§ Mr. R. McNEILLasked the President of the Board of Trade whether a German company, the Odol Chemical Works, was wound up during the War and a British company encouraged to carry on the manufacture of its products; whether British manufacturing chemists are now nevertheless restrained from manufacturing the preparation known as Odol on the ground that the full rights to manufacture that preparation and to sell it under the trade name of Odol have been restored to the German company; and, if so, whether it is a correct interpretation of the economic clauses of the Treaty of Versailles that such rights, forfeited on account of the War, should be restored to our late enemies to the detriment of British trade?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThe business carried on in England by the Odol Chemical Works was wound up in 1917 and the stock in trade and machinery were sold to a British subject. The goodwill of the business and the trade mark "Odol" were 1841W not assigned to him nor was he specially encouraged to carry on the manufacture. As far as I am aware, no legal proceedings have been taken to restrain British chemists from manufacturing the preparation known as "Odol." The trade mark "Odol" has not, however, been removed from the Register and so long as it remains, the registered proprietor is entitled to take action to restrain other persons from using the trade mark on any manufactured goods. The original proprietor is dead, but I am informed that a German company has made formal application to be registered as subsequent proprietors of the mark under Article 306 of the Treaty of Versailles. This application, which will be judicially considered in the light of all the circumstances, has not yet been determined by the Registrar of Trade Marks.