In search of Dyson’s patent appeal news

Two pieces of mail landed on my desk the other day that prompted me to tap finger on key.

The first was another one of those ghastly patent renewal fee notices. The second was a copy of Design Week with a lovely photo of James Dyson on the Letters page (opposite an ever lovelier photo of a Catalyst disposable vase) (DW 20 March).

These serve to remind me of the DW report something around a year ago of James Dyson’s appeal against patent renewal fees that he had lodged with the European Court of Human Rights (DW 7 February 1997). Can you report any news of this actions’ progress?

In the meantime, I reiterate my complete support for Dyson’s appeal and hope that DW will throw its weight behind him and do the same if required.

Jon Gold

Managing director

Catalyst Developments

London NW2

We do support any move such as this to make life better for the UK’s wealth of talented designers and inventors. Maybe this time we haven’t been as vocal as usual about our support of Dyson. As for progress in his case, watch this space – Ed