HC Deb 14 September 1939 vol 351 cc797-9

Considered in Committee.

[COLONEL CLIFTON BROWN in the Chair.]

Clauses 1, 2 and 3 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

CLAUSE 4. — (Effect of war on grant of patents and registration of designs and trade marks.)

5.38 p.m.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade (Major Lloyd George)

I beg to move, in page 7, line 31, after "refuse," to insert: to take, or suspend the taking of, any proceedings on or in relation to. This Amendment relates to Sub-section (3), which has been reviewed and we are prepared to put in the words which stand on the Paper, to make it clear that the Comptroller can suspend proceedings on an application of an enemy for a patent, or for the registration of a design or trade mark, without going to the length of refusing the application altogether.

Amendment agreed to.

Further Amendment made: In page 7, line 32, leave out the first "or," and insert "of." — [Major Lloyd George.]

Clause, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clause 5 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

CLAUSE 6. — (Power of Comptroller to extend time limits having regard to war circumstances.)

Major Lloyd George

I beg to move, in page 8, line 40, to leave out "or will be."

Hon. Members will see in Sub-section (1, a) the words: that the doing of the act within the time so limited was or will be prevented by a person's being on active service or by any other circumstances.'' We think it better, more convenient and satisfactory to determine this question —as to a person being prevented from doing the act in question by circumstances arising out of the war—only after the time for doing the act has expired, and not before it has been reached.

Amendment agreed to.

Major Lloyd George

I beg to move, in page 9, line 21, to leave out from "proceeding," to "ceased," in line 22, and to insert "has."

This Amendment is of a drafting character, proposed purely in order to make it clear that the time for doing the act can be extended, notwithstanding that application for the extension is made after the non-performance of the act has caused the patent, registration or proceeding in question, to cease, or become void or invalid, or be treated as abandoned.

Amendment agreed to.

Clause, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Remaining Clauses ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Bill reported, with Amendments; as amended, considered; read the Third time, and passed.