The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-02-21
Foreign Patent Law Reform
Urged by House Committee;
To Protect American Rights
Chairman Currier Will Give
Hearing to Interested
Attorneys,
Proposed Measure WiIlForce
Manufacture of Foreign
Patents.

Sweeping reform in the patent law
relations Of the United States with all
the other countries Of the world Is con-
templated by Chairman Currier. OF the
House Committee on Patents.
Mr.. CUrrIer today notified the patent
attorneys of Washington and other
large cities that IN the near future he
viii give a hearing on the proposition
u incorporate in the patent statutes
the provision that no foreign inventor
shall be allowed to take out patent
in this country unless he will follow
up such action by establishing an in
stitution IN the United States FOR the
manufacture and production OF the Rrti-
Gle on which he secures the patent
Law in Other Countries.
The other countries have adopted q
law providing that citizens OF the
United States shall not be given patents
unless they produce their patented ar
ticles in the foreign countries. In view
OF this fact, and in view OF the further
fact that any foreigner can come into
this country and take out a patent, the
discrimination against American inven-
tors IA other countries is considered ex-
tremely harsh.
Mr.. Currierr IL explaining the nature
of his proposed reform. said today:
"As the laws now stand. a German
can secure a patent on his invention ia
Lhis country, manufacture the patented
article in Germany and export IL 10 this
country with the knowledge that no
such article can be put into COMPETE
ton with nim here by any American.
The result IS that Germany is benefited
by all the employment and other indus
trial activities connected with the pro
duction Of the article. while the United
States and United States citizens are
prevented by the law from engaging IN
any such manufacture.
Condition Unfair.
This is manifestly unfair It is par
ticularly so when you remember that
the foreign countries will not give our
inventors patents unless they manufac-
ture in the countries from which they
want the patents. There is no sense
in the United States sacrificing itself
by such an arrangement"
Mr. Curriers' announcement Of the
proposed change in the laws will bring
a large number Of patent attorneys 20
Is granted. Scarcely one OF the we'll
known patent lawyers Of Washington
or any other city Is without large and
influential clients from foreign coun-
American inventors and 70 the legal
representatives OF the American IN
VcutOrs with great force. IL win not be
relished by those who 90 most Of their
business with the foreign inventors.
May Amend Barchfeld Bill.
Another important development in
Mr. Curriers' committee today was the
news that there is a probability Of the
Barchfeld copyright bill being reported
10 the House for passage in a slightly
amended form. This bill is the one
which has long been favored by the
authors song writer's. and music COM
Posers OF the country. It protects song
writer's and music composers against
their productions being used on phJno-
graphs without their being paid royal
ties for such use
One Of the principal objections to the