Mr. PIKE PEASEasked the Postmaster-General why His Majesty's Government have not the power under the Patents Act to compel the Marconi Company, when holding a patent, to supply their apparatus and machinery, seeing that every patent has upon its grant a proviso that if the patentee shall not supply, or cause to be supplied, for the service of the Crown the invention as may be required by the officers or commissioners administering any Government Department in such manner, at such times, and at and upon reasonable terms and prices as shall be settled in manner for the time being by law provided, the letters patent and all privileges and advantages whatever thereby granted shall determine and become void?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe form of patent which contains a clause almost exactly in the terms of the hon. Member's question is contained in a Schedule to the Rules made by the Board of Trade. Under Section 86 of the Patents and Designs Act, 1907, the Board has power to make these rules, laying them in due course on the Table of this House, and rules so made have the same effect as if they were contained in the Act (Section 86 (3) and (2)). There appears to be no specific manner provided by law for the settlement of the terms and prices for the supply of patented articles, unless it be by reference to the Treasury under Section 29 of the Act. That Section, however, makes no reference to the supply of patented articles.