Case Name: ARMAT MOVING PICTURE CO. v. EDISON MFG. CO.
Court: United States Circuit Court for the Southern District of New York
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1902-12-16
Citations: 121 F. 559
Docket Number: 
Parties: ARMAT MOVING PICTURE CO. v. EDISON MFG. CO.
Judges: 
Reporter: Federal Reporter
Volume: 121
Pages: 559–559

Head Matter:
ARMAT MOVING PICTURE CO. v. EDISON MFG. CO.
(Circuit Court, S. D. New York.
December 16, 1902.)
1. Patents — Suit for Infringement — Preliminary Injunction.
Where a patent has been sustained at final hearing after strong opposition, a preliminary injunction against another infringer will not ordinarily be refused upon affidavits to a prior public use.
2. Same — Defense of License — Measure of Proof Required.
The defense of license from some one who is claimed to have had an interest in the patent sued on is one to be made out by the defendant by a fair preponderance of proof.
In Equity. Suit for infringement of patent. On motion for preliminary injunction and motion for rehearing.
Church & Church, for the motion.
Richard N. Dyer, opposed.

Opinion:
LACOMBE, Circuit Judge.
The patent in suit was before Judge Hazel at final hearing on a voluminous record, and he discussed it in a long and careful opinion (118 Fed. 840), in which he appears to have considered all of the various defenses now urged in opposition to this motion. No new prior patent or publication is produced. The only new evidence is as to experiments conducted by Thomas A. Edison, terminating, as the affiants aver, on some date prior to the application for patent in suit, in a completed machine, which, if it then existed, would probably be an anticipation. But, where a patent has been sustained at final hearing after strong opposition, it is not usual to refuse preliminary injunctive relief against another infringer upon affidavits to a prior public use.
There seems to be no suggestion of noninfringement of the patent, when construed as it has been in the earlier case.
The motion for preliminary injunction is granted.