The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-02-22

GNffHT tttuttuant III W. iAufJft1Au
navy; for thrcc years intelligence Of
ticcr foe the L. =. Asiaiic flcctl
tCcpyrixht. 1891. Chi~go Daily Ncwsl
I The Japanese do not recognize for
bisn patent or cnpyr.g laws. This
: trait IL causing American shippers
grea, deal OF annoyance. hut that Is
not the worst thing tho willy and
unprincirled among Japanese mcr.
chants are doing. They have dupli.
Gated American goods. even 20 the
copying OF trade marks. marketing
inferior contents 20 the dctrimeut Of
the American trader. There arc two
outstanding examples OF this thing.
done for government purposes In
one case. That was the introduction
Of wireless telcgraphy into Japan.
When ships OF other nations were
sauipping with the wireless sets, the
Japanese government bought a cou-
pie OF complete sets and proceeded
10 copy them. eauipping their war.
ships as well as merchantmen with
the Japanese copy OF the patented
machines. II was not until few
years ago. when they agreed TO pay
hack royalties for every set they had
so manufactured. that SHIPS OF other
nations were permitted 90 take any
notice OF JAPANESE wireless calls. cx.
cent In the case OF $. o. 3. messages.
The other case turned out some.
1what humorousiy. An American con-
Germ was engaged on some construc-
tion work near Kobe. American cast.
inrs were sent over 10 he used. The
Jarancse copied the castings for
their own use--hut neglected. to note
that the American castings Mere an.
ncaied When the Japanese copies
were put 10 work IN some OF their
own construction. they. being very
brittle. ruined the work In progress
An example OF infringement OF
patent. and how II was permitted by
the japanese courts. was that grow
Ing out OF INSULT brought by the
Eastman Kodak company. Japan,
csc manufacturers had duplicated
American Photographic apparatus
even 10 the extent OF using the East.
tn n japanese court the native Of
fender against American patents was
discharged on his contention that he
was entitled to the use Of the name
Eastman on his cameras. mas
much as II was a trade name he
liked and he was "man OF the
East"
Cases OF Intercepting and altering
|. or copying for their own use cable
or wireless dispatches from Ameri-
can business houses 20 their repro
scntatlves have been common This
has worked not only against the
business men Of America but !, has
seriously affected news dispatches
sent from the Orient to American
newspapers and news agencies
Every one OF these dispatches. sent
over japanese cables as the only way
out. Is subject TO Japanese censor
ship or alteration. II a correspond
enf tries TO evade the censorship by
having friends take his manuscripts
TO American ports there to be tcle-
rraphed. he destroys the value Of
his dispatches by the loss OF time
necessary in crossing the Pacific.
The island OF zap. over which 30
great a controversy has been raised
In the peace conference. inasmuch as
Il Is one Of the central points ~
transpacific cable lines. formerly
German controlled. is the key to the
present Pacific cable situation. and.
no matter what control America has
been given In that. little island. the
Japanese control the cable stations.