Report on the patent laws

Abstract

I have, at your request, inquired into the state of the Law of Patents in this country, and I now beg to lay before you the result of that inquiry. My attention was particularly directed by you, "to the expense and delay of obtaining a patent; and to the legislative measures which would be necessary to lessen that expense and delay, and at the same time to afford greater security to inventors." I have examined into the British law upon the subject, as compared with the law of other countries; and the suggestions which I have ventured to make, are the result of a comparison of the relative merit of those systems, guided by the opinions pronounced upon them by those who have had practical experience of their working.