536
FEDERAL BEFOBTEB.
PORTER NEEDLE CO.
v.
NAT. NEEDLE CO.
(Oircuit Court, D. Massachusetts. 1.
August 20, 1883.)
PATENTS FOR INVE1\"rIONS-CONTRACT CONSTRUED-INJUNCTION.
In a suit to enjoin defendants from the use of seven machines containing certain patents owned by complainant, defendant set up in defense a contract as follows: · " In consideration of the receipt in full of all bills and demands held against the Cook & Parler Needle Company by the National Needle Company, I do bereby agree to allow the National Needle Company the free use of the seven patent reducing, belting, and pOlllting machines now in their possession, from July 2, li:i77, until April 1, 1878, and the further use of said machines at a royalty of one-quarter the saving made by above-named machinery over the same class of work done hy hand from Apnll, 1878, to .July 1, Ib80. " The said seven machines are valued at eight hundred dollars, the receipt of which is acknowledged, and are cxehangeahle, either separately or together, for other machines made under the same letters patent, at the same pro rata valuation; the dIfference in price of machine, if any, to be paid by the said National Needle Company. "I grant the ab"ve right to use said patented machines by virtue of my ownership of [mentioning several patents,] and the National Needle Company is to have the right to use, without extra royalty, any improvement made, or caused to be made, by me on said machines, during the time of this agreement· .. Dewton, Stptember 12, 1877." Hdd, that defendants took, in part payment of tbeirdebt, the seven machines at their cost, and could use them without royalty until April 1, 1878, and on payment of the stipulated royalty from that time to July 1, 18EO, but that no arrangement was made for the remainder of the term; that it was not intended that defendant should thereafter use the machine. without payment of royalty unL'ss some new bargain should be made; that this limitation was not repugnant to the grant; and that defendants should be enjoined from the further use of the machines. OF PATENTED :MACITINE-RIGIIT OF USE.
2.
An absolute alld unqualified sale of a patented machine carries with it the right of use, but the courts will permit a severance of ownership and right of use where the patentee has chosen to dis:;ever them, and his intention to do so is not doubtful.
In Equity. E. TV. Clarke, for complainants. J. E. Abbott, for defendants. Before LOWELL and NELSON, JJ. LOWELL, J. The plaintiffs have succeeded to the rigMs and liabilities of the Cook & Porter Needle Company, and of Lewis B. Porter, in respect to certain patents, and the contracts and dealings relating thereto. Tbey bring this suit to enjoin the use of seven machines, containing improvement3 in the art of grinding needles, invented by one Mallett, for which a patent (No. 172,G3\) was issued to the Cook & Porter Needle Company, January 25, 187G. It is agreed that since July 1, 1880, the defendants have used six machines containing the improvements. The dispute turns on the construction of a contract between Lewis B. Porter and the defendants, which tIle plaintiffs call a lease of the machines, and the defendants, a Bale. The contract is as follo\ys:
PORTER NEEDLE CO. V. NAT. NEEDLE CO·
537
.. In consideration of the receipt in full of all bills and demands held against the Cook & Porter Needle Company by the National Needle Company, I do hereby agree to allow the National Needle Company the free use of the seven patent reducing, belting, and pointing machines now in their possession, from July 2, 1877, until April 1, 1878, and the further use of said machines at a royalty of one-quarter the saving made by the above-named machinery over the same class of work done by hand from April 1, 1878, to .July 1, 1880. " The said seven machines are valued at eight hundred dollars, the receipt of which is acknowledged, and are exchangeable, either separately or together, for other machines made under the same letters patent, at the same pro rata valuation; the difference in price of machine, if any, to be paid by said National Needle Company. " I grant the above right to use said patented machines. by virtue of my ownership of [mentioning several patents,] and the National Needle COlllpany is to have the right to use, without extra royalty, any improvement made, or caused to be made, by me on said machines, during the time of this agreement. "Newton, September 12, 1877. LEWIS B. PortTEIt, "National Needle Co. .. GEOTIGE H. BLELOCII, Manager."
Before the date of this agreement, the defendants held a license to use these machines for one-half the saving over hand labor. They had various dealings with the owners of the 1Jatents in making and storing machinery, etc., and on the twelfth of September were creditors of Porter and his company for a sum which they estimated at $3,400, and Porter at $1,700, in settlement of which this contract was made, by which the defendants ,,'ere released from the payment of the royalty before agreed on, for 9 months; and for the next 27 months, to July 1,1880, the royalty was fixed at one-half the former rate. Besides this, certain helting and shafting, estimated to be worth $400, was conveyed to them by Porter by a bill of sale in due form. Some evidence has been given of the value of the use of the machinery, wbich tends to prove that the royalties upon them, to the expiration of the patent, would very much exceed the debt due from Porter to the defendants. There is evidence that the plaintiffs, to the knowledge of the defendants, intended to make use of the patents, not by selling machines, but by letting them to hire with a royalty payable monthly. Considering the evidence, we find that the plaintiffs did not grant to the defendants the absolute right to use the machines, but a right conditioned on the payment of a royalty, the terms of which were fixed to July 1, 1880, and after that time were left to future negotiation, whether purposely, or by an oversight, is not material. We agree that the words, "the said seven machines are valued at $800, the receipt of which is acknowledged," import a sale of the machines; and that an absolute and unqualified sale of a patented machine carries with it the right of use. But the mere value of a patented machine is often, and is proved to be in this case, insignificant in comparison with the value of its use; and the courts have per-
538
FEDERAL REPORTER.
mitted a severance of ownership and right of use, if the patentee has chosen to dissever them, and if his intent is not doubtful. For stance: a license to use a machine implies the right to make and own it; and yet, if the owner neglects to pay the license fee, he may be restrained from using a machine to \vhich his title is undoubted. One who is licensed to make, use, and sell machines for the term .of the patent, and no longer, sells a machine with the right to use it. The purchaser owns the machine; but if the patent is extended, he has no right to use it, during the extended term, without a further license from the patentee. Mitchell v. Hawley, 16 Wall. 544. In many other cases the ownership of the machine will not necessarily carry with it the right to use it without the permission of the patentee. See Jenkins v. Greenwald, 2 Fisher, 37; JVoodu;orth v. Curtis, g Wood. & 1\1. 524; Steam Cutter Co. v. Sheldon, 10 Blatchf. 1. We find that this somewhat imperfect contract means that the defendants take, in part payment of their debt, the seven machines at their cost, and may use them without royalty until Aprll 1, 1878, and on payment of the stipulated royalty for that time to July 1, 1880; and that no arrangement is made for the remainder of the term; that it was not intended that the defendants should thereafter use the machines without payment of royalty unless some new bargain should be made; and that this limitation is not repugnant to the grant. The result is that the decree must be for the complainants.
and others v. r'hcuit U(urf, 8. D. New York. PATEXTS FOR IXVEXTIOXS-PRELDIIl'lATtY
and others. July 18,1883.\
A prelimiuary injunction is only granted to restrain injury in its nature irrcparal.Jle.
In Equity. A. v. Ericscn, for orators. Edward Fitch, for defendants.
WHEELER, J. A preliminary injunction is granted only to restrain injury in its nature irreparable. The orators' patent would not be infringed without employing means for the introduction of steam into the mixer or hopper. The defendants do not employ any such device, and disclaim any intention of doing so. They did at one time employ steam in a manner that might be an infringement and might not. ",Vhether it was or not is so doubtful. as to make it seem most proper to lea,e that question to the hearing. The orators are not nowin any danger of any irreparable injury. illotion denied.