HC Deb 12 December 1957 vol 579 cc1407-8
18. Mr. Peyton

asked the President of the Board of Trade what representations have been made by his Department in recent years to the Japanese Government on the subject of Japanese patent law; and with what results.

Sir D. Eccles

None, Sir.

Mr. Peyton

Will my right hon. Friend represent to the Japanese Government, or get the Foreign Secretary to do so, that the sort of commercial and trading sharp practices indulged in by Japan over many years have not only been damaging to British industry but are in the long term highly damaging to the reputation of Japan, and that it would serve a very useful purpose for other countries and for Japan in particular if there was in Japan a comprehensive patent law which would ensure fair standards of trading?

Sir D. Eccles

Japan is a member of the Industrial Property Convention. I have no reason to believe that the Japanese law fails to give the inventions of foreigners the protection that the Convention demands. If my hon. Friend has any special cases in mind, I should be glad to look into them.