19 F. Cas. 207 | E.D.N.Y | 1877
This action is •brought to recover damages for the infringement of a patent for an “improvement in bungs for casks,” issued to the plaintiff March 17th, 1874 [No. 148,747], and reissued on June 30th, 1874 [No. 5,937], and to obtain an injunction. The case is now before the •court upon a motion for a preliminary injunction, to restrain the defendants from manufacturing a certain form of bung during the pendency of the action. The issue between the parties presents a question of fact, the decision of which must depend largely upon the credibility of the witnesses. There is no •dispute as to the novelty and usefulness of the invention described in the plaintiff’s patent, but it is denied that the plaintiff was the inventor. An issue of this character is common enough, but, in this case, it presents some peculiar features. It is conceded, on all sides, that the invention in question originated in the factory of Beeston, Pentlarge & Co., a film engaged in manufacturing ¡bungs; that it was first conceived in the 'month of February, 1874; and that the circumstance which led to the conception was a visit to the firm of one George W. Gillette. The firm of Beeston, Pentlarge & Co. was, at that time, composed of Rafael Pentlarge, the ■plaintiff, and William R. Beeston and Frederick Pentlarge, the defendants; and the question in the case is, which of the parties invented this bung. No one claims that there was a joint invention, but Rafael Pentlarge, the plaintiff, and William R. Beeston each •claims to have been the sole inventor. This •question has before been raised between these same parties, in an interference case before the patent office. The original patent having been issued in March, IS74, on June 13th, 1876, the defendant Beeston applied to the patent office for a patent for the same invention, then for the first time making any public claim to be the inventor. A case of interference was then declared, and, in that •case, testimony was taken at considerable length, and by both parties. The case was stoutly contested, and it was three times argued. In the first instance, the decision of the examiner was adverse to the claim of Beeston. An appeal was taken to the board of examiners, and the decision of the board was to issue a patent to Beeston, in order, as the board say, that Beeston should be put on an equal footing with Pentlarge before the courts. . From this determination of the board of examiners an appeal was taken to the commissioner of patents, who reversed the decision of the board of examiners, and refused to issue a patent to Beeston. In these several hearings the question at issue was the precise question argued upon this motion, and upon the determination of which at final hearing, the validity of this patent depends. The evidence adduced in support of and in opposition to this motion consists of the evidence taken in the interference case, the parties having seen fit to make that a part of the record, together with certain additional affidavits; and the argument addressed to me has gone over the whole ground of controversy. I do not, however, feel called on, upon this motion, to make a determination of the decisive question of the case. That should be left to be decided upon the hearing of the cause. Without, therefore, determining whether this bung was invented by Pentlarge or by Beeston, I am oí the opinion thatthe motion of Pentlargeforan injunction should be granted, and for the following, reasons: Pentlarge has a patent duly issued to him in 1874. Beeston has no patent. A strenuous controversy, wherein the- parties and their witnesses, were fully examined, with opportunity for cross-examination, has been, had before the patent office, and the defendant Beeston then failed to convince-the commissioner that he was the inventor of this bung; and, while it is true that the hearing and decision in an interference case is not equivalent to a judicial determination (Union Paper Bag Mach. Co. v. Crane. [Case No. 14,-388]), it seems proper to consider, upon a motion like the present, proceedings such as were had before the patent office between the same parties, as having the effect to cast upon the defendants the burden of showing the determination to have been manifestly wrong.
Moreover, it appears in evidence, that, after the patent was issued to the plaintiff, and up to the time when the partnership relation between Beeston and the plaintiff was dissolved, the firm of Beeston, Pentlarge & Co. were making and selling these bungs, and were advertising them to the public as secured by patent. This was a representation by the defendants that the bungs were protected by the plaintiff’s patent, that being the only patent ever issued for this invention; and, during this period, there was an acquiescence by the public in the claim thus made. Nor does it now appear that any persons besides the defendants, one of whom is the son, and both the former partners, of the plaintiff, claim the right to use this invention. Furthermore, since the dissolution of the partnership, and up to this time, the defendants, although well aware that the only patent in existence is that of the plaintiff, are making and selling these bungs as patented articles, and, by their advertisements, now represent to the public that the bungs they are making are secured by a patent.
These acts and declarations of the defendants are adverse to the ground they take in the defence of this action, and, coupled with the proceedings before the- patent office,