§ Mr. Campbell-Savoursasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if any commercial agents for trade marks have been supplied with, or are being supplied with, information in an electronic form from the trade marks register; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PattieThe Patent Office currently has nonexclusive contracts with three commercial organisations in the field of information supply: Pergamon, Compumark, and Computer Patent Annuities. The contracts are on a fully commercial basis. They involve the delivery by the Patent Office of a full list of trade marks with period amendments to keep it up to date. The information is supplied on magnetic tape.
§ Mr. Campbell-Savoursasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his policy towards providing access to the information held on the register of trade marks about trade names and the identity and location of their owner.
§ Mr. PattieIt is official policy to encourage access to information on the register of trade marks. That information is presently supplied to commercial organisations which make it available through a subscriber service. Additionally, a full set of indices is made available for public use at the Trade Marks Registry and the register is open to public inspection.