Case Name: White v. S. Harris & Sons Manufacturing Co.
Court: United States Circuit Court for the District of Massachusetts
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1880-07-19
Citations: 3 F. 161
Docket Number: 
Parties: White v. S. Harris & Sons Manufacturing Co.
Judges: 
Reporter: Federal Reporter
Volume: 3
Pages: 161–162

Head Matter:
White v. S. Harris & Sons Manufacturing Co.
(Circuit Court, D. Massachusetts.
July 19, 1880.)
1. Patent Ho. 220,126 — Injunction—License—Estoppel.
In Equity.
Myers & Warner, for complainant.
Titos. II. Dodge, for defendants.

Opinion:
Lowell, O. J.
The complainant's patent, No. 220,126, is recent, and has not been litigated, and the affidavits give us to understand that its validity is seriously contested. This is reason enough for not granting a preliminary injunction.
It is said that the defendants are estopped by having accepted a license from the complainant. .But the only license asked for or taken was to sell certain goods which the defendants had on hand when the patent was obtained, which seems to be rather in the nature of a compromise to save trouble, than deliberate acknowledgment of the validity of the patent. But, if the defendants are estopped to dispute the patent, there is a serious doubt of the infringement. The articles complained of are made under patent No. 221,721, which. Judge Blatchford has lately said, in refusing a similar motion, do not, at first sight, appear to infringe the patent of the complainant. White v. Noyes, 2 Fed. Rep. 782.
Preliminary injunction refused.