[D0204AAT], Letter from Dyer Edmonds and Dyer to Thomas Alva Edison, September 16th, 1902
https://edisondigital.rutgers.edu/document/D0204AAT
Transcription
Letterhead of Law Offices of Dyer, Edmonds & Dyer 31 Nassau Street, New York. Sept. 16, 1902. Thomas A. Edison, Esq., Orange, N. J. Dear Sir,- We have received Mr. Stewart's letter to Mr. Dick, have carefully noted your endorsement thereon, and beg to return the same herewith. Mr. Stewart is in error regarding the period of working Austro-Hungary. Under the old law a single patent covered the entire Empire, both Austria and Hungary, and under that law patents required to be worked within one year from the issue of the patent. At the present time a new law is in force, under which separate patents must be secured in both countries. Under this law the patent in Austria does not have to be worked until three years from the date of publication of the grant, unless, however, the invention is being worked in other countries and a demand for the same exists in Austria. In the latter case the Austrian Patent Office is authorized under the law to shorten the period, but in any case proper notice to the patentee is given to enable the working to be effected. In Hungary, under the new law the invention requires to be worked within three years, with the same exception as we have referred to <file Foreign Battery> [TAE Marginalia?] in connection with Austria. We will see that you are notified in proper time to effect the working of all your foreign patents. In Belgium the patent requires to be worked within one year from the first foreign manufacture. We understand that up to the present time your work has been wholly experimental, and that the actual commercial manufacture of the batteries has not been commenced. Our understanding of the Belgian law is that the working must be effected within one year of the first commercial working in some foreign country, and not from a mere experimental operation. In order, however, to be absolutely sure on this point, we have written to-day to our correspondents in Paris, explaining the exact situation and asking for their opinion in the matter. As soon as we hear from them, we will advise you. Yours very truly, Dyer Edmonds & Dyer. (Enclosure).