Omaha daily bee., 1908-09-27
ACT CARRIES JOKER
Americans Not Rushing to Buy Eng,
lish Factory Sites.
COURT DECISIONS ARE AWAITED
F'ormidab bile Measure Passed by Eng
Ilsh Government Fails to Eff
feet Immediate Results
Sought After.

LONDON. Sept. 2s.-(special)-There is
much excitemnt and speculation in England
over the working Of the new patents act,
which is generally supposed to be a
formidable measure for compelling for
eisners," principally Americans and Ger
mans, to manufacture their inventions in
England. Most English persons imagined
that Americans would be among the first
to rush to protect their threatened inter-
ests by Immediately acquiring English fac
tory sites and beginning to produce their
patented articles. To the surprise of every
one, however, the Americans do not seem
the least bit flustered by the new English
patents act. There is no big rush for build
ing land. and. with the exception Of one
or two American firms who find the en-
ployment Of British cheap labor sdvanta-
geous, there is absolutely nothing doing"
In the expected building rush,
Several papers recently published the
statement thai S125, 600, 600 of foreign cap
ital, a considerable portion of 1t being
American. had already been invested here.
Close inquiry by the writer among various
prominent American firms elicits the fact,
however. that practically none OF this capi-
tai is American. II is quite true that a
large sum is being spent by German manu-
facturers in putting up factories in various
places in England. but the Americans are
apparently. like Brer Rabbit. lying low
and sayin' nuttin'." As a matter Of fact,
this time the Americans have acted with
an unusual degree of calm, not to say
cuteness,
LOODhOIe in Act.
There is a loop-hole in the patents act.
and the Americans are looking through
this loop-hole. waiting to see just what Is
going to happen to the German firms.
Americans are considered by Europeans to
be a very impulsive race, and are expected
to rush into things with a whoop. This
time all British expectations have been
disappointed. The loop-hole in the patents
act Ia this: TIT law states that In order
for an article patented in Great Britain Ia
be fully protected In that country it must
be manufactured there 70 an "adequate
extent" These two little wofds are evil
IDENTIFY Interpreted with varying latitude.
according TO the Individual point OF view
and 1t Is Just on the nice Interpretation OF
this phrase that the whole matter hinges
For instance, a manufacturer doing $1,000
worth OF business in selling a certain pat
ented article in the British market may
consider he is manufacturing Ito An ade-
quate extent II he opens a branch office
IN an obscure hamlet somewhere and EN-.
ploys a couple of employees to turn out d
few dozen specimens of the article. JUS
what complies with the law in this par
ticullr remains TO be seen, and hence 1t Il
that the present attitude OF American
firms over the new British patents act MAJ
be described as a waiting one. The Ameri
cans are watching the Germans closely
Several German firms have put up factories
here and there in order to comply with thu
law. and, doubtless, there will be a numbe
OF legal test cases" 10 define the meaning
OF adequate manufacture when thes'
cases have been fought out-of course a
great expense-the Americans will reap tn
benefit OF the decision.
Factory Sites Higher.
In the meantime, there Is not a sing
furry OF excitement in the American
ranks II there is any excitement At all