the report lis to give The
protection Of copyright to those artistic
designs which are intended to be used in
connection with articles of trade CT com
merce, ana give such designs the Same
protection before actual application 10 the
commercial object with which they are
intended to be associated as afterward
Existing statutes give protection to models
and designs intended 10 he perfected as
works Of the fine arts. as well as to the
perfected works of sculpture or painting.
Existing statutes also give protection 10
perfected artistic productions which are ap-
piled to other articles Of manufacture, but
do not give protection to designs for such
artistic productions, although they may.
and often do, possess as much. or even
mere, artistic excellence and originality as
those which are intended to be perfected as
Works of fine arts. They are produced by
the same artist exercising the same taste.
skill and genius, and often in the same de-
gree The law should recognize and reward
by protection the artistic conception, ire
sPectlve OF whether the ultimate purpose
OF the artist or proprietor is to execute ard
multiply the conception for purposes of
decoration as a work of fine arts or to as
socfate it with some article OF rnanuf ac.ure
IN trade OF commerce. The, objec. Of the
till Is to supply the deficiency in existing
statutes so that the law will give such pro-
lection"
The report on House bill 45S4 says:
This bill has two important purposes:
First. to grant to the several states the
right to protect themselves against fraud
in commerce with one another; second to
protect themselves in commerce with for
eign nations and among the several Indian
tribes.
1T will secure to the states a protection
similar to that which is now enjoyed by in
dividuals under existing law. The bill pro-
v1des that the governor of any state, terri
tory. or the Commissioners of the District
of Columbia shall have the power to adopt
a trademark for his or their respective
state, territory or District for the protec-
tfCn OF their goods. wares or merchandise
the product of their respective state terri
tory or District. The bill further provides
that the use of the trademark shall be
vested in the legislature of said state, ter
rltory or District adopting the same and
used only upon goods, wares and merchan-
disc produced, grown or manufactured
therein, and upon packages and wrappers
containing the same.
The object Of this bill is to protect
the honest producers and manufacturers
against fraud in the wrongful branding or
other marking of his wares goods or mer-
cfandfse. This bill has received the sup
port of the dairy industry of New York.
Wisconsin. Connecticut and other states
ano also the Endorsement Of the National
Pure Food Congress, which convened In
this city last week. While it accords pro-
lection to the dairy industry. and is most
seneraily Endorsed by these organizations.
1t will be equally beneficial to the fruit
growers of California and other states to
the tobacco growers and producers OF
many other products, and will add protec-
lion to all honest manufacturers against a
fraud which is today destroying their mar
kets at home and abroad"