GRIER ". BAYNES.
523
The firm of L. Straus & Son on October 11 and 29, 1890, imported by the Polynesia and Arabia certain Bohemian glassware, which was duly entered at the port of New Yorkand classified and asseBsed by the collector of customs at that port at 60 per cent. ad valorem, as an "article of glass, colored," under paragraph 106 of the tariff act of October 1, 1890. The importers protested, claiming that the said goods were dutiable under Schedule B, par. 143, of the .tariff act of March 3, 1883, at 45 per cent. ad valorem as "Bohemian glass," and claiming that said merchandise, being specifically mentioned or enumerated in said act of October 1, 1890, the former act was still in force, and applicable to the particular merchandise in suit. An appeal was taken by the importers from the decision of the collector to the board of United States general appraisers, under the provisions of the act of June 10, 1890. The board of general appraisers affirmed the decision of the collector. The importers then applied for a review of the decision of the said board by the United States circuit court. The board of general appraisers in their return to the court found that "the merchandise under consideration is commonly known as Bohemian glassware, well recognized under this description in the trade and in popular parlance," and that "the present tariff law does not provide for duty on it by enumeration o nomine, as prior tariff acts had done for many years." 'l'hey also found "that Bohemian glassware imported since October 6, 1890, although omitted to be named by specific mention, is provided for and made dutiable under paragraphs 106 or 108 of the new tariff act, according to the nature of the article, and, not under the act of 1883." Samuel H. Ordway and Benjamin Barker, Jr., for importers. Edward Mitchell, U. S. Atty., and Henry a. Platt, Asst. U. S. Atty., for collector. LACOMBE, Circuit Judge. Taking the language of the new tariff act as a whole and in its entirety, from beginning to end, I cannot escape the conviction that it manifests a plain intention to sub8titute that tariff act in the place and stead of all prior tariff legislation, so far, at least, as such legislation lays a duty upon imported articles of any kind. The decision of the appraisers is therefore affirmed.
GRIER
v.
BAYNES
et ale
(Circuft Court, N. D. New York. June II, 189L)
L
PATENTS POR INVENTIONS-LICENSE-AsSIGNMENT.
Where a patentee for a stipulated royalty granted an exclusive license to manufacture and sell under his patent, and subsequently, with the knowledge of his licensee, assigned for a valuable consideration a portion of the royalty, he cannot, by a secret assignment to the licensee, cut of! the rights of such third party, A subsequent assignment by the licensee to a third party bavingknowledge of the facts will not free the patentee or said third party fromtbe obligation to pay the portion of the royalties 80 conveyed. The latter took subject to the obligation to pay such royalty. .
.. SAME-NoTICE.
524
FEDERAL REPORTER,
vol. 46.
In. Equity. f' James A. Allen, for complainant. Edwin S. Jenney, for defendants. . COXE, J. This action is to recover royalties at tbe rate of 3,5 cents for each set of springs sold by the defendants under letters patent No. 147, granted to Charles L. Thomas, Jannary 15, 1884, for an improved spring for vehicles. On the 18th of February, 1885, the patentee and the defendant Baynes entered into an agreement by which the patentee gral1ted to Baynes-subject to a prior license-an exclusive license under the patent, in consideration, among other things, of an agreement upon Baynes's part to push the sale of the patented springs and pay the patentee one dollar for every set of springs so manufactured and sold. On the 20th of May, 1885, the patentee assigned to his wife, Jeanette G. Thomas, all his right, title and interest to royalties under the preceding agreements. On the 24th of June. 1885, therefore, the defendant Baynes was obligated to pay Jeanette G. Thomas one dollar royalty upon every set of springs sold by him. On that day she and her husband, for It valuable consideration, assigned to the complainant a certain portion of the royaltiE'S under the Baynes license, namely, 35 cents for each set of springs sold, which sum was, by the terms of the agreement, to be deducted from the amount due her and paid by Baynes directly to the complainant. Baynes was present at the execution of this agreement and was aware of its contents. On the 15th of January, 1886, without the knowledge or consent of the complainant, Thomas and wife assigned the patent to Baynes and rf'leased him from all obligations to pay royalties under the former agreement. The queRtion, then, so far as the defendant Baynes is concerned, is this: Where a patentee has for a stipulated royalty granted a license to manufacture and sell under his patent and subsequently, with the knowledge of the licensee, assigns, for a valuable consideration, a portion of ·the royalty to a third party, can be, by a secret settlement with the : licensee, cut oft' the rights of such third party? It is thought that he cannot upon the authority of the following decisions: Lett v. Morris, 4 8im. 607; Field v. .'Ifay01'; etc., 6 N. Y.179; '1'1';81 v. ClI1:1d, 21 Wall. 441; Bank v. MeLoon, 73 .Me. 499j Ri81ey v. Bank, 83 N. Y. 318. As to the liability of Baynes there can be no doubt. He had agreed to pay Thomas one dollar for each set of springs made and sold by him. When the cornplaillantparted with valuable rights in exchange for 35 per centum of this royalty, which was thereupon solemnly set apart and assigned to him, Baynes was present. He had full knowledge of the agreement in all its particulars, including the stipulation that he should pay the royalty not to Mrs. Thomas but to complainant himself. In these circumstances he cannot rid himself of his aLligation to the complainant by pleading a settlement with Thomas. Thomas could receipt for Baynes's debt to him, but not for Baynes's debt to the complainant. The remaining question relates to the liability of the defendant the Buffalo Spring & Gear Company, a corporation organized by Baynes, 'and ()ibel's, February 20, 1886. On the 12th of March, 1886, Baynes
GRIER'll. BAYNES.
525
transferred the patent in question to the Buffalo Company, which became his successor in business and has since carried on the manufacture and sale of the patented springs. At the time of the transfer the Buffalo Company had actual knowledge of the agreement of June 24, 1885, and of the provision that"The party of the first part, [Thomas,] his licensees. heirs, or assigns, shall pay to the party of the second part, [complainant,] his heirs or assigns, the sum of thirty-five cents royalty on each and every set of Thomas springs sold by the said party of the first part or by his licensees under and during the term of the Thomas patents." It also had full notice of the rights of the complainant and of the obligation of its assignor, Baynes, to pay the royalty of 35 cents to the complainant. The company stanus in no better position than Baynes stood in relation to the complainant. Baynes was equitably liable to pay royalty, and neither he nor the owner of the patent could destroy this obligation without the complainant's consent. The company having full knowledge of the relations of the parties acquired the rights possessed by its assignor, and these only. Thomas could not give the company a right to manufacture under the patent, for he had previously granted the exclusive right to Baynes. Baynes could not give an unconditional right, for he was under an agreement to pay royalty to the complainant. In other words, every set of springs made under the patent was charged with a royalty of 35 cents payable to the complainant. He had relinquished valuable rights in exchange for this royalty, and Thoma!'. and Baynes had received the benefit. When, therefore, Baynes assigned to the Buffalo Company, the latter, having full knowledge of the facts, took subject to this obligation. To hold otherwise would be to say that the detimdants can destroy the complainant's rights by a mere shuffle of agreements and a specious exchange of positions. There should be a decree for an accounting substantially as demanded in the complaint. Whether the decree should extend beyond December 6, 1887, is a question which can be detE:'rmined 4.1 pon the settlement of the decree. I do not decide it now for the reason that considerations, which seem to me important, were not alluded to upon the argument and are but casually mentioned in the briefs. On the 16th of August, 1884, Tbomas, the patentee, assigned to Victor and Hamilton Richardson a one-third interest in tbe patent in question. Tbe assignment was restricted by many conditions, but it provided that upon the default in certain particulars, it should become absolute. There is a plausibility in tbe buggestions that it did become absolute and that the Richardsons, in December, 1887, held an unincumbered third interest in the patent. On the 6th of Decem bel', 1887, they assigned their interest to the Buffalo Company. If the Richardsons had the right to make and sell the patented spring, free from all obligation to pay royalty to the complainant, it is clear that when the defendant company purchased their title it acquired the same right. The complainant is entitled to a. decree for an accounting, with costa.
526"
. WHITE V. WALBRIDGE.
(Oircttit oourt, D. Vermont. ,\ ! ;. ,.
13, 1891.)
1.
PATENTS FOR INVENTIONS-INFRINGEMENT-LENS-HoLDERS.
The manufacture of lens-holders by defendant, which operate in substantially the same manner as those covered by complainant's patent, is an infringement, thoUgh defendant's holders are composed of a smaller number of parts than complainant's. 2. SAME-,.INJUNCTION.
An injunction will issue against one who has illready infringed a patent, though he denies that he intends to make any further infringement during its term. 3. SAME.
The part manufacture of lens-holders, not constituting an infringement, with intent to complete into the patented article immediately on the expiration of the patent, will not be enjoined, as complainant's monopoly exists only during the life of his patent.
In Equity. . Franklin Scott, for orator. James L. Martin, for defendant. WI-IEELEcR, J. This suit is brought upon patent No. 151,576, dated June 2, 1874, for an improvement in lens framesof stereoscopes. The p::ttentwas under consideration in White v. Surdam, 41 Fed. Rep. 790, and sustained. The defendant has made and sold lens-holders of less nurnbilrs. of parts than those described in the specification of the patent, but. having the rabbeted groove of the first claim. This difference in thenum bel' of pieces, which operate in substantially the same way as those of the patent, is not deemed to be material. He llUlies that he intends to make any more during the term of the patent. If he had not already, infringed, that denial woulli be sufficient to prevent an injunction; but, as he has infringed in this manner, an injunction to prevent further infringement in the same manner is proper. The defendant l¥ts on hand and is making more lens-holder blanks, which. can be completed into those that would ipfringe or those that would not; and has advertised that he would furnish those of the patent at reduced prices after the expiration of the patent. The counsel for thfi orator argues that this part manufacture during the term of the patent, with intent to complete into the patented article immediately on the expiration of the patent, should be restrained, because a partaker in an infringement may be holden· for it. This argument, however, fails, as to this, for the reason that. what is 1:lejng.done and 80 intended will never bean infring¢ment. Till com plete!l, the$e things would not infringe, and whencompwted the patent will not be in force tobe infringed. The orator has a monopoly. of making, usi.lg, and vending to others to be used, during the term onlyQf the patent. Everyone else has the right to do apything as to that during that term which stops short of the patented article itself, and to come to that as soon as may be after the expirationof the term by lI,nypreparation which does not amount to that before. This leaves to him all that his patent covers, and to others what it does not cover. Motion granted as to an injunction against pleting the patented articles, and denied as to the residue. --