§ 54. Mr. CROOKEasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that, at the time of the War period, all patents were automatically extended by two years, but that a further extension can only be obtained pursuant to an originating summons in the High Court, involving the expense of retaining counsel, solicitors, and patent agents; and whether, as a means to assist industry and stimulate employment, he will consider an amendment of the Law to provide facilities for such further extension of patents to be obtainable in appropriate cases without involving the expenditure of time and money necessitated by the present procedure?
§ Mr. HACKINGI am aware that by the Patents and Designs Act, 1919, the normal term of all existing patents was extended from 1.4 to 16 years, and that, with a view to cheapening the cost of obtaining an extension of this term when the patentee had suffered loss or damage 1077 through the War, the same Act provides that such application for extension may be made to the Court by way of originating summons instead of by petition. I regret that I do not consider it practicable to introduce legislation to alter the decisions made, after the most careful consideration, in 1919.