The Marquess of Clanricardewished to know from the noble and learned Lord on the Woolsack, whether he intended to proceed with the Patents for Inventions Bill this Session?
The Lord Chancellorsaid, that the Bill which had been alluded to, and which had some time since been sent up from the House of Commons, was a measure of great importance. Much difficulty, however, existed in legislating with respect to Patents, which involved a very nice branch of the law; but still it appeared to him that they were called on to legislate more or less on the subject. It would certainly require much attention so to legislate as to protect the interests of patentees, and to afford them all fair and proper facilities. He should approach the subject with great alacrity, because he felt that some improvement in that branch of the law was necessary. But it did so happen that, from the great multiplicity of business in the early part of the Session, he had not been able to enter into a thorough investigation of the question, nor had it been in his power to examine the Report drawn up by a Committee of the other House, and which was composed of individuals who possessed much practical experience. That Committee, as he understood, sat for a considerable time, and he supposed that it was upon that Report that the Bill which had been alluded to was founded. The Bill contained some clauses, the improvements contemplated by which were undeniable; but those improvements were mixed up with other matters which it was not so easy to deal with, and which he had not had an opportunity of considering. He believed that he was not the only person who felt scruples upon these points. Probably, what he was about to suggest 441 would meet the approbation of the House—namely, that this Bill should be postponed till the next Session of Parliament, when further proceedings might be taken. As a sort of compensation for proposing the postponement of the measure, he could assure the House that he would devote his attention, as early as possible, to the branch of the law to which it related, after the other House had sent up its Report; and even before that took place, he was willing to look to those parts of the subject which the other House of Parliament had left untouched.
§ Lord Wynfordsaid, the question was a very important one, and deserved more attention than could be paid to it at that late period of the Session.