§ 3. Sir Herbert Williamsasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the cost of applying to the court for the suspension of patent fees is greater than the amount of the fees; 1682 and, in the light of this fact, will he review the question of the suspension of fees where the patentees are prevented using their patents owing to the Concentration of Industry Scheme and the Limitation of Supplies Order?
§ The President of the Board of Trade (Mr. Lyttelton)The object of an application to the court is to obtain not a suspension of current fees but an extension of the term of the patent. This is a future right which may have considerable value. I am, however, considering whether applications for the extension of the term of patents on account of war losses, to which I referred in my answer to my hon. Friend on 20th May, can be simplified.