§ 31. Mr. JOHN MORRISasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the action of Japanese manufacturers and traders who are infringing copyright designs and registered labels of British manufacturers and shippers in India, China, and other Eastern markets; if he is aware that such action of affixing the said designs and labels to Japanese fabrics and disposing of them as British goods is damaging the Lancashire cotton trade; and what immediate action he proposes taking?
§ Lieut.-Colonel J. COLVILLE (Secretary, Overseas Trade Department)Protests have been made to the Japanese and other Governments against the not infrequent practice of attempting to pass off foreign goods as of British manufacture, whether by the use of false marks or labels or by imitating the "get-up" of well-known British manufactures or by other methods; and cases of this kind, if brought to my notice, will certainly be taken up. As regards designs and trade marks, however, the proper method of protecting these is to register them in the countries in which protection is desired and to take legal action against infringements. I shall, of course, be ready to consider any specific cases of the kind which my hon. Friend has in mind, but Government action is not usually appropriate in cases where satisfactory designs and trade mark laws exist and are properly administered.
§ Mr. MORRISIs my hon. and gallant Friend aware that in many cases private persons have attempted to take action in foreign countries, but that the results have been such as not to encourage them to continue, and that the cost has been tremendous? Surely the Government ought to do something to improve the position?
§ Lieut.-Colonel COLVILLEI can only repeat that if the hon. Member will give me specific cases I will look into them.