OCR Text |
Show PATENT OFFICE PLEA. An organization known as the "Patent "Pat-ent Office Society' and "which sets forth as its aim tho improvement of the United States patent system, lias launched a movement for congressional cognizance of the needs of the bureau. Tho society calls attention to the inability ina-bility of the patent office to obtain adequate appropriations, although there is an untouched surplus of nearly $8,-250,000 $8,-250,000 in the treasury to its credit. Tho plea, is made that, while inventors in-ventors have paid in a sufficient sum in fees to have the work of examination examina-tion done properly, the money is not used for that purpose, much to tho disadvantage dis-advantage of those who seek protection protec-tion for the ideas they conceive and develop. The movement now under way is designed de-signed to remedy this condition of affairs. af-fairs. The patent committee of the national research council has proposed certain legislation that wi!l increase i the efficiency of thf patent office in handling all matters pertaining to iu-c!i:ioiri iu-c!i:ioiri and pa: cut-, facilitating quick and more thorough research, prompt determination of the righta of inventors inven-tors and avoidance of unnecessary litigation liti-gation in the courts. This committee proposes a program consisting' of four features deemed of, fundamental importance. They are: (1) The establishment of a single court of patent appeals over the appellate appel-late jurisdiction noTV lodged in the nine independent circuit courts of appeal; (-) The establishment of tho patent office as a separate institution independent inde-pendent of the department cf the. interior; in-terior; (3) An inercusn in the personnel person-nel of tho patent office to enable it to render prompt and efficient sorvico and an incroasu in the Palarics to approximate ap-proximate those paid in outpido patent work so that qualified examiners may be kept in tho public flervice; (I) A change in the law relating to damages in infringement suits to answer ono of the ninH common and ptroncst reproaches re-proaches against tho patent system, namely, that a patent does not ordinarily ordi-narily pay the inventor any money. In view of the vital service rendered tho government by inventors in the successful prosecution of tho w;ir, it wan Id neem only n matter of jusl ice that congress should give heed to the plea of the pntent nfl'ien. |