“Well, if you are so convinced of the existence of these discoveries, what is your opinion of Dr. Nagle’s contention that he is entitled to patent protection upon them?”
“I think he is entirely correct in his demands,” said Jennings.
“And these unknown principles would be classified, patent-wise, as Laws of Nature?”
“Yes.”
“If this is the case, why have they not been exposed by others of your profession? Is this symbology not sufficiently understandable to be deciphered? Do you acknowledge that, as Dr. Nagle says, no one else is smart enough to figure these things out for another hundred years? Or do you have another unwritten code — one forbidding you to try?”
Jennings smiled wryly. “Dr. Nagle didn’t say that, but we’ll let it pass. We have no code, either. On the contrary, there is scarcely a scientist in the country who has not tried to crack these three gimmicks of Mart’s since he put them on the market. I know of only one man who has made any partial success of the attempt.”
“Can you give any reason for this lack of success? Is Dr. Nagle truly the singular genius he appears?”
“He’s a singular genius, all right, but not in the way he appears,” said Jennings with a laugh. “To answer your question, I suspect there are certain traditional ways of finding out things that are wholly wrong in their approach. I believe Dr. Nagle has abandoned these and has devised for himself new methods to find basic knowledge.”
“And you would say, I suppose, that this Committee should recommend amendments to the Patent Laws permitting Dr. Nagle to obtain patents on Laws of Nature?”
"Indeed I would!” said Jennings.