The sun., 1919-08-06

I with corsets, Russia with lead pencils,
| Egypt with Ink and hundreds Of other
items. She Is making anything that ID
demanded.
Japanese statesmen have an intsrna-
tional gu0d and have adopted the sio-
| gan, Tho Japanese salesman as the
master OF the foreign markets"
No wonder such statesmen can figure
the cost Of goods laid down In any city
OF the world.
They have supreme confidence IN
themselves and that counts considerable
these days.
An Initiating Nation.
Much has been said about Japan's be-
ing willing to manufacture anything and
everything, and that after all she is only
an initiating nation. The latter facts may
be true OF moro than half OF her manu-
featured products. 1t 10 q subject that
deserves serious thought. Considerable
dihlculty lies in the fact that manufac-
| turers In these parts Of the world and
elsewhere are not seeking the protection
OF the Japanese laws and courts on the
subject OF tnfringements and trade
marks. 1t can be said here with posi-
tive assurance that so far as The Gov
eminent of Japan and the courts of
Japan are concerned they ARE doing all
that can be expected of them when no.
tice Of infringement Is brought to their
attention. ~ ,v4
1t is true that the system OF imitation
has been carried out with great care.
In Japan you will find a duplicate copy
Of almost every official record Of every
nation In the world on patents and trade
marks. The fact Is not concealed. 1t 10
| open for all to see.
Many take the position that where
| manufacturers of other nations do not
take the precaution to protect their
rights that the Japanese manufacturer
| should have no hesitancy In making
these goods, II demand exists for them.
Thus Japan becomes a direct competitor
on many articles where the American
manufacturer could secure some big
business IL he went after It.
We have suffered from substitution
for many years The courts Of all coun-
tries have their share of this sort Of
litigation. and 1t is only when the Amer
lean manufacturer realizes that ne must
think in hemispheres now. whether he
| has orders or no. and seek all the pro-
lection that the laws afford him. that he
will be able to prevent considerable Of
this initiating of his wares.
japan has penal provisions in her
patent and trade mark laws and Il can
be said where patents are filed in Japan
they are better protected than in many
| other countries.
The General Electric Company of the
| United States is engaged in important
| litigation for the protection of what II
| considers its rights In regard to ductile
tungsten and electric lamps. II is de-
manding the cancellation of a patent
owned by Swiss company in Japan and
| of three patents owned by Japanese. II
Is also being sued itself by an individual
Japanese for the cancellation Of one Of
| its Japanese patents. The litigation thus
far has been long and costly. It is be-
ing watched with keen interest In many
| parts of the world, but those with whom
I have talked recently in Japan and who
have had experience with the Japanese
patent courts are confident that the de-
| cision will be well reasoned and inn
partial.
How to Protect Patents.
Whenever an American inventor OF an
American manufacturer secures his pa
tent or his trade mark in the United
States or in Japan he cannot sit still and
rest on his rights. He must advertise
in the Japanese newspapers at certain
intervals in order to comply with this
| laws. This Is a matter of considerable
Importance Not alone is this true of
Japan, but of many countries. Ones
protection does not always end with the
mere certificate of patent or registration.
On American machinery reaching ia
pan the words Patented in all important
countries" appear. This IL insufficient.
In fact II means nothing, because in
every country the laws regarding notice
must be compiled with. In Japan they
require the Japanese word for ''patentee-
and the Japanese patent number. Fall
ure to comply with this regulation de-
prives patentee of his right of action