CAPTAIN PHILLPOTTS (Devon, Torquay)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he has considered the Report made by the Referee 214 appointed to inquire into the matter of Levinstein v. Farbwerke, Vormals, Meister, Lucius, and Bruning; and whether, on its consideration, and on a general, review of the way in which foreign patentees occasionally avail themselves of the monopoly conferred by a patent in this country, and of the difficulties with which British, manufacturers have to contend in order to obtain licences under the patents of foreigners not bonâ fide working them in this country, he is prepared to propose any legislation on the subject or to adopt some other means of removing the grievance complained of?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADEThe Report referred to is still under consideration. I am not prepared at present to make any statement as to legislation or to admit that the existing law as to compulsory licences cannot be made to work satisfactorily, but I can assure my honourable Friend that I am sensible of the importance of the question in its relation to the rights and obligations of patentees, both British and foreign, and I shall carefully watch the working of the provisions of the Patent Act.
In reply to a further Question as to when the Report would be laid—
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADEsaid it is a very important Report, and will have to be very carefully considered, for it contains many suggestions which require earnest consideration. Still, I hope the decision of the Board of Trade will not be long deferred.