§ Mr. A. J. Williamsasked the President of the Board of Trade what is the present position regarding British membership of the Convention relating to a European Patent Law, prepared by representatives of the member countries of the European Economic Community, the draft of which was published by his Department in 1962.
§ Mr. JayWork by the member Governments of the E.E.C. on the proposed Convention is still continuing Her Majesty's Government have throughout been interested in the creation of a European Patent which would serve tie wider interests of European unity and, by conveying identical rights throughout much of Europe on a single application, would benefit industry generally.
2. The text of the draft Convention is very largely acceptable to Her Majesty's Government as it stands and they have made clear to the Governments of the Community and to the Commission of the E.E.C. their readiness for full membership of such a Convention. Her Majesty's Government wish however to make it clear that they could accept the validity of the European Patent in the United Kingdom only if they had an equal voice in the procedures leading to the grant of the 272W Patent. Her Majesty's Government regret that the members of the Community have not yet been able to indicate whether they are prepared to accept full membership of the Convention by countries outside the European Economic Community. A more limited form of participation would not appear to offer a satisfactory basis for negotiations.