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Harshvardhan's Murder?
 ii.

@ Harshvardhan Vilial
 iii.

Misfortune shall strike upon those who ask

too many questions !

One hitman. One dead woman. Two reporters.

Paranoia. Confusion.
 FADE IN:

EXT. APARTMENT - MIDNIGHT

We see the life chatterin’ in this apartment thru its various

windows. Orange-ish hue of comin’ out of the bulbs inside
them. Its a beautiful apartment.. not taller than 4 storeys.

We see an old lady smokin’ a cigarette on her chair thru the

3rd floors window. We see a young couple fallin’ asleep
whilst watchin’ T.V thru the 2nd floors window. We see bunch
of kids asleep with their teddy bears thru the 1st floors
window.

We now see this beautiful woman - CHARU GUPTA - in her 30’s -

puttin’ on a lipstick & checkin’ her self out in the mirror
via the ground floors window. Charu then prepares to leave.
Charu grabs her bag & turns the lights off. Charu opens the
door - the mirror is adjacent to her door - near her reach.
Now we notice the sharp sound of door bein’ closed. Charu has
waltz out of her apartment. Charu is now lockin’ the door. We
see immense nervousness on her face. She takes a deep
breathe. She then starts walkin’ towards the street adjacent
her apartment. Charu is now on the street. Charu is wearin’ a
wonderful dress with silver earings to compliment it. Charu
is holdin’ a purse in her one hand. Charu looks around a
little & then looks at her watch. Charu then turns right &
starts walkin’.

Charu is walkin’ down the street. But for some reason she
slows her steps down a little. She turns around slowly to see
if someone is behind her or not. She sees nothin’ except wind
whirlin’ & leaves makin’ sinister noises.. cars parked near
the street. She once again starts walkin’. She walks a little
but we see that her face is anxious. She stops a little. She
then turns around slowly. Her face is pale & cold. She
swallows a lump. But still there is no one on the street
except her. Charu takes a deep breathe & turns around again.
Charu starts walkin’ again. As she is walkin’ .. we see a tip
of a gun ( silencer ) appearin’ from the dark. It’s aimin’
her from the behind. Charu is still walkin’ unaware of the
sinister turn that this night mite take. We again see the
gun’s tip from the dark.. the person aimin’ at her is makin’
sure he/she gets her for good. Charu is just walkin’ slowly.

PEWWW - PEWWW !

Charu falls face down to the ground. We then see blood comin’
outta her head .. Real slow. SHIV - THE HITMAN - In a crisp
formal attire - emerges out from the dark & looks at charu
from a far. Shiv then looks around real quick. Shiv then
turns around. Shiv starts walkin’ down the street quietly
with a calm demeanor.
 2.

Shiv puts the silencer gun in his office bag real quick.
Meanwhile, Charu is dyin’. Charu twiches a little. Charu is
starin’ at her purse whilst is lyin’ flat on the ground.
Charu’s eyes start to lose thier luster. Charu dies. Street
is as quite as a church. We then hear a cracklin’ sound outta
nowhere. Clouds are roarin’ but not rainin’.

FADE TO BLACK.

SCREEN TURNS RED. WE THEN SEE “HARSHVARDHAN’S MURDER”

APPEARIN’ ON IT IN BIG BLACK BOLD GOTHIC LETTERS.

FADE IN:

INT. NEWSPAPER OFFICE - MORNING

We see a panaromic view of the entire office. Desks with

computers & ethernet cables jacked in. Printers makin’
noises. Some men & women are typin’ articles whilst sittin’
on thier desks. Some men & women are walkin’ across the
office whilst papers & documents in thier hands. It’s live &
filled with lotta kinetics. We now see two reporters sittin’
on a table .. havin’ a cigarette whilst the entire office is
workin’ & movin’. Two oddballs.

Meet V & Harsh. Two good lookin’ & lean fellas in their early
30’s .. Dressed like every other newspaper reporters in the
town. Formal & clean. Harsh & V are readin’ two different
newspaper. V is leanin’ his head on harsh’s shoulder whilst
readin’ his newspaper. V turns the page & skims thru it.
Harsh is focused on his newspaper. Harsh nudges V.

HARSH
Yeh dekh raha hai tu.

V looks at what harsh is readin’ whilst closin’ his

newspaper. V processes the article in his own manner.

V
Charu Gupta ... Ladki koh aadhi
raat ko udaa diya. Purse aur
earings missin’ hai. Chori ka case.

Harsh is connectin’ the dots in his head whilst lookin’ at

the article.

HARSH
Gupta ? Gupta ? Yeh wahi ladki
haina jiska husband car accident
meh ludak gaya tha thode mahino
pehle ... Abb yeh bhi chal bassi.
Ajeeb hai.
 3.

V takes paper outta harsh’s hand. V looks at the article in

a proper manner whilst leanin’ on harsh’s shoulder. Harsh
then all of a sudden shrugs his shoulder & hence outbalancin’
V’s head. V’s head becomes the victim of sudden gravity. V
rotates his neck whilst closin’ down the newspaper. V puts
down the newspaper near him. V is still rotatin’ his neck. V
starts nursin’ it with his one hand.

V
Kamine.. Thoda rehem kar sale.. Kal
soya nai dhang seh meh.

Harsh rolls his eyes.

HARSH
Cocaine ek stimulant hai... V. Nind
kese aayegi tujhe agar tere raggoh
meh stimulant daur raha hoga toh...
Science 101.

V chuckles. V takes a puff outta of his cigarette.

V
Chila chila keh bol.. Kya pata
shayad police sunn le aur mujhe
andar dal deh.

Harsh takes out his notepad & looks at the task list.

HARSH
Aderall use kar.. Same buzz minus
the side effects.
(beat)
By the ways... aaj ka program kya
hai ? Kyaaaa karna hai aaj ?

V takes a puff outta his cigarette. Harsh puts the note pad
down. Harsh massages his neck a little whilst rotatin’ it a
little.

V
Pata nai... mujhe kuch pina
padega... Coffee.. Redbull.

Harsh gets on his feet. V also gets on his feet. Both of them
are standin’ & lookin’ around. V rests his head on his
harsh’s shoulder & closes his eyes. Harsh brushes him off. V
rubs his one eye.

V (CONT’D)
Sona hai bhai. Bass thoda.
 4.

HARSH
Toh kya mere peh soyega tu abb..
Vinciguerra Times hai yeh.. Tere
baap ki motel nai.

Harsh takes a puff outta of his cigarette . Harsh then

notices little cigarette ash on his shirt. Harsh brushes off
the cigarette ash from his shirt with his one hand. V
chuckles whilst lookin’ at it & starts shakin’ his head.

V
Kya karta hai tu ? Shirt ko ashtray
bana rakha hai tune. Dhyan rakha
karr.

Harsh looks at v & sulks.

HARSH
(sarcastic)
Cigarette keh sath sote hue apni
shirt jala di ho jis maha purush
neh voh abb dusro koh lecture dege
ki kese apne shirt ka khyaal
rakhien. Vaah Vaah !

V shakes his head whilst breakin’ a smile. LAWYERED !

V
(smilin’)
Voh sirf ek baar hua tha.. Kamine.

Harsh & V smile at each other. Harsh shakes his head a little
head.

HARSH
Challllehh abbb !

Harsh & V start to head for the coffee machine which is

located in a distant corner - in the office canteen area.
Harsh & V are facin’ lotta pedestrians who are comin’ thier
way whilst readin’ the articles & havin’ a coffee. Harsh & V
slowly maneuver thru this traffic.

V
Mujhe aaj dus bara coffee pini
padegi.. Varna sojauga meh saachi
bata raha hu.

HARSH
(sarcastic)
Aur phir duss bara gante aap
washroom meh nuclear baam gole
fodoge.
 5.

V snaps harsh’s ears with his fingers. Harsh brushes him off.

HARSH (CONT’D)
Harrasament aur battery keh charge
meh andar kar duga tujhe.

V chuckles. As Harsh & V are walkin’ .. two beautiful women

are walkin’ towards them. Harsh & V make way for them. Those
two beautiful women leave. Harsh checks them out as they are
walkin’. V snaps his fingers in front of harsh as he see
harsh checkin’ those women out. Harsh touches his earlobes
whilst turnin’ towards V. Harsh clenches his teeth in a say
cheese manner. V shakes his head whilst smilin’.

V
(smilin’)
Paapi hai tu..

HARSH
Aur unn papo ka karz roz adaa karta
hu meh.

Harsh & V start walkin’ back towards the coffee corner. It’s
still pretty far. All of a sudden V stops as he notices this
new beautiful woman - EARLY 20’S - SUHANA - on the table near
him. Suhana is typin’ somethin’ on her computer whilst
drinkin’ her glass of water. Suhana then looks at bunch of
papers on her keyboard & starts circlin’ on them with her
pencil.

V
Harsh voh kon hai ?

Harsh looks at suhana & smiles.

HARSH
I know her.. Meri dost ki behen
hai.

V looks at harsh. V is lil suprised.

V
Dost ?

HARSH
Technically woh dost ladki hai ..
Female dost hai meri.

V gives harsh a puzzled look like “What the heck are you
talkin’ about?”. V then turns towards suhana. V is starin’ at
suhana. Harsh looks at v starin’ at her. Harsh then looks at
suhana & chuckles.
 6.

V
Khubsurat lagti hai.. shaant ..
Masoom. Intro karwana harsh mera !

Harsh smirks & gives V a look.

HARSH
Hatt ! Mandap khol ke rakha hai
tere liye mene yaha ? Aur vese bhi
high maintenance lagti hai...

V
Milne toh wali nai. 100% iska koi
gadha boyfreind hoga.

HARSH
22 ki hai bhai .. 10-20 ladke gum
rahe hoge iske aage piche.

V looks at harsh with a surprised face.

V
Kya ? 22 ki hai ! Tab toh cancel
rakho. Buddhi kam hoti hai in 20
somethin’ ladkiyo meh.

Harsh looks at v & chuckles.

HARSH
Tere liye toh phir 100 saal ki
buddhi dundhe geh...
Usme buddhi bhari padi hogi...
Aristotle ki aulad !

V sulks. Harsh chuckles.

HARSH (CONT’D)
Chal varna yahi pura din nikkal
jayega.. Isseh dekhte dekhte.

Harsh & V start walkin’ towards the canteen area in the

corner. As harsh & v are walkin’ .. a sharp lookin’ woman -
White shirt & black pants - Aarti - in her 30’s walks
towards them without even botherin’ to look at them or ask
them to move aside .. her fierce look is enough to make Harsh
& V make some room for her. Aarti divides them. Aarti walks
thru them. Harsh & V turn back to look at her as she walks
right thru them. Aarti just keeps walkin’ .. with a file in
her one hand & the coffee in her other hand.

V
Iski ankhien toh thikh hai ? Hummeh
rondh kar chali jati agar side nai
dete isko toh.
 7.

Harsh kinda likes this aarti chick. Harsh is smilin’ like a

school boy. Harsh shakes his head & bites his lips a little.

HARSH
(smitten)
Kya lagti hai yeh yaar ! Zeherrr.

V
Bratashree voh lady hitler ka
shakshat swaroop hai.. Tujhe kaccha
chabba jayegi.

Harsh is still lookin’ at her.

HARSH
(smilin’)
Toh phir chabbane deh.

V looks puzzled. His eyebrows are puckered. V shakes his head

& turn around. V starts walkin’ - Proceedin’ back to mission-
e-coffee.

Harsh is standin’ back & still lookin’ at aarti. V is unaware

of this & is walkin’. V is about to say something & turns a
little. V notices that harsh is not with him. V sees harsh
still standin’ over there like a wall. V shakes his head. V
then rushes couple of steps back & grabs harsh by his
shoulders & turns him around. Harsh still lookin’ at aarti
with his head turnt back.

V
Oh.. Romero. Baad meh. Abb mundi
sidhi karr.

HARSH
Dekne dena .. Tujhe kya jalan hoti
hai.

V chuckels. Harsh turns his head. Harsh & V then start

walkin’ towards the canteen area.

V
Pichle hafte seh hum dono ka dhyan
nayi stories parr kamm aur inn
larkiyo parr zyada ja raha hai. Yeh
boss pata nai .. Itni sari ladkiyo
koh kyon hire kar raha hai... sara
dhyan idhar udhar ho jata hai.

Harsh & v finally arrive near the coffee & vending machine
area. They see the new ladies around the coffee machine. They
are chuggin’ up all the coffee whilst smilin’ & talkin’ to
each other. V looks terrified.
 8.

A caffeine addicts worse nightmare. V sees those women

chuggin’ a cup after cup. V raises his one eyebrow.

V (CONT’D)
Yeh kya .. sabb meri coffee khatam
kar rahi hai. Harsh kuch kar yar
tu.

HARSH
(sarcastic)
Karta hu.. Jake chila ta hu unke
kaan meh, ki yaha sirf mera dost
refill kar sakta hai aur koi nai.
Uska reserved kota hai, tum log
yaha seh daffa ho jao.

Harsh & V are observin’ these new ladies who are drinkin’ &
refillin’ thier coffee cups like hell. V looks little shaken.

HARSH (CONT’D)
Ro matt.. Office keh bahar bhi
coffee milti hai.

V
Ha parr .. Voh coffee alag hoti
hai.. Iss meh jo maza aata hai..
Voh usme nai aata. Office ki coffee
ka swaad hi kuch aur hota hai. Aur
yeh chudail.. Sarri coffee khatam
kar rahi hai.

The new ladies are done with thier coffee chuggathon

marathon. They throw thier coffee cups in the bin & leave.
Harsh & V finally head for the coffee machine. Both of them
are standin’ in front of the coffee machine.

HARSH
Chal veere.. khali kar de tu.. Ek
bhi bund matt chorna. Pura insaaf
milna chahiye cofee koh.

Harsh & V take couple of cups off the coffee machine. Both of
them fill it up with coffee. Both of them then light up &
start smokin’. Harsh turns & looks at aarti who is sittin’ on
her desk & workin’ on her computer. V turns & looks at harsh.
Harsh is starin’ at aarti from a far.

V
Kabb puchne vala hai tu usse lunch
keh liye ?

Harsh looks at v. Harsh puckers his eyebrows.

 9.

HARSH
Pagal hai bai kya tu?

V takes a sip outta his coffee cup. V looks at harsh.

V
Kyon? Tujhe pasand nai hai kya voh?
Hmmm ?

Harsh takes a sip outta his coffee cup whilst turnin’ towards
aarti.

HARSH
Pasand toh duniya ki sari ladkiya
hai mujhe uss hisab seh.

V chuckles.

HARSH (CONT’D)
Aur vese bhi aaj kal ki ladkiyo ka
koi bharosa nai. Abhi huss rahi
hai... Doh minute baad surpankha
ban gayi toh? Nai bhai. Koi chance
nai le sakta meh.

V takes a long puff outta his cigarette & blows it out via
his nose. Harsh takes a sip outta his coffee cup again. V
looks at harsh.

V
Saari ladkiya khoonkar daatoh vaali
nai hoti .. Tu kuch zyada hi darr
raha hai.

Harsh is tryin’ to finish the entire coffee in a one go.

Harsh raises his eyebrows showin’ his rebuttal whilst
chuggin’ down the coffee. Harsh finishes the coffee & wipes
his coffe moustache. Harsh throws the cup in the steel bin
near him. Harsh then turn towards V.

HARSH
Last week ka case.. Jassinder singh
killed her husband. Vajah ? Kharate
nai pasand the usse. Never.. Meh
sirf dekh kar hi khush hu. Durr seh
dhup sekuga. Kyonki agar nazdik
gaya inke.. toh jala kar rakh
kardegi yeh aurtien mujhe.

V chuckles & then proceeds to chug his entire cup of coffee

at once. V finishes his coffee. V then wipes off his coffee
mustache. V throws the cup in the steel bin near him. Harsh
takes a puff outta his cigarette & blows it out real quick.
Suhana is walkin’ towards them with some files in her hands.
 10.

V & harsh smile at her. Harsh takes a puff outta his

cigarette & makes way for suhana. Harsh exhales. The smoke
accidently hits suhana’s face. Suhana starts coughin’ whilst
grabbin’ her coffee cup. Suhana tries to wend the smoke outta
her face whilst lookin’ at harsh. Harsh looks emabarrased. V
tries not to laugh by coverin’ his mouth with his hand.

SUHANA
I hope ki boss lobby meh smokin’
ban kar deh. Hookah bar bana rakha
hai tum logo neh iss jagah koh.

Harsh gives her a blank look. Harsh & V then turn around.
Both of them start walkin’ outta the canteen area.

V
(smilin’)
Abb cigarette bhi gai hamari.

Harsh shakes his head a little.

HARSH
Dukhi insaan koh aur kitna dukhi
karege yeh log yaar.

V
Chinta matt kar tu.. Agar yeh
smokin’ ban bhi karte hai toh bhi
koi nai rok payega hummeh... Hum
koi e cigarette utha lege. Dekhte
hai kon ban karta hai voh.

Harsh & V put thier cigarettes out on someone’s else’s

ashtray whilst headin’ towards boss’s office.

INT. BOSS’S OFFCIE - MORNING

Harsh & V walk in. RAMMI - Sleek debonair. Mid 40’. Rammi is
busy fiddlin’ thru the various papers & notes. Rammi is also
handlin’ a phone. His table is filled with files & notes.
Rammi then punches couple of key strokes on his computer. His
office commands respect. Rammi isn’t your average joe sorta
boss. Harsh & V are still waitin’ for a chance to talk. Harsh
& V are just standin’ in front of his desk.

RAMMI
(on the phone)
Re-election - fake promises - money
wins. The usual.

Rammi smirks & cuts the phone. He then lights up a cigarette

whilst fiddlin’ thru files & notes. Rammi signals Harsh & V
to speak.
 11.

V
Sir.. Meh karmani keh naye campaign
peh piece karne ki soch raha hu.

Rammi keeps shufflin’ thru papers - takin’ a good look at

them. Rammi then looks at various hand written notes inside
them & goes thru them.

RAMMI
Don't go over the top. Good
sources. Keep it clean.

V nods.

HARSH
Sir.. abhi haali meh jo murder hua
tha uspe piece karne ki soch raha
hu meh.

Rammi still hasn’t looked at harsh or v. Rammi is too busy

sortin’ the mountains of files & notes with his one hand.
Rammi reads different notes & starts tearin’ them. He then
throws them in a steel bin below his desk. Rammi takes bunch
of more papers near him & starts goin’ thru them.

HARSH (CONT’D)
Joh ladki kal mari gai thi.. Charu
gupta.

Rammi stops fidgetin’ with his papers & looks at harsh & v.

RAMMI
It’s already done.. Case closed.
Silver earrings aur purse gayab
tha. Local chor ka kaam tha.
Nothin’ major.

Harsh bites his lower lip in a nervous manner.

HARSH
Sir.. Uska husband aath mahino
pehle car accident meh mara gaya
tha.. Aurr abb uski biwi bhi ese..
Could be somthing .. Don’t you
think so ?

Rammi rubs his one eye with his hand. Rammi looks at harsh.

RAMMI
Tumhare sivaay koi iske bare meh
soch nahi raha .. Ya toh tum genius
ho ya toh tum...
 12.

HARSH
Sir.. But

RAMMI
Pichli baar kya hua tha pata haina
tumeh ? Humme tumhari bahduri ki
wajah seh retraction print karna
pada tha. Tum lucky ho ki tumhare
pass abhi bhi yeh job hai...

Harsh gives “yeah.. You dont need to rub it in like that”

look. V looks taps harsh’s shoe... tryin’ to tell him to drop
this mad idea. Harsh nods at rammi.

HARSH
Sir.. You’re right.. Meh Veer koh
karmani keh re-election campaign
wale peice parr assist karuga.

Rammi nods whilst lookin’ at them.

RAMMI
Good.. Now get out.

INT. NEWSPAPER OFFICE - MORNING

Harsh & V leave the office whilst shuttin’ the door behind.
Harsh is lookin’ little off. Harsh seems affected by the
rammi’s shit behavior towards him. Harsh & V head for their
desk. V settles & sits on harsh’s desk. Harsh settles down on
the chair. Harsh starts to play minesweeper on his computer
instead of workin’. V grabs a harsh’s notepad & starts
sketchin’ something on it.

V
Uss khadoos ki baat dil parr matt
le.

Harsh is lookin’ at the computer. Harsh is clearly is not in

the mood. Harsh is clickin’ real hard.

HARSH
Mare kutta. Hamesha neutral
articles likwata hai. Toh phir
hamari kya zarurat hai.. Khud hi
type karde. Good source ! Good this
.. Good that. Badd.. Badd.. Badd.

V looks devoted & is sketchin’ real hard.

V
Chorna... vese bhi kya karta tu uss
case meh ? Chori karne aaya tha..
(MORE)
 13.

V (CONT'D)
Hatha aafai hui aur thokh diya
usseh usne. Sekdo cases hote hai
aese roz.

Harsh stops playin’ minesweeper as he loses. Harsh throws his

arms in the air whilst lookin’ pissed off.

HARSH
Pata nai yeh gadhe game banate kyon
hai esi.. agar jitne nai dene wale
players koh ek bhi baar toh phir
kya faida ?

V
Dekh mene kya banaya.

Harsh turns towards V. V shows him the face of a skull with

two devilish horn on it. “KHADOOS BOSS” . Harsh smiles a
little. V then puts the notepad down. V looks at harsh & then
looks at his watch. V then looks at harsh.

V (CONT’D)
11 baje hai.. Kuch kha kar aate
hai. Tera mood bhi fresh hojayega.
Challl !

Harsh looks little down from the previous reamarks made by

rammi towards him. Harsh breathes in. Harsh then nods at V. V
taps on the wood. Harsh & V get up & start headin’ out.

EXT. PITSATERIA - MORNING

Harsh & V are sittin’ next to each other. There are bunch of
other customers sittin’ outside the pitsateria ( different
tables ) talkin’ & chattin’ whilst havin’ a pizza. V is
havin’ a pizza .. whilst harsh is just starin’ at his pizza.
Harsh keeps starin’ blankly at his pizza box. Harsh’s face
has this “Something is fishy” look.

HARSH
Ladki dakhe wali thi ..

There are few women sittin’ near Harsh & V’s table. Those
women turn thier gaze towards Harsh & V. Harsh gives a zero
fucks about it. Harsh is still in his train of thoughts. V
looks little embarrassed & smiles at those women .. sort of a
damage control. V then looks at harsh.

V
Kya subah seh ladki ladki laga
rakha hai tune. Chorna yeh sabb.

Harsh looks at V. Harsh then looks in front .. lost.

 14.

HARSH
Tune woh article padha tha dhyan
seh ? Usme likha tha ki lassh ko
doh bajje discover kiya tha ek
buddhi neh.

V
Umm...

HARSH
Koi aawaz nai aayi hogi kya ?
Matlab..

V now looks at harsh.

HARSH (CONT’D)
Ek ladki.. raat koh kisi galli meh
ludak jati hai aur koi aawaz tak
nai sunta. Koi pip bhi nai hoti.
Phir voh buddhi aurat 2 baje
cigarette pine jati hai uske garr
keh blacony meh.. Aur voila... voh
uski lash paddi dekti hai street
par. Silencer leke gumta tha yeh
chor kya ? Matlab kuch missin’ hai
.. Kuch gale nai beth raha.

V looks puzzled & confused. V takes a bite outta his pizza

slice. V chews it real slow whilst thinkin’ about harsh’s
take on the case.

V
Yeh koi wild theory ho sakti hai ..
Koi facts nai hai isme. Sirf broad
assumptions aur kuch nai.

Harsh is still lookin’ in front.

HARSH
Uska husband car accident meh mara
gaya tha kuch mahino pehle. Aur abb
yeh. One two. One two.

V stares at harsh whilst chewin’ his pitsa bite. Harsh is

still in his zone.

V
Could be a coincidence !
(beat)
Ok, chal thikh hai. Aise hi game
khelne ke liye.. Tujhe lag raha hai
ki yeh vai log hai jinhone uske
patti ko udaya tha.
 15.

Harsh shakes his head whilst lookin’ little off.

HARSH
Pata nai..

V stares at harsh.

V
Ok.. Toh phir innhone in dono koh
sath meh kyon nai uddaa diya.. Cost
efficient aur easy rehta.
Jaan buch keh khudke liye itni
difficulties kyon create karege.
Doh alag alag windows use karke.
Aur harsh come on.. Yeh dono normal
workin’ class log the... yeh sirf
coincidence ho sakta hai.. Ek
bada...... Coincidence.

HARSH
Normal log.. Normal jobs.. Aur side
meh mr & mrs. Smith.

V’s mood shifts. V breaks a smile whilst shakin’ his head a

little.

V
(smilin’)
Tu .. Cipher times kumm padha kar.
Kuch zyada hi paranoid hogaya hai
tu aajkal ? Kalko tu sarr par
aluminium foil pehen keh gumega.
Chill karr.

Harsh shakes his head a little.

HARSH
Chorr... Bhukh laggi hai..

Harsh looks at his pitsa. Harsh takes pitsa slice outta the
box. Harsh has pitsa in his right hand. Harsh is about to
take a bite outta his pizza & sees tomatoes in it. Harsh’s
face turns red. Harsh smashes the pitsa back in his pitsa
box. V is like “WOAAHH DUDE !”

HARSH (CONT’D)
(annoyed)
Namuno seh aek kam nai hota dhang
seh.. Bhadve.. Tamtar dalne ko mana
karr rakha hai inko par phir bhi
nai.. pura mood off kar diya.
 16.

Women sittin’ nearby look at Harsh. V smiles at them.. again

tryin’ to control the damage. Women shake thier heads & frown
upon both of them.

EXT. PARKING LOT - MORNING

Harsh & V are walkin’ towards the car. Harsh is still

thinkin’ about the murder. V looks at him .. tryin’ to figure
out, why his best friend is goin’ all bonkers over this
simple case.

V
Oye.. Bolna kuch. Aise hi apne meh
matt gussa reh.

Harsh stops walkin’. Harsh then looks up to the sky & keeps
starin’ at it. V also looks up & stares at the sky. V then
looks at harsh.

V (CONT’D)
Voh maddad nai karega.. Kisi ki nai
karta voh.

Harsh cracks a lukewarmish smiles whilst shakin’ his head a

little. V smiles at harsh. They both start to walk again.
Harsh then starts lookin’ at his own feet. Harsh observes the
steps he is takin’. Harsh is in a deep process of makin’
parallels with the murder case. He is tryin’ to make sense
outta the whole case. V looks at this & pokes harsh’s
shoulder. Harsh looks at him whilst walkin’.

V (CONT’D)
Ho kya gaya hai tujhe ? Pata hai
tujhe ki iss sheher meh kitne log
marte hai roz ? Sekdo log marte hai
roz yaha... Sekdo. Aur tu iss ek
ladki keh uparr deewana ho gaya
hai. Simple chori ka matter tha ..
Escalate hua aur chize idhar ki
udhar hogai.

Harsh & V are gettin’ closer to the car. Harsh has this odd
look on his face - eyebrows all puckered. Harsh is still
thinkin’ about the murder case.

V (CONT’D)
Kya hua abb ?

HARSH
Mujhe... kuch gale nai beth raha.
Chor ese area meh kya kar raha
hoga? Posh area toh hai nai yeh..
Toh phir.. Kuch odd hai ismeh.
 17.

V puckers his eyebrows.

V
Konsa ? Kya ajeeb logic laga raha
hai tu.

Harsh looks at V.

HARSH
Phir bhi.. Ek baar jakar dekhna
chahiye hummeh udhar. Kya pata kuh
intrestin’ cheez dikhe.

V shakes his head a little.

V
Nai ! Bookstore meh jana hai aaj ..
Bhool gaya kya tu ?

Harsh rolls his eyes. V reachs near the car & grabs the door
open. Harsh looks at V from the other end of the car whilst
grabbin’ his door open.

HARSH
Thikh hai.. Bookstore keh baad
jayege. Mujhe chain nahi bethega
jab tak meh voh crime scene dekh na
lu.

V
Karmini par article karna hai aaj.
Yeh sabb keh chakkar meh main kaam
chala jayega.

HARSH
Tel lene jaye.. Raat koh likh
dalege. Konse teer marne hai ussmeh
vese bhi.

V nods. Harsh & V hop in to the car & close thier respective
door.

INT. CAR - MORNING

Harsh & V are settlin’ down in the car. Harsh looks at V.

HARSH
Bookstore seh sidha uss buddhi
aurat keh waha jayege. Usne sabse
pehle dead body koh dekha tha.

V lights up a cigarette & takes a puff out of it real quick.

V then looks at harsh.
 18.

V
Treasure hunt khel rahe hai humm
dono yaha par kya ? Kuch nai
milega.. Pagalo ki tarah idhar
udhar logo seh baat karni padegi..
Aur end meh.. Case closed. Vahi peh
aatapke gein jaha seh shuru kiya
tha humne. Koi faida nai meh bata
raha hu tujhe.

Harsh looks at v.

HARSH
Agar kuch nai hua toh mitti daal
dege iss case par. Parr ek bari
dekhne meh kya dikkat hai tujhe.

V ignites the car whilst shakin’ his head. Harsh looks in

front whilst lightin’ up a cigarette.

V
Thikh hai brahtashree. Parr voh
aurat 85 ki hai.

HARSH
Kyon .. Tujhe shadi karni hai
usse.. Nai na toh bass.

V smiles whilst shakin’ his head. We see the car manoeuvrin’

outta the parkin’ lot.

EXT. STREET - MORNING

We now see the car rollin’ down on the street. Harsh & V are
smokin’.

INT. CAR ( MOVIN’ ) - MORNING

Harsh takes a drag outta his cigarette. V looks enthused. V

smiles whilst lookin’ at harsh.

V
Toh yeh sun tu. Meh yeh ek mystery
novel padh raha tha.

Harsh looks at v.

HARSH
Tu padhta bhi hai ? Good.

V roll his eyes. Harsh chuckles.

 19.

V
Uske andar 10 ladkiyo keh murder
hote hai. Harr sunday koh koi
different ladki. Police koh na kisi
ki fingerprints na hi koi nishaan
milte hain crime scene peh. Soch
usne kese kiya hoga yeh sabb bina
koi clues chore.

Harsh looks at v & tilts his head a little.

HARSH
Gloves kaam karte hai iska matlab.
Usne bleach use kiya hoga maybe.

V looks at harsh whilst smilin’ a bit & then turns his head
to the front.

V
Tu sunna... Sarre victims keh upar
bullet wounds the.. Parr dead
bodies meh seh ek bhi bullet nai
mili unhe.

Harsh stares at V whilst puckerin’ his eyebrows.

HARSH
Bullets nikal deta hoga unko marne
ke baad. Schizophrenic serial
killer.. Darr hoga usseh ki kai
bullet keh thru police koh koi clue
na miljae.

V smiles a little.

V
Voh bullets use hi nai karta tha!

Harsh looks confused whilst starin’ at V. V is lookin’ in

front.

V (CONT’D)
Voh ice koh bullets ka mold dekar
use karta tha. Jabb police aati thi
toh unhe ganta bhi nai milta tha.

Harsh smiles a little.

HARSH
Toh phir.. Last meh killer koh kese
pakda in gadho ne.

V
Killer nai killers ?
 20.

Harsh is now totally interested in this conversation. Harsh

is starin’ at V. V smiles at harsh.

HARSH
Kya ? Matlab kese possible hai yeh
? Ek hi pattern seh.. Samaj nai aa
raha mujhe yeh.

V looks at harsh a little & then fixes his gaze back on the
road.

V
10 Killer’s koh dass alag alag
target diye the. Same method bass
10 alag alag log. Unhone bleach
istamal kiya tha. CCTV keh liye LED
GOGGLES. Fake rubber masks. FALSE
DNA !

HARSH
Kafi tilchasv novel hai. Mujhe
padhni padegi. Parr motive kya tha
unhe marne kah ?

V himself is little confused. V throws his one hand in the

air.

V
Jiss ne yeh novel likhi hai voh
bahut bada kamina hai meh bata raha
hu.. Woh 10 alag alag logo koh
istemaal karke 10 ladkiyo koh ludka
deta hai. Police wale gadho koh koi
pattern nai dikti last takk.
Thriller.

Harsh looks at v.

HARSH
Parr kuch toh hoga na ? Aese hi
pure end takk bas suspence aur kuch
nai ? Kuch toh motive hoga.

V looks at harsh & smiles a little.

V
Dusso ki duss ladkiya govt. workers
thi.

Harsh smiles a little.

HARSH
Iska matlab government neh hi
thukwa diya tha innko.
 21.

V
Pese vassol hogaye novel keh.

Harsh shakes his head whilst bitin’ his lower lip.

HARSH
Maut aur pyar kabhi bhi dastak deh
sakte hai. You never know.

V smiles.

V
(smilin’)
Pyar ka toh pata nai parr maut keh
chances zyada hai humari zindagi
meh.

Harsh smirks.

V (CONT’D)
(beat)
Kesa lagta hoga ?

Harsh looks at v.

HARSH
Kya ?

V
Kitabo meh kisi koh bhi maar sakte
ho.. par hakikat meh kisi ki jaan
lena. Kisi ka gala daba kar usski
sansien rokana. Pata nai kese karte
hoge yeh log.

Harsh looks at v.

HARSH
(scarcastic)
Mene abhi tak kiya nai parr hamare
boss ka karne ki soch raha hu.
Tujhe baad meh report bhejuga
experience keh bare meh.

V looks at harsh whilst smilin’. At this point the joke is

takin’ a life of its own.

V
(smilin’)
Meh bhi join karuga tujhe. Time aur
jagah bol deh bass.

Harsh & V start to laugh.

 22.

EXT. BOOKSTORE - AFTERNOON

V pulls the car over. V turns off the igntion. We now see
Harsh & V gettin’ outta the car. Harsh & V start headin’ for
the bookstore. Harsh tosses his cigarette away whilst
walkin’.

HARSH
Soch 60’s meh airplane meh
cigarette pini allowed thi.
Airplane meh soch... aur aaj ek
jagah parr chen seh nai pi sakta
tu.. demonize kar diya hai puri
tobacco industry ko.

V shakes his head a little. Harsh & V are now walkin’ towards
the stairs.

V
Sab 100 100 saal jee rahe hai. Har
jagah buddho ki tadat badh gayi
hai. Sabse baddi problem hai yeh.

Harsh chuckles. Harsh & V are in front of the bookstore’s

door. V reaches for the bookstore’s door. V opens the door &
waltz in. Harsh follows him in.

INT. BOOKSTORE - AFTERNOON

V & harsh are in the bookstore but unsure of which section to

hit first. V & harsh start to look here & there. V rubs his
chin a little whilst decidin’. Harsh shakes his head a
little.

HARSH
Isseh acha library gaye hoteh.

V then heads for the fiction section. Harsh follows. Both

Harsh & V are standin’ in front of the fiction shelf. V picks
up a book & starts skimmin’ thru it. Harsh also picks up a
book & starts skimmin’ thru it. V looks at the back side of
the book to read the description.

V
Dekh...

Harsh looks at V’s book.

V (CONT’D)
Library meh essi fresh kitabe nai
milti. Yeh abhi abhi aai hai.

Harsh is not impressed with the book.

 23.

HARSH
Aaj kal keh writers meh voh baat
nai hai. Kuch unique aur intrestin’
nai likhte log aajkal. Sab one
dimesional lagta hai. You know.

V looks at harsh.

V
Toh kya chahiye aap ko sir ?

Harsh puts his book back. Harsh then looks at v.

HARSH
Kitabien jisme kam sex aur violence
ho... kuch unique story honi
chahiye. Trippy honi chahiye ekdum.

V chuckles a bit whilst lookin’ at harsh.

V
Tadd ta toh tu ladkiyo ko din bhar
hai.. par tujhe kitabe aur filmo
meh thoda sa bhi romance nai
pasand.. Ajeeb hai tu?

Harsh looks at v.

HARSH
Bikini scenes aur fashion runway
koh romance nai kehte. Thodi
tenderness honi chaiye.. Aur plus
zyadatar kitabo keh characters..
One dimensional hote hai.. Kuch
feel nai aata.

V puts his book back. V then looks up & down. V then looks at
harsh who is also scannin’ the entire shelf.

V
Professor harsh ? Toh konsi kitaab
kharidu meh aaj.

Harsh gets tired. Harsh shrugs shoulders a little. Harsh

takes a deep breathe & looks at V.

HARSH
Tunne mujhe kaha hota toh..
Internet par seh doh minton meh
sari kitaab dilwa deta tujhe. Itni
mehnat bhi nai karni padti tujhe.

V puckers his eyebrows whilst lookin’ at harsh.

 24.

V
Kya ? Internet par kitabeh !

HARSH
Tu haazar kitaab apne laptop meh
lekar gum sakta hai. Jab man ho koi
bhi kitaab utha le usme seh.

V
Aur price ?

Harsh chuckles whilst givin’ V a “What price ? It’s free”

look.

HARSH
(smilin’)
Price?? Kesi price. Free meh.. Koi
bhi .. Kitni bhi mehengi. Mazze lut
tu bass.

V shakes his head a little whilst smilin’.

V
Phele kaha hota toh... abb takk
mere kitne pese bach jate. Abb
tujhse hi luga sari books. Laptop
lekar aa raha hu aaj tere garr peh
raat koh.

HARSH
Well meh free meh nai duga.. Ek
pack marlboro harr hafte.. Mujhe
gift karega tu.

V smiles at harsh.

V
Batman seh upar..

Harsh smiles at v.

HARSH
Batman seh behtarr..

V & HARSH
Marlboro man.

V & Harsh chuckle a bit. Harsh & v turn around & start
headin’ for the bookstore’s exit whilst lookin’ around at
various book shelves. Harsh looks at the shelves filled with
books & smiles a little.
 25.

HARSH
Meh yeh miss karuga.. Dhire dhire..
Bookstore ek antique zamane ki
cheez ban jeyege.

Harsh opens the door. We see harsh & v leavin’ the bookstore.

EXT. BOOKSTORE - AFTERNOON

Harsh & V are walkin’ towards the car.

HARSH
Ab sidha uss buddhi keh garpe ja
rahe hai. Koi natak nai chahiye
tera mujhe abb.

V looks at harsh & tilts his neck a little.

V
Buddhi? Sanskaar bhul gaya hai tu
aajkal.

Harsh throws his hands in the air.

HARSH
Buzurg mahila keh garpe.. Ab thikh
hai. Shrawan ki aulad.

V chuckles & grabs the car’s door. Both harsh & V hop in at
once.

INT. CAR - AFTERNOON

Harsh & V are setllin’ in. V gets the cigarette pack & takes
two cigarette out. V is behind the wheel.

V
Koi nai.. Humme bhi koi ek din
buddha kahega.

HARSH
(smilin’)
Mujhe nai lagta... ki vo din
aayega.

V
(sarcastic)
Kyon .. Yamraj keh saath setting
hai teri.
 26.

V lights two cigarettes with his lighter. V then puts his

lighter & cigarette pack down. V then gives one cigarette to
harsh. Harsh takes it & takes a deep drag out of it.

HARSH
60-80 saal tak jike kya karna hai
yaar. Wheel chair parr idhar
udhar.. No sir thank you. I’ll
pass.

V ponders on harsh’s thought for a moment whilst smokin’.

V
Jabb tu uss tarike seh bolta hai..
Toh lagta hai ki sahi hai. Aur vese
bhi lung cancer toh utha hi lega
humme 60 seh pehle. Cigarette apni
mashuka hai.. Saath lekar jayegi.

Harsh coughs whilst smilin’ & takin’ a puff outta his

cigarette. V chuckles as he ignites the car.

EXT. CAR - AFTERNOON

We see Harsh’s & V leavin’ in the car.

INT. NEWSPAPER OFFICE - AFTERNOON

Suhana is punchin’ various typed papers & notes together.

Suhana puts the bunch in to a file. Suhana gets up with the
file in her hand. Suhana then heads for the rammi’s office
with her file. Suhana grabs the office door open.

INT. BOSS’S OFFCIE - AFTERNOON

Suhana enters the office & moves little further - near

rammi’s vicinity. Suhana stands in front of rammi’s desk.
Rammi is workin’ on his computer whilst havin’ a cigarette.
Rammi sees suahna. Rammi turns his gaze towards suhana. Rammi
takes a puff outta his cigarette. Rammi signals her to speak.

SUHANA
Sir.. Mene arms deal par article
complete kar diya hai..

Suhana gives her file to rammi & heads back to her spot.
Rammi starts lookin’ at bunch of papers & notes which are
tucked inside the file. Rammi skims thru the papers & notes
whilst shakin’ his head a little. Suhana looks little
nervous. Rammi closes the file & pushes it away. Suhana takes
it back & then goes back on her spot. Rammi looks at suhana.
 27.

RAMMI
Tumhe pata hai ki vinciguerra times
sabse top parr kyon hai ?

Beat. Suhana shakes her head whilst lookin’ at rammi.

SUHANA
No sir.

Rammi takes a deep puff outta his cigarette.

RAMMI
Kyonki humm ek perfect blend seh
news deliver karte hai.. Na
positive .. na negative. Humm
readers parr apne personal opinions
nai thopte.. Humm simply facts
deliver karte hai unke samne.

Suhana’s morale is bruised by rammi’s opinion. Suhana looks

defeated. Rammi puts his cigarette out in the ashtray near
him. Rammi looks at suhana.

RAMMI (CONT’D)
Re write it again.. Critise karna
hi hai agar tumhe.. Toh ek method
seh karo... facts use karo nakki
apne opinions. Samji ?

SUHANA
sir.. meh just...

RAMMI
Tumhe karmani nai pasand usse mujhe
koi lena dena nai parr. Parr yeh ek
national newspaper hai. Humm kisi
par bhi apni bhadaas nai nikal
sakte.

SUHANA
Sorry sir.

RAMMI
Good.. Now get out!

Suhana turns around & leaves. Rammi sees her walkin’ outta
the door. Rammi is all alone in his office. Rammi gets hold
of a paper beneath a file. Rammi looks at it. It is a little
sketch he has made. Bunch of dogs typin’ articles on their
computers in an office.
 28.

EXT. APARTMENT - AFTERNOON

V pulls the car over. Harsh & V get outta the car. Harsh & V
look at the apartment. Harsh takes the chit outta his pocket.
Harsh then looks at the 3rd floor. Harsh puts the chit back
in his pocket.

HARSH
Tisre floor par rehti hai voh
aurat.

V looks at harsh.

V
Tu sure hai?

Harsh looks at v.

HARSH
Kya .. Kyon ?

V is grinnin’.

V
(sarcastic)
Kya pata hamare liye kisi ne yaha
hitman hire kar rakha ho. Shoot at
sight.

Harsh frowns & shakes his head whilst lookin’ at V. V laughs

a little.

HARSH
Kash sach meh koi hitman nikle..
Aur voh tujhe uddaa deh. Aur phir
tere murder peh article likhu ga
meh baad meh.

V smirks a little.

V
Kya pata teri wish puri ho jaye..
Aur sach mar jau meh aaj.

Harsh isn't impressed by v’s joke.

HARSH
Ha.. Ha. Very funny.

Harsh & V start walkin’ towards the apartment. Harsh is

walkin’ little slow. V has paced little ahead. Harsh pauses
for a moment. Harsh looks around. Harsh looks at green bushes
& small trees - PERFECT SPOT FOR A KILLER TO HIDE WHEN IT’S
DARK. V turns around & notices harsh lookin’ around.
 29.

V
Kya hua ? Yahi parr hi rehna hai
tujhe pure din? Chal !

Harsh starts walkin’. V waits for harsh to join in. Harsh & V
then start to walk towards the apartment again.

INT. APARTMENT - STAIRS - AFTERNOON

Harsh & V waltz in the apartment.

Harsh briefly looks at charu’s apartment’s door whilst

headin’ for the first floor via the stairs. V & Harsh start
to climb the stairs. Harsh tries to lights up a cigarette but
breaks his cigarette accidently. Harsh throws it outta anger.
Harsh & V keep climbin’ the stairs - 1st floor - 2nd floor.
Harsh & V are finally on the third floor. Harsh & V then
proceed towards the old lady’s apartment’s door. Harsh & V
look at each other. V nods a little. Harsh then proceeds to
knock on the door. Harsh knocks on the door in a polite
manner.

NO ANSWER !

Harsh knock on the door once again but this time uses a
little bit of firmness.

NO ANSWER !

V
So gai hogi.. Kya pata.

Harsh looks at v.

HARSH
Dopeher koh kaun sota hai ?

V
Retirees. Buddhe log.

Harsh knock on the door one last time.

NO ANSWER !

HARSH
Buddhi so gai hai lagta hai.

V
Hmmm... koi nai kal parso dekh
lege.

Harsh looks little disappointed. Harsh shakes his head a

little. Harsh & V are about to leave as the door opens.
Another random document with
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also for the insight necessary to decide whether inventions were so
or not. Employers would vie with one another in getting such a
name, and the whole tone and level of the artisans would be
perceptibly raised, while useful invention would proceed faster than
at present, because the certainty of moderate rewards would
stimulate men more than the remote chance of large ones.
No doubt you want facts rather than opinions. I can testify to this
much as to another branch of the subject: when there is an
infringement of a Patent, or supposed infringement, and an appeal to
the law is in prospect, it never occurs to either party to consider
whether the Patent-rights in question are good, bad, or indifferent. It
is too well known that the longest purse will win, and that whichever
party is prepared to spend most money will defeat and probably ruin
the other.
Make any use you like of these notes.
Yours, very truly,
Andrew Johnston.
R. A. Macfie, Esq., M.P.
 ON THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN
COPYRIGHT AND PATENT-RIGHT.
The following is reproduced under a conviction formed by hearing,
in the recent debate, so much stress laid on the resemblance of
Patent-right to Copyright, that superficial views are very generally
held and require to be met:—

Extract from “The Patent Question under Free-

Trade,” 1863.
We may now, in order to clear away what has been to some a
stumbling-block—the argument from analogy founded on the case of
literary property—notice certain distinctions between the subjects
respectively of Patent-right and Copyright. Those things that belong
to the province of Patent-right are in their nature capable of being
independently discovered or originated, in the same identical form,
by a plurality of persons. Of this character are the principles of
mechanism, processes of manufacture, and forms or methods
accordant thereto. Such, indeed, are, as a rule, actually discovered
or invented by several persons, and this very often almost
simultaneously. It is otherwise with things that belong to the province
of Copyright—literary and artistic combinations, books, pictures,
musical compositions, involving any degree of elaboration. Such, at
no interval of time, have ever been produced by even one other
person except a copyist.
This ground for differential treatment is connected with others. In
particular, the literary or artistic compositions of any person are
perfectly distinguishable from all those of every other. Hence the
Copyright privilege is conceded in the absolute certainty that the
grantee is their true and only originator, or first producer or creator.
No second person can come forward, after the Copyright privilege is
secured to an author or artist, and allege that the poem or picture he
composed also. To infringe Copyright means to slavishly or meanly
copy the work of another. To constitute infringement it is not sufficient
that the second person’s book has the same subject and the same
purpose in view, and is written in the same spirit as the first; the
“matter” must be the same, and in the same form. And so with
pictures, the subjects may be the same; the ideas may show great
correspondence. Exactness of “matter” and of arrangement is
everything. Patent-right, on the contrary, may be infringed where
there is no such exactness, and no copying whatever, but complete
originality. Disregarding form, it forbids the embodiment and use of
ideas, even of ideas entirely one’s own.
We have thus the inconsistency, or paradox, that the exclusive
privileges which have for their province only material objects—which
engage only our bodily frame and those senses merely that have
their exercise on matter apart from mind (and this is all that
patentable inventions do)—carry prohibition into the region of ideas;
while those other exclusive privileges, in whose province matter
serves only as a vehicle or excitant of things immaterial—
conceptions, memories, tastes, emotions—and as an instrument to
set the mind a-working and affect the higher senses and faculties—
make no such incursions, keeping entirely clear of interference with
any man’s practical use of ideas.
Literary and artistic Copyright has for its province visible, tangible
works, intended only for the eye or the ear, or inner man through
these senses—objects to be looked upon, listened to, thought of; not
things to be worked with or employed, nor things consumable, nor
mere modes of doing a thing, like the subjects of Patent-right. It has
no regard to processes, operations, implements. Therefore, unlike
Patent-right, it interferes not with manufacturers, artisans, miners,
farmers, shipping. Its sphere is in finished productions, works of art
in their completed state—objects that are permanent and
unmistakable. Infringements, therefore, are necessarily both
manifest and of set purpose, whereas infringements of Patent-right
are often doubtful, even when the subjects or results can be
exhibited, and when the facts of the case are assented to by all
parties; and if it is a question of processes, its infringements are
often undetectable after the fleeting moment during which they are
alleged to have taken place. Further, as before said, contraventions
of Patent-right may be, and not unfrequently are, done
unconsciously or unwittingly.
 MODIFICATIONS OF THE PATENT
SYSTEM.
The following paper on Patent Monopolies is reproduced from the
Liverpool Courier, partly for the sake of presenting a past phase of
opinion with respect to the means of mitigating the injurious influence
of the exclusive privilege contained in Patents:—
At the Social Science Congress at Sheffield, in 1865, Mr. Macfie
read a paper on the following subject: “Long Restrictions on the Use
of Inventions, and Obligation to make heavy Payments to Patentees,
incompatible with free and fair trade.” He said:—
That the inventor has a right of use or property in his invention we
do not dispute; what we dispute is his exclusive right. To give one
inventor such a right is to subvert the principle by denying the right of
other inventors, who may be as original, and have worked as hard,
and spent as much, but who, owing to a desire to perfect their
achievement a little more, or because they live in the provinces,—a
day’s journey further off,—come some hours behind, and so are only
second or third applicants for the coveted privilege. The State ought
not, and cannot in strict justice, give a right of exclusive property;
that is, power to meddle with others, and forbid them to use their
valuable knowledge; except in cases where common use and
enjoyment would diminish public wealth or harm a previous
possessor. If the land of England were constituted common property,
its productive value would be lessened, and the present possessors
would be harmed; therefore, it legitimately is property. Knowledge
may be, with the greatest benefits to mankind, common. God has
drawn this distinction between things material or measurable (in
which classification I include labour), and things mental: between
land, ploughs, and the like, and the art or knowledge how to manage
or make them,—that the one cannot be appropriated, and the other
cannot be unappropriated, without loss to our race. En passant, do
we conform to the spirit this constitution of nature may be held to
commend to man?
I will not detain you by controverting the arguments of those
plausible reasoners who class Patent-right with Copyright. Both,
indeed, are creations of enacting law. But there is this obvious and
broad distinction between them: that to grant exclusive privileges to
an author interferes with nobody else’s compositions, whereas to
grant them to an inventor continually conflicts with what others have
done and are doing. Nor shall we spend time in discussing the merits
of inventors. These, we allow, may be great, and deserve public
acknowledgment. What ought rather to be discussed is the kind of
acknowledgment that is most expedient. At present a very primitive
mode of rewarding inventors is alone the rule—monopoly. In old
times, when political economy, like the other sciences, was
unknown, it was the easy, but at the same time costly, way of
endowing a court favourite to grant him an exclusive right to sell or
make some commodity. When, in the beginning of the seventeenth
century, all other monopolies were prohibited by law, those in favour
of introducers of new manufactures were spared. This exception has
been found or made so expansible, that it is ruled to extend to
minute processes or instruments in existing trades, so that what was
intended to promote manufactures is now too frequently a hindrance.
Thus the avowed object of the exception, public good, is on the
whole counteracted. What we maintain is, that, admitting the
monopoly attains to some extent that object, the disadvantages
preponderate over the advantages. We connect this charge with
another which is still more condemnatory, viz., that these
advantages, limited as they are, are obtained by compromise of
sound principle and by positive acts of unfairness, such as cannot be
alleged against our view of the case, which is, that these exclusive
privileges should be abolished.
The title of this paper says almost all I care to occupy your
valuable time with. It speaks of restrictions in the use of inventions.
Patents impose restrictions, nay, prohibitions. They give an absolute
monopoly. Nobody but a patentee has a right to use a patented
invention. It speaks of long restrictions. Patents impose their
restrictions, or rather prohibitions, for the long period of fourteen
years, with occasional prolongations of the term. To be denied the
use of an invention for such a length of time is, now-a-days
(whatever it may have been of yore), much like being denied it
altogether. The title speaks of payments to patentees. These are
made in all cases where the patentee allows others to use his
invention. It speaks of heavy payments, because he has the right to
make them heavy, and he, in practice, makes them as heavy as he
can. It speaks of an obligation, and rightly, because a manufacturer
who uses a patented invention is under the necessity to pay
whatever the patentee demands or a jury awards, and competition
may frequently compel him to use it, under penalty of losing his
profits of trade, or his trade itself. It speaks of the payees as
patentees, not as inventors; because in many cases (how large a
proportion I cannot say) the rights are conferred on mere importers
or appropriators of other people’s inventions. The title further speaks
of free-trade. This freedom, which is something different from mere
libre échange, ought to extend to manufacturing and all kind of
labour, as well as to commerce, for, according to the great
lexicographer, trade is “employment, whether manual or mercantile.”
Of course it does not so extend when labour is not free, but
restricted and burdened. And it speaks of fair trade—fairness is
about as important as freedom. Will anybody say it is fair to tax one
manufacturer and let another go free? Yet this is what Patents do.
Those whom the patentee favours, or fears, or forgets, he does not
tax, or taxes lightly, while on others he lays a heavy hand. But, worst
of all, under the open competition to which the British manufacturer
is now exposed with all the world, he often has to pay heavy Patent
fees—often four, and sometimes, as I know, five, and even six,
figures deep—while his foreign rivals wholly escape. How can any
statesman, or member of a Chamber of Commerce, defend or
palliate such gross and grievous inequalities? Unfortunately, the start
that the United Kingdom has got in manufactures and shipping has
done much to blind us, and keep us from seeing the strides that
neighbouring nations are making, and has emboldened our
legislators and financiers to make treaties, in which we consent, as a
nation, to run the race of manufacturing industry weighted. The wise
will call this impolicy, perhaps conceit. Let us not deceive ourselves;
peculiar burdens on British traders are incompatible with free-trade;
more, and worse, they are flagrant inconsistencies, subversive of our
character for good sense, incompatible with reasonable ground for
expecting manufacturing prosperity. The cry and principle so popular
this day is belied when there is not a fair field, and there is the
opposite of favour. The cause of all these evils and wrongs is the
sticking to the exploded and illogical system of monopoly, as if that
were the best, instead of being, as we believe, the very worst form in
which acknowledgment can be made. We say enough in
condemnation when we characterise it as despotic, inasmuch as it
hands over British manufacturers, absolutely and without appeal, to
the exactions or prohibitions of patentees and assignees of Patents;
as erratic, inasmuch as in one case it occasions not gain but loss to
the favourite, in another it overpowers with enormous profit,
frequently the ill-luck falling to the most ingenious, and the
extravagant remuneration to men of slender claims; as retarding,
inasmuch as it often causes great delay in the introducing of
inventions into use; as preposterous, inasmuch as it hinders the
perfecting of new inventions by preventing the combination of the
further improvements that others than the patentee devise or might
devise; as illogical, in this among other respects, that through the far
larger share which capitalists or purchasers of Patents often get
beyond the pittance that may or may not reach the poor inventor, its
action is but indirect and small compared with its cost as a means of
rewarding and stimulating inventors; as inquisitorial, for it justifies the
hiring of informers to report who and where are infringers; as
unnatural, for it takes away a person’s attention from his own
legitimate business, and divides it with the businesses of other
people whom he must watch or teach; as cruel, for the unhappy
patentee is continually liable to be engaged in costly, often ruinous
law pleas, far away from home, in order to establish the validity of his
Patent and to prevent infringements; as extravagant, because it
gives patentees, or rather costs the public (for it is but a small
proportion of the burden imposed that is the nett profit of the
patentee) much more than a better system would. It is also partial,
as has been stated, for its incidence is not equal on all British
manufacturers, and it inflicts on them the hardship of peculiar
burdens not borne by rivals abroad; and in this respect, as in the
rest, it is irremediable, for equal treatment is morally impossible at
home and abroad. It is quite out of the question to expect rectifying
amendment in this particular, seeing only some States grant Patents
at all. Among those which do, some grant sparingly or only to their
own inhabitants; and to take Patents in all places where they are
granted would involve the command and risking of so very much
capital that few indeed, if ever any, would embrace the whole field;
and, if perchance they did, the labour of superintending a business
so vast, in languages so diverse and many, would require
superhuman powers. The right to demand “compulsory licences” as
a mitigation was suggested at the Liverpool Congress. They would
be an improvement, and should be practicable, seeing something of
that nature exists elsewhere, although the Royal Commission has
reported against the plan. But it would be a serious mistake to
anticipate from their adoption as a reform any very important relief. I
hope it is possible to propose some substitute which will not be liable
to these reproaches, one which will give rewards having proportion
to merit, which will give them within a reasonable period, which will
entail little trouble or distraction on the nation’s assumed protégé, the
inventor; one which, being regulated by fixed principles and
controlled by officers who will sift the wheat from the chaff, will satisfy
the yearnings after awards having some proportion to merit, which
now are disregarded; and which, above all, will elevate the inventor
from what you will surely allow me to call his present equivocal
position—that involves little or no honour, and too generally
something approaching the very reverse—to a position that implies
merit and gives status. I do not speak of mere honours, whether in
the form of certificates or medals, or trifles, although all of these I
recommend. What I have submitted already to the association, in a
paper to be found in the Edinburgh volume, I repeat as still in my
opinion practicable and expedient—viz., to grant national rewards in
money. I would allow these to be claimed immediately after
inventions are specified. It would be the duty of a competent board,
after due consultation and inquiries, to award each a fair sum, within
certain limits, such as prudence, combined with liberality, would
prescribe for their regulation. Or, the patentee might prefer
postponement of the adjudication for three years. This should be
allowed, or even encouraged, in order that time may be gained for
practical expression of the benefit conferred by actual use of the
invention. In that case, the reward should be ampler.
This system, I am persuaded, would be found in practice much
less expensive to the nation than the present system. So slight are
the merits of the majority of Patents that the State would have
comparatively little to pay; but the relief to manufacturers and the
gain to commerce would be very great; for, however unprofitable a
Patent is, it may be very effectual as a restraint and a burden. Such
a system would sweep away every hindrance to the immediate
enjoyment by every one of every invention, and to the combining
with it every cognate improvement; a great emancipation and
stimulus would at once be felt to operate. If other nations adhere to
the antiquated Patent system which they have borrowed from us, we
would be happily invested, in competition with them, with the
immense advantage which the Swiss, for instance, enjoy over their
rivals, that of being free from Patents, yet knowing the inventions of
all other nations. But they would not adhere; on the contrary, they
would either totally free themselves from the encumbrance, and
leave us to pay the rewards, or (and this is more probable and would
be more honourable) they would join in international arrangements,
in virtue of which, every State contributing a little, inventors would
receive large emolument, and trades would rejoice with them in the
advent of an invention millennium, in the bliss of which workmen
would share,—on whose interests, by preventing them from
benefiting by use of the knowledge they acquire, Patents, I
apprehend, act unfavourably.
I am aware that to persuade Government and Parliament to adopt
national grants would involve indefinite, perhaps long, postponement
of the happy year of release. Therefore I repeat another proposition,
also already submitted to you. It is this: To grant Patents much as
heretofore (not resisting any reformation that may appear expedient);
but to enact that, on the demand of any manufacturer, after three
years of monopoly, any invention may be valued—not, of course, on
the basis of the return which it might bring—but on that of its
originality, the cost incurred in working it out, its advantage, &c.,
whereupon it shall be lawful for a Patent Board to extinguish the
grant in any of the following circumstances: 1. If the patentee’s
books (which he should be obliged to keep in all cases where his
fees from any individual exceed £100 per annum) show that he has
already received in fees the valuation price. 2. If manufacturers and
others interested unitedly pay as much as will make the price up. 3.
If the State pay the remainder of the price, purchasing the invention
for the nation. And I would include a condition that any one may
obtain exemption for himself or his firm, by paying, say, a tenth of the
price.
And now, a kind word to the amphibious class of persons whom
we style inventors (we are most of us inventors, more or less, in
some form or other). Try to meet the legitimate demands of
manufacturers; act in consonance with the spirit of the age and the
requirements of the time; and remember how, by resisting
conciliatory propositions, the great agricultural, sugar-producing, and
shipowning interests had to succumb to enlightened doctrines, and
accept a settlement far less accordant with their pretensions.
Manufacturers (with whom, as in like manner liable to be affected, I
class miners, farmers, shipowners, &c.) who employ inventions in
their businesses on a right system, ought not to regard the patentee,
still less the inventor, as an intruder and an obstacle in his path. Yet
that they in general do so regard these reputed benefactors and
auxiliaries is, I fear, too true. It is the fault of the system. Let us be
well disposed to a better, in which the interests and feelings of both
sides—for opposite sides they appear to be—shall harmonise. Either
of the plans I sketch would, partially at least, bring them into unison.
The only objection that I anticipate is that the amount to be received
will not reach the often, it must be admitted, extremely high ideas of
inventors. In so far as this objection is well founded, in consequence
of the rare merit of any particular invention—a case that does not
arise every year—it can be met by special votes, which I would be
far from excluding.
 It may be regretted that the investigations of the recent Royal
Commission to inquire into this subject (most significant against the
present system is their report) were not more extensive and radical.
This arose from the purposely defective terms of appointment. The
Liverpool Chamber of Commerce has consequently asked
Government, through the Board of Trade (that department calculated
to be so very useful, but somehow in these days jostled aside, and
scarcely seen or heard of in deeds), to appoint a fresh commission
which shall inquire into the policy of Patents. This request has had
the honour of public endorsement (either in that form or in the form
of a Parliamentary Committee) by no less an authority than the Right
Hon. Chairman of the Commission, who also stated to the House the
remarkable and most encouraging fact, that doubts like his own had
sprung up in the mind of that eminent lawyer, Sir Hugh Cairns, the
very member who, almost in opposition to the late Mr. Ricardo, a
decided opponent of the monopoly, moved the address to the Crown
for the Commission. On the other side of the Speaker’s chair we
have law officers of the Crown, if I mistake not, impressed with the
same dislike, and among the Radicals we know that equally opposed
were Mr. Bright and the late pure and noble patriot Mr. Cobden. It is
within my own observation that candid inquirers, preimpressed
though they may be in favour of inventors’ claims and monopolies,
reach the same conclusion. As to the Continent, M. Chevalier, Swiss
statesmen officially consulted, and the German Congress of Political
Economists, have strongly declared that they are utterly opposed.
The Social Science Association can, and I hope will, as in the past
so in the future, lend important aid to the cause. Nobody is better
fitted to reconcile those interests that unnecessarily conflict, and to
emancipate productive industry from trammels so hard to bear, while
also promoting invention.
 The reader is also referred to the following lapsed

Scheme submitted to the International

Association for the Progress of the Social
Sciences at Brussels in 1863.
1. The principal States of Europe and America, with their colonies,
to unite and form a Patent Union.
2. Every capital to have a State Patent-office, in correspondence
with the offices in the other capitals.
3. Every invention patented in one of these offices to be protected
in all the associated States.
4. Each State’s Patent-office to receive copies of Patent
specifications lodged in the Patent-office of every other State, and to
translate and publish within its own territories.
5. The Patent to confer exclusive privileges for three years.
6. With these privileges is conjoined the right of granting licences.
7. An agent or assignee, fully empowered to negotiate for the
patentee, must reside in each State.
8. Commissioners shall appraise each invention at the end of the
second or third year (or later, if deemed advisable).
9. In estimating the value, the Commissioners shall be entitled to
claim the advice of practical men, and may take into view all
circumstances affecting value—such as the originality of the
invention, and its importance; the probability of its being soon made
by another; the expense and hazard of preliminary experiments and
trials; the benefit it is calculated to confer; the gain which use and
licences during the three years will bring the patentee.
10. If the patentee resign his monopoly before its term expires, this
concession to the public shall be regarded in the price.
 11. The Commissioners shall adjudicate in what proportions each
State shall pay the price fixed, on the basis of population, revenue,
or commerce.
12. They may recommend a further grant, as an honorarium, in
special instances of singular merit.
13. Their valuation and grants must be framed on the basis of a
total yearly expenditure on inventions of not more than one million
pounds sterling at the utmost, from all countries of the union, of
which sum, however, no one country can be called upon for more
than £100,000 in one year, nor more than £1,000 for one invention.
14. The Commissioners shall be entitled to recommend for
honorary medals, ribbons, or certificates, real inventors of strong
claims, especially such as voluntarily shorten, or never exercise, the
exclusive use of important inventions.
 OPINIONS OF THE PRESS ON THE
DEBATE IN PARLIAMENT ON THE
PATENT QUESTION.
Leading Article from the “Times,” May 29, 1869.
Public attention has for some little time been withdrawn from the
consideration of the Patent-Laws; but, if we may judge from the
discussion upon the subject in the House of Commons last night, the
day is at hand when this branch of our legislation will be wiped out of
the statute-book. It is impossible to withstand the weight of authority
and reason advanced yesterday. It was all on one side. Mr. Macfie,
the newly-elected member for Leith, introduced the subject, and,
incited apparently by injuries he had himself suffered through the
operation of the Patent-Laws, argued very vigorously against them
on theoretical and practical grounds. He was not left unsupported.
Sir Roundell Palmer, who, had he consulted his private interest,
would certainly have been among the first to uphold a system
productive of such immense pecuniary benefits to the practitioners in
the courts, seconded Mr. Macfie’s motion for the unconditional
abolition of the Patent-Laws in a speech of the closest reasoning,
supported by a vast array of facts which had come within his own
personal experience. He was followed by Lord Stanley, who
confessed that, against all his early prepossessions, he had been
convinced, when acting as Chairman of the Patent Commission, that
the abolition of the Patent-Laws was demanded on grounds of
justice and of sound policy. Two of the foremost representatives of
law and of statesmanship thus enforced the reform demanded by Mr.
Macfie as a spokesman for manufacturers. It is true that others
followed who opposed, or attempted to oppose, the arguments of Sir
Roundell Palmer and Lord Stanley. This was inevitable. Men who
have not looked into the question are in the same position as Lord
Stanley says he himself was when he first began to consider it. They
are under the influence of impressions they have never thought of
questioning, and are biased by supposed analogies, drawn from
cognate subjects, the unsoundness of which they have not
investigated. Hence they protest, not without vehemence, against an
amendment of the law which is in conflict with their own habits of
thought, but they do not reason upon it. Analyse the speeches
delivered last night by Mr. Howard, Mr. Mundella, and, we must add,
the Attorney-General, and the residuum of argument contained in
them will be found to be very small indeed. They are all satisfied the
Patent-Laws have been useful to the nation, as people were once
satisfied that the Corn-law was the secret of our greatness. They
insisted that the abolition of the Patent-Laws would be a blow to our
national pre-eminence, just as their predecessors agreed in
predicting not so long ago that with the abolition of the Corn-laws Old
England would dwindle and decay.
The first point to be borne in mind with reference to the Patent-
Laws is, that if we retain them at all they must be retained in their
present form. The amendments admissible in their machinery are not
important, and the recommendations of the Royal Commission some
years ago were so slight that it has never been thought necessary to
carry them into effect. What is the scheme of the Patent-Laws? A
man discovers, or believes he discovers, a new process of
accomplishing some useful result. He registers his supposed
invention, and acquires a provisional right to its exclusive use for a
definite number of years. After a time he finds some other person
using his invention, and applies to the courts of law to prohibit him.
The alleged infringer of the Patent says that the assumed discovery
was no discovery at all, or that it was of no public benefit, or that he
is not making use of it, and the questions arising on these issues are
then tried. This is a condensed statement of the whole working of the
law as it stands. No substitute for it can be recommended that will
bear examination. It is sometimes said that an inventor should be
required to prove the originality and utility of his invention at the time
he makes his application to be registered. But who could examine
such a claim? A court of law may, after much trouble and caution,
declare that a claimant is entitled to a piece of land, because the
claimant, by exercising rights of ownership over it, gives notice in a
very palpable way to all other claimants of the property, though even
then the court takes extreme pains that the rights of absent or infant
persons may not be abridged. But, when a man claims an invention,
by what possible process could notice of his claim be brought home
to every man in the kingdom? Whoever will consider the matter will
be forced to the conclusion that all the State can do is to tell an
applicant that he shall be protected in the use of his invention
provided he shall be able, whenever occasion arises, to establish its
originality and utility against any one who may arise to contest them.
The same considerations which negative the suggestion that a
claimant could receive an indefeasible title, also negative the
proposal that the claimant should be compensated by a money grant
at the outset. If the originality of his claim cannot be proved, payment
for it cannot be made, even if there existed at that incipient stage any
means of determining its value.
The present system of Patents must be retained if Patents are to
be preserved, and the evils of the system flow directly from it. It is
impossible to diminish appreciably the litigation attendant on
Patents. Sir Roundell Palmer referred to the paraffin oil case, which
occupied the Court of Chancery fifteen days. Nor could this be
avoided, for the novelty of the process of distilling paraffin was the
point contested, and to decide this it was necessary to examine the
exact stage of discovery to which a dozen different investigators had
advanced, all of whom were trying simultaneously, but independently
of each other, to distil paraffin oil so as to make it a commercial
product. The expense and uncertainty of Patent litigation being
unavoidable, the cardinal defect of the system, that the reward it
offers hardly ever goes to the right man, follows. The inventor is at
one end of the scale; the transferee or licensee of the Patent is at
the other, and while the latter reaps enormous gains, the inventor
often has the reflection that it was he who made the discovery for his
sole reward. The second great fault of the system of the Patent-Laws
is an effect equally inseparable from it. These laws constantly inflict
the most grievous injustice on innocent persons. Mechanical and
chemical discoveries are not made by unconnected jumps. The
history of science and of invention is one of gradual progress. A
hundred different persons are pursuing their investigations on the
same subject independently of each other, and are all nearing a
particular goal, when some one man reaches it a few days before
the others. The law which gives him a monopoly denies to the rest
the fruit of their exertions. It is needless to refer to the numberless
instances in which inventions have been discovered so nearly
simultaneously that the real inventor cannot be ascertained; and it is
impossible to deny that to give a monopoly to the man who is the
most prompt to register his claim often inflicts a grievous wrong on
the investigators who accomplish the same results in perfect
independence of him. So far we have spoken only of primary
discoveries. The secondary Patents, as they may be called, were
rightly denominated by Sir Roundell Palmer unmitigated evils, and,
according to the same high authority, they exceed in number Patents
of importance in the ratio of a hundred to one. A person suggests
some small improvement in the course of an elaborate manufacture,
and takes out a Patent for it. Henceforth he blocks the whole trade.
He cannot be got rid of, and it is not easy to deal with him. He is
quite conscious of the obstacle he creates, and in the end he is
probably bought off by some great manufacturer in the line of
business affected by the discovery, who, by accumulating in his
hands the inventions, good and bad, connected with his occupation,
monopolises that particular branch of trade throughout the country.
The strength of the existing Patent-Laws lies in the vague belief of
those who have not considered the subject that it would be unjust to
deprive a man of the benefit of his discoveries. Those who are
impressed with this elementary notion may be asked to reconcile it
with the undeniable fact that the Patent-Laws do deprive, in the way
we have shown, many men of the benefit of their discoveries; but a
little reflection will convince them that their argument rests on a pure
assumption. No man would be deprived of the benefit of his
discovery because he did not receive a monopoly of its use. His own
discovery would be his own discovery still. As long as he is allowed
to employ his own inventions in any way he thinks proper he cannot
be said to suffer any deprivation of a right. The truth is, that the
Patent-Laws are a voluntary addition to our legislation based upon
no such obligation as underlies the ordinary laws of property; and
they must be justified, if they can be justified at all, as gratuitous
creations of the Legislature, by proof that they produce some
national benefit. It is from this point of view that we see the
difference between the laws of Copyright and of Patents. They agree
in being added on to what may be called the body of natural law, but
the reasons in support of each are not the same, and the objections
which apply to the law of Patents do not apply to the law of
Copyright. The monopoly granted to an author does injustice to no
one. The monopolies granted to patentees do injustice to many.
Patents are creations of positive law, and must be judged
accordingly. The Attorney-General approves them because they are
designed to multiply inventions, although he admits that the
multiplication of Patents is a serious evil. A sounder judgment will
condemn them because of the evils necessarily attendant upon
them; and we have no fear of what would happen to the course of
invention or the progress of the country if they were abolished, and
the inventor allowed to make such use of his invention as he may be
advised. Inventions co-exist with Patents, but the experience of
Switzerland is sufficient to show that they would abound if Patents
did not exist, and the decline of commercial greatness with which Mr.
Howard threatens us should Patents be abolished may be treated
like so many other prophecies of evil which have been happily
neglected and remain unfulfilled.

Leading Article from the “Economist,” June 5,

1869.
It is probable enough that the Patent-Laws will be abolished ere
long, though the full force of the real objections to them was perhaps
not brought out in the debate last week on Mr. Macfie’s motion for
their abolition. Sir Roundell Palmer was too metaphysical. The
supposed distinction between the copyright of a book and a Patent—
that no two men will hit upon the same composition even in
substance, while they will hit upon the same idea for an invention—
does not prove anything. If a case of general utility could be made
out, the abstract justice of giving a man the monopoly of an idea,
should he be the first to come upon it, would not be much
considered. Lord Stanley, who avoided this mistake, dwelt too much
upon such minor points as the practical failure of the law to secure a
reward to the inventor and the frequent disproportion between the
reward and the service rendered, which are points of no
consequence so long as the public is generally a gainer by the law.
Lord Stanley, however, touched upon the true reason when he
referred to the injury of third parties, which the present law
occasions, by reason of Patents being granted to only one out of
half-a-dozen persons who come upon the same inventions, or to one
of a series of inventors who improve upon each other’s work, and by
reason also of the general interference with manufacturing. What we
should have liked to see fully stated was the peculiarity of the
present circumstances of the country in which these things are true.
The statements in fact amount to this—that there is a large number
of inventions which Patents are not required to encourage; that these
are made as ordinary incidents of business; that invention,
improvement of mechanical and chemical processes, is itself a part
of a manufacturing business; and that in this way the granting of
Patents only impedes manufacturers to whom inventions would
naturally come. The full force of these facts cannot be felt unless we
recognise that a change in the character of invention has taken
place. The Patent-Laws were intended to apply to different
manufacturing circumstances from those which now exist, and were
based upon different notions about invention; the objection to them is
that they either are, or are becoming, out of date. A little
consideration will show how true this is.
Let us look first at the notions still customary about inventors and
inventions which are derived from past circumstances. The popular
idea of an inventor is of a man who makes an immense addition to
the real wealth of the world—who invents the steam engine, or the
spinning jenny, or the Jacquard loom, or the hot blast—almost
revolutionising the material powers of mankind. The idea associated
with his work is in any case that of great novelty in means coupled
with great accomplished results. Now there are various reasons why
these should not be the characteristics of modern inventors and
inventions, as we see they are not. It might be true that there are still