§ 1. Sir Herbert Williamsasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider authorising a suspension of fees for patents and registered designs, which are temporarily rendered of little or no value on account of the Limitation of Supplies Order or the Concentration of Industry Scheme?
§ The President of the Board of Trade (Mr. Lyttelton)I do not regard this proposal as practicable. As I explained to my hon. Friend the Member for West Birmingham (Mr. Higgs) on 4th February, Section 18 of the Patents and Designs Act allows a patentee who has suffered loss as such by reason of hostilities to apply to the Court for an extension of the term of his patent. Where such an extension is granted, no renewal fees are charged. This provision should afford some relief in the circumstances envisaged in the Question.
§ Sir H. WilliamsDoes not my right hon. Friend think it rather hard luck that people who have no income coming in should have to go on paying fees to preserve their rights, when they have been deprived of a living by my right hon. Friend's own action?
§ Mr. LytteltonIf they think that the patent is no use to them, they should not use it.
§ Sir H. WilliamsI think my right hon. Friend has not grasped the point. People are prevented by him from using their patents, yet his Department goes on collecting fees from them for something which he will not let them use,