Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-24
PATENT LAWS in SOVIET RUSSIA
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

wears 25.678 patents have been issued,
1888 of which were issued TO foreigners.
The entente between Russia and Ger
MANY has resulted in more patents be-
ing issued to Germans than to all other
nationals put together. Germans OBJ
tanned 1855 patents. Americans COM
ing next with 245. and then follow ma
tionals of ENGLAND. 2lo: Holland. ITO:
Sweden, 1877; Austria, 109: France, 81
Czechoslovakia, So: Italy. 81; Spain, 81.
and all other countries, 16l.
From Farms to Factories.
Before the World War and the revo-
luton, Russia was pre-eminently pas
toral nation. buying most OF her manu-
features abroad. The distribution OF
the new patents shows how rapidly she
is being industrialized, having been
forced to 1t to a large extent. doubtless,
by the difficulties of trading with some
nations which object to her pollt1cal
policies and form of government. There
is a decided touch Of modernity re-
flected in these patent statistics which
seems somehow out of line with pre-
conceived notions Of Russia as land
of peasants dancing to the music OF the
balalaika or singing the song Oh "Tne
Volga Boatman."
The group of patents which leads all
others relates to electrical and radio
apparatus. Second, come instruments
and apparatus; third, chemical proc
esses and apparatus: fourth, railroad
appliances; fifth. internal combustion
engines; sixth, parts Of machines, and
seventh in the list, agricultural 1mpie-
ments. the articles which it might have
been assumed would lead all others.
Further, 1t Is interesting to note that
at the very last Of list Of IA Classic
cations come firearms and ammunition.
Russia would seem to have beaten her
sword not into q plowshare, but into
a dynamo.
AS only IL per cent of all the patents
issued have been issued to foreigners.
it would appear that the Russians them
selves have turned from the field to the
machine shop.
Trade Marks.
These general laws also apply to the
registering of trade marks and GER
tain foreigners are admitted TO this
privilege. Foreign manufacturers VINO
have been given permission to do bust
ness in Soviet Russia may protect their
trade marks, and also all nationals OF
any country which gives Russia recipro-
cal privileges. Although the United
States has not recognized Russia, Rus
slams may patent inventions In this
country and therefore Americans are
free to avail themselves Of the similar
privilege there There is a filing fee Of
10 rubles and a registration fee Of 5
rubles a year which must also be paid.
A ruble Is 81 cents, so the charges are
nominal. During the past three years
891 foreign trade marks have been reg
istered.
There is q very different story IN the
matter of copyrights. Indeed, there is
a whole set of circumstances regarding
the printed word. picture or anything
of the sort. Even Russian authors are
not entirely free to print whatever they
choose whether the copyright question
arises or not The barriers are high
because Russian authorities do not
want their country flooded with printed
propaganda in any form from foreign
countries or from Russians who wish to
attack the Soviets or who favor restora-
ton Of the royalist form of the gov
eminent. So copyrighting q book In
Russia Is well nigh impossible. The
regulations in that instance are too
elaborate to be dealt with here.