§ 17. Lieut.-Colonel GAULTasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether, in view of paragraph 3 of Appendix XIX King's Regulations, appertaining to inventions by officers, etc., employed by the War Department, he will accept responsibility for infringement of the inventor's patent rights by the United States War Department in the case of the Liddell Patent Hut, No. 113,376 of 1917, the subject matter of which was communicated to the United States War Department in Paris by the personnel of His Majesty's War Department?
§ Mr. WOMERSLEYNo, Sir; my right hon. Friend can accept no responsibility in the matter, nor does he accept the implication contained in the last part of the question.
§ Lieut.-Colonel GAULTIs it to be understood that serving soldiers cannot look to the Government for protection under King's Regulations in respect of their inventions made and used by other nations?
§ Mr. WOMERSLEYMy information is that this is paid not only by the American Government but by the British Government, and that is an indication that the British Government do look after their own nationals.
§ Lieut.-Colonel GAULTI have documentary evidence to the effect that in this case nothing has been paid. If I give the correspondence to my hon. Friend will he have the matter looked into?
§ Mr. WOMERSLEYI am sure that my right hon. Friend will be pleased to receive the correspondence and to discuss the matter with my hen. and gallant Friend at any time that suits him.