Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-27
PATENT SUIT VITAL
IN RADIO INDUSTRY
High Court Decision on Tubes
Will Affect Trade
Leaders.
BY DEAN DINWOODEY.

The long-waged controversy between
the General Electric Co. and its Ii
censees and the De Forest Radio Co. and
the so-called independents over the
patented vacuum radio tube, which all
parties acknowledge constitutes "the
heart and soul' of the radio industry.
VIII be fought to a finish in the SUI
preme Court of the United States.
Chlef Justice Hughes announced from
the bench that the court would hear the
plea OF the De Forest Co. for O reversal
OF the recent decision of the United
STATES circuit Court of Appeals for the
thlrd circuit, at Philadelphia, holding
the Langmulr patent for the essential
type. Of tube, owned by the General
Electrlc Co, to be valid and infringee;
by the De Forest Co. y y
Decision Awaited. az
Not only those engaged in the re- ci
and wireless communication, tag pt
pictures, and even X-ray tubeslo z;
processes, will eagerly await the dc on b'
OF the high tribunal in this casence CO
1t may determine the future nelr d.
business. The vacuum tube perfSS an d.
essential function in each tlese II
operations.
The dependence of Industry bust ia
ness IN many fields upon nus LOT 81
small devices, not often fur o.
ti noWnere better illustratedywer al the the IL
vacuum tube.
The important place ole tuoe IN a
the radio industry waS'ScIIoeo Dy d
counsel for the De Foreso, IN urging IL
follows: d.
ON its use depends Jent-day wire tc
less communication ofnTy Klno. II Is, W
OF course, an indispepie aoJunct 10 6!
the signal and comriIcatlon WORK OF il
the Army and NavyMIInout IT, pres a.
radio programs amusement and en- n
tertainment would impossible. In 81
deed-and this f. is not disputed
without the radi1oe there would be
no radio broadcaIg, OF raolo INDUSTRY
as we know it trS' B
Pate for Tube.
The natant the tube is one of fl
those constituS the so-called patent t.
pool or corncions interested in the tt
communicate field. The General c
Electric Co as granted licenses to
manufactlreld sell under the patent tx
to the Amen Telephone & Telegraph a
Co. WeSterElectric Co., WESTINGHOUSE j
Electric & anuIacturlng Co. and the
Radio Coration of America. 1t is
this pate pool that the independents t
in the ie are seeking to break up.
The s, in which the appeal to the r.
Supremr5urt was allowed was brought n
nv fine neral Electric Co. against the f
De Foy Co. for infringement of the S,
patent The latter company admitted il
il wa taking similar tubes, but chal-
lengeIhe validity of the patent. The
trial )urt ruled chat the patent was
inva, but was reversed by the third
Giro, with one judge dissenting. u
proceedings in the Patent Office Z
nri to the grant of the patent, the Q
cll of Langmuir as the first inventor !
oIhis highly useful device was chal- 7
ICED by Harold De Forest Arnold of :
! Westinghouse Electric Co. The :
Of patents determined
at Arnold was the first inventor, but
S decision was reversed on appeal and
iority of invention awarded to Lang
lir.
1t is improbable that the case will be
cided within the next few months
earrings of arguments by the Supreme
Durt probably will be delayed until it's
KIT term in the Fall unless the case
specially advanced by the court on
quest of counsel.
Copyright, 1879 =