3. Official persons, who at present are benefitted by the granting of patents, will be more benefitted, even at redu ced rates, by the increased number which, under a more trustworthy system, will be applied for.
See works on Patent Law. Hand's Law and Practice of Patents for Invention. Collier's Essay on the Law of Patents, and History of Monopolies. Davis's Collection of cases respecting Patents of Invention, and the rights of Patentees ; and Blackstone's Commentaries.
genius of the latter, is not only illiberal, but highly detri mental to the country, by preventing many ingenious men from divulging their discoveries as soon as they come among us. By pursuing an opposite system, England has become the depot of the inventions and discoveries of all Europe and America : and hence her arts and manu factures have arrived at a degree of perfection, of which no other country can boast.
2. Inventors and discoverers applying for patents, ought to be obliged to secure to the country the advantage of their discoveries, by entering into an obligation to erect or make for sale all their inventions, or to impart a know lege of them,for a reasonable reward ; as it is known that many persons are so selfish, as neither to make use of them, nor to grant to others that liberty, unless at an ex travagant price, far beyond what the value of the inven tion would warrant.
3. Some tribunal should be established to determine upon the right which persons may possess to obtain a pa tent. It is a fact well known, that several persons have obtained patents from the government of the United States, for supposed discoveries and inventions which have been long known, or in use in Europe ; some of these are noticed in this Encyclopredia, and more plagiaries might doubtless be detected, if a list of all the patents wet e pub lished, which have been granted in the United States.
4. Provision should be made for making void the claim of any patentee, as in England, if not supported by ori ginality, or if he wilfully give a confused and erroneous specification.