DR. HOLLOMON'S STATEMENT APPENDIX B "To Promote The Progress of ...Useful Arts" In An Age of Exploding Technology REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT'S COMMISSION ON THE PATENT SYSTEM November 17, 1966. The PRESIDENT, The White House, Washington, D.C. DEAR MR. PRESIDENT: We have the honor to present the report of the President's Commission on the Patent System. Your Commission was established by Executive Order No. 11215, on April 8, 1965, and the membership was announced on July 23, 1965. The Commission has held thirteen meetings, beginning August 15, 1965, each meeting lasting from one to four days, for a total of thirty-one days. The recommendations conveyed in this report have been developed through study and discussion by the members of the Commission and, as a whole, represent their combined judgment and general agreement. The recommendations, in all of their details, however, do not necessarily bear the endorsement of every member. Background material prepared by the staff and the Commission, reflecting more extensively the considerations taken into account in the development of these recommendations, is being completed and will be transmitted as a supplement to the report. The principal objectives of the Commission's study are set forth in the Introduction. To the extent that the Commission's recommendations promote the attainment of these objectives, they will assist in furthering the mission of the United States patent system—to promote the progress of useful arts, advance the standard of living everywhere, and contribute toward world peace and tranquillity. One point, Mr. President, merits emphasis. The accompanying recommendations should not be regarded as a catalogue of discrete remedies. The report considers the patent system as a whole and contemplates revision by means of a coordinated plan of interrelated recommendations. The recommended changes taken together, we respectfully suggest, will strengthen the patent system, and thus will assist in the attainment of the Nation's domestic and international goals in today's rapidly changing environment. Members of the Commission deeply appreciate the responsibility assigned to them and offer their continued cooperation. Respectfully yours, JOHN BARDEEN JAMES W. BIRKENSTOCK CHARLES F. BROWN HOWARD W. CLEMENT SIDNEY NEUMAN BERNARD OLIVER HORTON GUYFORD STEVER HARRY HUNTT RANSOM Cochairmen. Secretary of Commerce JOHN T. CONNOR EDWARD J. BRENNER, Designee Secretary of Defense ROBERT S. MCNAMARA JOHN M. MALLOY, Designee Small Business Administrator BERNARD L. BOUTIN EUGENE J. DAVIDSON, Designee National Science Foundation Director LELAND J. HAWORTH CHARLES F. BROWN, Designee Official Observers Secretary of State DEAN RUSK EUGENE M. BRADERMAN, Designee Office of Science and Technology Director DONALD F. HORNIG DAVID Z. BECKLER, Designee iv |