Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-02-10
PATENTS ON PHONES.
The Exact Status of the Bell Com
pany on Its Expirations.
CURRENT RUMORS OF MANY SUITS
That Are 10 Be Brought to Determine
MHch-Vexed Matter.
VIEWS OF LOCAL MANAGER METzGER

Numerous statements have lately ap-
peared in print regarding the status of the
Bell Telephone Company and its patents.
Patent lawers in Philadelphia are reported
as expressing the opinion that the earlier
patents have expired by limitation, and rumors
are current of suits. about to be entered in the
Federal Courts to break down the telephone
monopoly"
In the opinion of General Manager Henry
Metzger, Of the local company, there does not
seem to be any ground, either for bringing suit,
or supposing that any of the patents have ex.
pired. stress Is laid on supposed statute
which provides that patent procured in this
country shall expire with foreign patent.
Regarding the matter of the Bell Telephone
Company's standing in general. and these
rumors and charges in particular. Mr.. Metzger
had this to say yesterday afternoon:
THE first patent granted to Bell was issued
by the United States Government in March.
1876, and the next January 30. 1877. These are
the earliest of the patents under which the
Bell Telephone Company operates, and will be
patents run for II years. and So the earliest of
the Bell patents will not expire until 1893 and
1884. The English were obtained subsequent
to the American patents, and these run for IA
years. The point OF the matter Is this, and 10
is here that misconception occurs; American
patents, taken out in England. expire at the
time fixed by the English law for English pat
ents. but English patents. taken out in this
fixed by our Law, but by the English law.
This however. in no way affects the Bell Com
pany here. because the first PATENTS were taken
out here. and, according to the American law.
have II years to run.
1T Is supposed that an American patent
should expire at the same time as an English
patent should, and know Of no statute which
SO says. Probably these people who argue 50
are basing their opinions on Supreme Court
opinions leaning toward that view. but there is
no statute which so regulates"
In what position will the company be placed
on the expiration of its patents?'
well, that is far ahead yet. OF course it
will be open to anyone to use the patents, and
rival companies may start up and seek for a
portion OF our trade. But consider how the
public would be placed in such case. Sup
posing that our {, 800 subscribers were divided
among three companies; unless a man were a
subscriber to all three he could not have a COM
plete service. HIS neighbor with whom he did
most business mlght be on No. rs list, aud be
on No. rs. and SO they could not communicate,
unless both had two services. Such a condition
tional expense to the public. In my opinion.
the company will continue to supply its sub
scriDers as at present.
Concerning the charge that the transmitters
now in use are defective. and hearing indis-
Iinct, the fault lies not with the transmitters,
but with the wires. The big building we are
erecting on Seventh avenue will be fitted with
the newest improvements. and the moment we
get in there we shall adopt the metallic circuit
system, which gives each subscriber two wires
i'll place Of one, as at present. This will be
found to make talking over the lines as dis
Iinct as at your elbow"