H.-iO

1944 NEW ZEALAND

PATENTS, DESIGNS, AND TRADE-MARKS FIFTY-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly pursuant to Section 128 of the Patents, Designs, and Trade-marJcs Act, 1921-22

REPORT (The figures in parentheses are for 1942) I have the honour, in accordance with section 128, to submit my report on the administration of the Act during the year 1943. The applications received during the year for the grant of letters patent and for the registration of designs and trade-marks reached a total of 2,123 (1,562). This figure is higher than any total since 1939, when 2,652 applications were recorded. The fees received showed a corresponding increase and amounted to £13,657 (£11,668), while the expenditure was reduced to £4,824 (£5,900), resulting in an excess of receipts over expenditure of £8,833 (£5,768). Patents The trend of invention is indicated by the number of applications received in the following classes: electricity and magnetism, 92 (60) ; explosives and firearms, 74 (64); harvesting, 21 (5); medicines and surgical appliances, 39 (17); metal-working, 44 (26); telephony and telegraphy, 278 (227); and vehicles, 51 (27). Tbade-mabks Compared with the figures for the preceding year, a substantial increase was shown in the number of applications for the registration of trade-marks, the total received being 678 (398). It is interesting to note that the greater proportion of the applications was received from overseas —namely, 420, as against 258 from persons resident in New Zealand. The greatest number of applications was received in Class 5 (pharmaceutical, veterinary, and sanitary substances) 132 (68), followed by Class 3 (substances for laundry use, soaps, perfumery, cosmetics, &c.) 62 (47), and Class 24 (tissues (piece-goods) and textile articles) 54 (10). General The passing of the Patents, Designs, and Trade-marks Amendment Act, 1943, increased the power of the Court to extend the term of letters patent where losses have resulted to patentees by reason of hostilities and extended the rights of the Crown in regard to war inventions. The law in New Zealand was brought thereby substantially into line with that in Great Britain, and similarly the Patents, Designs, Trade-marks, and Copyright Emergency Regulations 1940, Amendment No. 1, made on the 9th June, 1943, followed closely the action taken there in regard to enemies. Conclusion The appendix contains : — A. Receipts and Payments Account for the Year ended 31st December, 1943. B. Table showing Receipts and Payments for each of the Last Ten Years. C. Total Number of Applications for Patents and for Registration of Designs and Trade-marks recorded for the Years 1914 to 1943 (inclusive). A. H. Ihle, Commissioner of Patents, Designs, and Trade-marks. The Patent Office, Wellington, 19th May, 1944.