delivered the opinion of the court.
This is a direct appeal under Jud. Code, § 238, from a decree dismissing a suit in equity for want of jurisdiction, the question for decision being whether the bill presents a case arising' under the patent laws, that is, a case asserting some right or privilege under those laws which will be sustained by one construction of them or defeated by another. Although not a model of goоd pleading, the bill plainly shows, when all' of it is considered, that it is intended to charge the defendants (a) with contributing to the infringеment of letters patent belonging to the plaintiff by wrongfully inducing and persuading designated licensees of the plaintiff to make, use and sell devices embodying the inventions of the patents in circumstances not authorized or permittеd by their licenses; (b) with wrongfully procuring such licensees to violate their license contracts in designated partiсulars, some of which have no bearing on the charge of infringement, and (c) with refusing to perform stipulations whereby the defendants agreed to assign to the plaintiff certain other letters patent. The prayer is for an injunction and accounting in respect of the contributory infringement, for an injunction and damages in respect of the prоcured breach of the licensees’ contractual obligations,, and for the specific performanсe of the stipulations to assign the other letters patent. The plaintiff is described as a New York corporation, one of the defendants as a West-Virginia corporation, another as an Illinois corporation, аnd the third as an individual citizen of the latter State. The West Virginia company is alleged to have a regular and estаblished place of business in the Northern District of Illinois, and the acts of infringement and contributory infringement are chargеd to have been committed in that district. Then there is an allegation that the suit is one "arising under the patent *258 laws of thе United States, and also between citizens of different States,” and that the amount in controversy exceeds $3,000, exсlusive of interest and costs.
If the suit be one arising under the patent laws the District Court undoubtedly had jurisdiction, Jud. Code, § 24, par. 7, аnd §§ 48 and 256,.but if it be not such a suit that court was obviously without jurisdiction as respects the West Virginia company, unless it chose tо waive its privilege of being sued only in the district of its residence or that of the plaintiff. § 51. Appearing specially, thаt company objected that the suit was not one arising under the patent laws and insisted upon its personal privilege. The objection was sustained., The other defendants, likewise appearing specially* objected that the suit did not arise under the patent laws, and could not proceed without the presence of the West Virginia company because it was an indispensable party. This objection also was sustained, and the bill was then dismissed, the decree reciting that the dismissal was for want of jurisdiction.
We think the bill plainly rests the first branch of the suit, that relating to the allеged contributory infringement of the plaintiff’s patents, upomthe patent laws and asserts in effect, if not in exact words, that the infringing acts charged against the defendants constitute an invasion of the plaintiff’s exclusive rights under those laws and entitle it to relief thereunder by injunction and a recovery of ■ profits and damages. And we think it cannot be said of this branch of the case that it is so unsubstantial or devoid of merit as to make it frivolous or to bring it only nominally within the patent lаws. On the contrary, we think it presents a real question under them. Whether it shall finally prevail or fail, it has enough of substance to entitle the plaintiff to an adjudication of it as presented. Thus it is within the ruling in
The Fair
v.
Kohler Die Co.,
We therefore hold that so much of the bill as charges the defendants with contributory infringement of the plаintiff’s letters patent and seeks relief on that ground presents a case arising under the patent laws of which the Distriсt Court should have taken jurisdiction.
But the other portions of the bill stand upon a different footing. The causes of action which they present — those not founded upon an unauthorized making, using or selling of devices embodying the inventions of the plaintiff’s-patents but resting only upon a breach of contractual obligations — do not arise under the patеnt laws.
New Marshall Co.
v.
Marshall Engine Co.,
223 U. S.
473; Henry
v.
Dick Co.,
The decree of dismissal is reversed and the cause is remanded for further proceedings in conformity with this opinion.
Decree reversed.