The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-07-11
PROTECTION FOR
BUSINESS MEN
Provided Fully in Economic
Clauses of German
Peace Treaty.
INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY
Americans Gan File Patents
and Trademarks in Germany
and Other Signatories.
NV John Edwin Nevin.l


Washington, July 11.-(Copyright.
1919, /. N. S.)-The economic
clauses OF the peace treaty 80 far az
they affect contracts, prescriptions
and judgments are sweeping In their
nature. So far as the United States
is concerned, however, they afford
complete protection to American
business men.
| Provision is made for the cancel
lation, with certain exceptions, of
contracts concluded prior to the war
! by nationals of enemy countries. 1t
was deemed advisable that the United
! States should be exempted from the
| greater portion of the provision of
the section. Controversies affecting
! citizens of the United States, there
fore, so far as they affect private
| contractual rights, must be deter
mined by the appropriate judicial
| tribunals. Like nationals of other
allied and associated states, however,
American citizens will have the right
to go before a mixed tribunal in cases
decided by German courts during the
war when such persons were not per-
mitted TO make their defense.
Section six, dealing with the mixed
arbitral tribunal, provides for its Gre
alton with functions in connection
with the clearing house scheme which
must pass upon claims for property
seized or damaged In Germany. The
interests of the United States appear
adequately protected in the o. gin of
this tribunal, the American experts
say since one of three judges must
be national of a neutral country,
and since. If the government OF the
United States so decides, cases will
he 10 he tt-ih l..
lish.
The section dealing with Industrial
property in so far as the United
States is concerned, has been drafted
with a view to affording special pro-
lection to Americans where such pro-
lection was deemed necessary. Fol-
lowing is a synopsis of the essential
points of this section as they affect
American interests:
THE system of Industrial property
rights as it existed before the war, is,
generally speaking. restored. The
industrial property rights Of allied
and associated powers, which may
have become invalid by reason of the
failure TO pay annual taxes or to
meet any formal requirements may
be revalidated, failure to work in
Germany and in the signatory coun-
tries during the war is waived as a
case of forfeiture of Industrial prop
erty rights.
Americans who were prevented by
the war from patenting their inven-
tons, registering their trademarks,
etc, in Germany or other signatory
countries may now do so.
Measures taken during the war ny
natory countries may now do so.
the United States by way of licensing
or liquidating German patents are
recognized as valid and remain effec-
tive.
THE right of the United States 10
impose conditions on German owned
industrial property, can be future of
the national defense or public inter-
ests require it, is reserved by the
United states and is recognized by
Germany.
1.-THE liability of the United States or
OF those acting for 1t for infringe
mcnts incident 10 the prosecution of
war is waived by Germany for itself
and for IT'S nationals.
License contract rights asd rights
of Americans to sue tor infringe
ments committed during the war by
Germany or Germans are not sur
rendered by the treaty.