Show AMERICAN PATENTS The current number of the Scientific American calls attention to the important i import-ant fact that the United States Government Govern-ment is about to become a member of the International Union for the Protection Protec-tion of Industrial Property and that within a few weeks probably the inventors in-ventors merchants and manufacturers of this country will be entitled to share in all the benefits which the Union can yield One of tho special objects of the Union is the security of better protection for f patents models designs inventions trade marks and trade names The difficulties diffi-culties of securing international patents have long been a source of complaint The issuance of a patent in this country coun-try to an American inventor virtually precludes him from obtaining a patent for the same thing in most European countries In order to avoid this the American Amer-ican must now first obtain his patent in Europe and to prevent the invalidation I of his European or the abidgement of his American patent he usually endeavors endeav-ors to have them both issue on the same date Besides this there is always the possibility of outsiders securing an American Amer-ican invention in other countries in their own name and cutting off the rights of the American inventor These and other difficulties says the Scientific American will be removed when the United States enters the Industrial Union One of the special provisions of the Union it adds is that Inventors patentees C and proprietors of designs and trademarks trade-marks shall have a prior right of regis tration in all countries or nations that remembers re-members of the Union The term of this priority for Americans is seven months as respects patents and four months for trade marks The regulations of the Union will also apply in favor of its members in respect to protection against infringers Several other excellent excel-lent provisions pertain to the Union which extends the aegis of its protection to all kinds of industrial property and products including agricultural productions produc-tions wine corn fruits cattle minerals etcThe The movement is one of the most important im-portant yet made in international negotiations nego-tiations and while it will be advantageous t to all members of the Uuion the inventive invent-ive genius of America may be depended upon to reap tho largest benefits there from |