An Empire Patent

Abstract

IN the article appearing in NATURE for September 30, p. 437, with the above heading, there is the underlying assumption that the status of the inventor should be assimilated to that of the author, namely, that both should be secured a world-wide monopoly at a minimum expenditure. Will you allow me to present in your columns a more philosophical view of the history and function of patent law in relation to the growth and decay of civilisation, from which it will be seen that the favourable treatment of the inventor cannot be based upon international principles. It is part and parcel of a purely national and competitive policy.