Case Name: DAWSON v. FOLLEN
Court: United States Circuit Court for the District of Pennsylvania
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1808-10
Citations: 7 F. Cas. 216
Docket Number: 
Parties: DAWSON v. FOLLEN.
Judges: 
Reporter: Federal Cases
Volume: 7
Pages: 216–216

Head Matter:
Case No. 3,670.
DAWSON v. FOLLEN.
[2 Wash. C. C. 311; 1 Robb Pat. Cas. 9.]
Circuit Court, D. Pennsylvania.
Oct. Term, 1808.
Action’ for Infringement of Patent—Original Invention—Anticipation.
1. In an action for a violation of a patent granted by the United States for an alleged original invention, the plaintiff must satisfy the jury that he was the original inventor, in relation to every part of the world.
[Cited in Whitney v. Emmett, Case No. 17,-585.]
2. Although no proof was made that the pat-entee knew that the discovery had been made prior to his, still he could not recover, if, in fact, he was not the original inventor.
[Cited in Sewall v. Jones, 91 U. S. ISO.]
The action was brought tor a violation of the plaintiff’s patent right for making suspenders [granted to him (J. Dawson) November 6, 180G.] The case was fully proved on tbe part of the plaintiff. But the defendant introduced a number of witnesses, who proved in the most positive manner, that suspenders, precisely similar to the plaintiff's, had been used in England ana France, before the plaintiff pretended to have made the discovery, and still longer before his patent issued. Some evidence was given, that the plaintiff had in his possession one of those suspenders, before he obtained his patent, and of course knew that they had been invented in Europe. The question was left to the jury, under the charge of the court.
[Originally published from the MSS. of Hon. Bushrod Washington, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, under the supervision of Richard Peters, Jr., Esq.]

Opinion:
WASHINGTON. Circuit Justice
(PETERS, District Judge, absent), informed the jury, ¿hat to entitle the plaintiff to recover, they must be satisfied that he was the original inventor, not only in relation to the United States, but to other parts of the world; in which respect, the act of congress differed from the law of England on this subject That even if there were no proof that the plaintiff was acquainted with the circumstance, that the discovery had before been made, still he could not recover, if in truth he was not the original inventor. Upon the evidence, the charge was strongly against the plaintiff. Verdict for defendant