Document: 339 U.S. 605 70 S.Ct. 854 94 L.Ed. 1097 GRAVER TANK & MFG. CO., Inc., et al.v.LINDE AIR PRODUCTS CO. No. 2. Reargued March 30, 1950. Decided May 29, Motion to Issue Mandate Denied June 5, See 1017. Mr. Thomas V. Koykka, Cleveland, Ohio, for petitioners. John T. Cahill, New York City, Richard R. Wolfe, Chicago, Ill., respondent. Justice JACKSON delivered the opinion of Court. 1 Linde Air Products Co., owner Jones patent an electric welding process and fluxes be used therewith, brought action infringement against Lincoln two Graver companies. The trial court held four flux claims valid infringed certain other all invalid. 86 F.Supp. 191. Court Appeals affirmed findings validity as but reversed remaining contested claims. 167 F.2d 531. We granted certiorari, 335 810, 69 50, 93 366, judgment insofar it that court, reinstated District decree. 336 271, 535, 672. Rehearing was granted, limited question applicability doctrine equivalents fact in this case. 337 910, 1046, 1722. 2 At outset should noted single issue before us is whether court's holding have been will sustained. Any these unanimously determined by previous decision attack on their cannot renewed now reason limitation grant rehearing. disclosure, claims, prior art adequately described our former opinions courts below. 3 In determining accused device or composition infringes a patent, resort must had first instance words claim. If matter falls clearly within claim, made out end it. 4 But also recognized permit imitation patented invention which does not copy every literal detail would convert protection into hollow useless thing. Such leave room for—indeed encourage—the unscrupulous copyist make unimportant insubstantial changes substitutions which, though adding nothing, enough take copied outside hence reach law. One who seeks pirate invention, like one copyrighted book play, may expected introduce minor variations conceal shelter piracy. Outright forthright duplication dull very rare type infringement. To prohibit no place inventor at mercy verbalism subordinating substance form. It deprive him benefit his foster concealment rather than disclosure inventions, primary purposes system. 5 evolved response experience. essence practice fraud patent. Originating almost century ago case Winans v. Denmead, 15 How. 330, 14 717, has consistently applied lower federal courts, continues today ready available utilization when proper circumstances its application arise. 'To temper unsparing logic prevent infringer from stealing invention'1 patentee invoke proceed producer 'if performs substantially same function way obtain result.' Sanitary Refrigerator Co. Winters, 280 42, 50 9, 13, 74 147. theory founded devices do work way, accomplish result, they are same, even differ name, form shape.' Union Paper-Bag Machine Murphy, 97 120, 125, 24 935. operates only favor pioneer secondary consisting combination old ingredients produce new useful results, Imhaeuser Buerk, 101 647, 655, 25 945, although area equivalence vary under circumstances. Continental Paper Bag Eastern 210 405, 414—415, 28 748, 749, 52 1122, cases cited; Seymour Osborne, 11 Wall. 516, 556, 20 33; Gould Rees, 187, 192, 21 39. wholesome realism always sometimes him. Thus, where so far changed principle article similar different nevertheless restrict claim defeat patentee's Westinghouse Boyden Power Brake 170 537, 568, 18 707, 722, 42 1136. early development, usually involving there mechanical components. Subsequently, however, principles were compositions, between chemical ingredients. Today compositions devices. discussions collected Walker Patents (Deller's ed. 1937) §§ 489—492; Ellis, Patent Claims (1949) 59—60. 6 What constitutes equivalency context art, particular Equivalence, law, prisoner formula absolute considered vacuum. require complete identity purpose respect. equivalents, things equal thing each and, token, most equivalents. Consideration given ingredient qualities combined with ingredients, intended perform. An important factor persons reasonably skilled known interchangeability contained was. 7 A finding determination fact. Proof can any form: through testimony experts others versed technology; documents, including texts treatises; course, disclosures art. Like fact, final requires balancing credibility, persuasiveness weight evidence. decided decision, general appellate review, disturbed unless erroneous. Particularly field much depends upon familiarity specific scientific problems storehouse knowledge 8 us, we fluxes: composition, Unionmelt Grade 20, Lincolnweld 660. essentially alkaline earth metal silicate calcium fluoride; actually contains, silicates magnesium, silicates. Lincolnweld's Unionmelt's, except substitutes manganese—the latter metal—for magnesium. respects, alike. methods employed similar. They identical operation kind quality weld. 9 thus emerges substitution manganese magnesium is, case, view technology change such inapplicable; conversely, invocation justified. 10 Without attempting all-inclusive, note following evidence record: Chemists familiar testified many reactions (R. 287, 669). There metallurgist metals often found ores natural state serve 831—832); chemist 'in sense patent' could included 297). Much corroborated reference inorganic chemistry 332). important, addition, record. Miller 1,754,566, preceded suit, taught use 969, 971). Manganese similarly disclosed Armor 1,467,825, 1346). And record contains show developed result independent research experiments. essay evaluation This court. And, heretofore observed, * more appropriately applicable largely enlightened demonstrations. occupied some three weeks, during shows, judge visited laboratories counsel observe actual demonstrations infringing it, various stages He viewed motion pictures operations tests heard witnesses.' 274—275, 12 suit result. respects equivalent purposes. he concluded 'for practical purposes, efficiently effectively substituted major constituent composition.' These conclusions supported record; certainly erroneous.2 13 difficult conceive appropriate clear compositions. Specialists understood observations confirmed literature chemistry. explanation indication research, properly infer experimentation invention. Though literal, avoid colorable only. conclude respecting proper, adhere aspect Affirmed. MINTON took part consideration 16 BLACK, whom DOUGLAS concurs, dissenting. 17 I heartily agree 'fraud' bad, 'piracy' evil, 'stealing' reprehensible. petitioners charged malevolence, lofty justify Court's sterilization Acts Congress decisions, none mentioned today's opinion. involved here describe respondent's product 'containing proportion silicate.' 'composed principally Finding 'manganese metal,' admitted petitioners' did 'literally infringe' Nevertheless invoked judicial 'doctrine equivalents' broaden 'alkaline metals' embrace 'manganese.' On ground 'the substitute fully specification' 'no need teachings *.' Since affirmance unquestioningly follows necessarily relies what specifications revealed.1 doing, violates direct mandate without discussing mandate. 19 R.S. § 4888, amended, 35 U.S.C. 33, U.S.C.A. provides applicant 'shall particularly point distinctly part, improvement, discovery.' statute precludes invoking alter free ambiguous language, since 'it measures patentee.'2 Mfg. 277, 538, specifically claimed dedicated public. See, e.g., Brass 104 350, 352, 26 783. For frequently reiterated, exclude monopoly claimed, whatever appear specifications. Marconi Wireless United States, 320 1, 23, 63 1393, 1403, 87 1731, cited. tacitly rejects those cases. departs underlying pointed White Dunbar, 119 47, 51, 72, 74, 30 303, forbids treating 'like nose wax, turned twisted direction, merely referring specification, include something than, from, express. statutory requirement, prescribed making define precisely is; unjust public, well evasion construe manner plain import terms.' Giving less 'unjust public' 4888 because done name equivalents.' seeking emasculation parading potential hardships enforcement might conceivably impose patentees failed discoveries, fails mention program alleviation itself provided. 64, authorizes reissue patents 'wholly partly inoperative' due errors arising 'inadvertence, accident, mistake' patentee. while section expressly expand reluctantly interpreted doing so. 353—354, That interpretation, accompanied warning 'Reissues enlargement exception rule.' page 355, careful hedge privilege exacting conditions entrusted Office, initial authority determine expansion justified,3 barred suits retroactive based expansion. opinion, congressional plan protects 'fraud,' 'piracy,' 'stealing.' Unlike business men sphere beyond authorizes. just, fair, reasonable. effect nullified undercutting wise safeguards. Milcor Steel Fuller 316 143, 148, 62 972, 1332. prophet suggest rhapsody virtue will, contravention supra, 'rule' 'exception.' Whatever merits differences allegedly de minimis, only, substance, facts petitioner's nearly slight. relied involve structure lay construction method materials used. Rather wholly using purpose. Respondent's assignors experimented several metallic silicates, manganese. According (if considered) 'more efficacious process, prefer metals.' Several too broad encompassed silicate; not. Yet disregards crucial deficiency, 88.49% silicate. 22 intense study silicate, frivolous contend failure precise unintentional. Nor respondent attempt give omission. expired patents, referred raises suspicion elimination stemmed fear inclusion denial subsequent invalidation 23 Under think petitioner right act belief follow mandates patent's mark boundaries, obtained proceeding. ruling sets stage faithful observance congressionally enacted protect Hereafter manufacturer rely language able, peril heavy damages, forecast how relatively inversed technological claim's after considering technical field. burden enterprise assumption possess prescience bodes ill competitive economy professed goal. approached naturally decisions reached. host cases, referred, treated 17-year authorized narrow reason, emphasized importance leaving utilize preempted E.g., Sontag Stores Nut 310 281, 60 961, 84 1204, McReynolds, speaking unanimous Court, said part: 'In original machine, 'gave public understand' 'did come rightfully anyone." 293, 966, 967, 1204. contrary approach causes retreat sound principle. damages retroactively assessed until installment cost retreat. DOUGLAS, 27 applies subverts constitutional scheme patents. infringe, then excluded therefore became property. Mahn Harwood, 112 354, 361, 174, 178, 451, 665. was, sure, measure 145, 146, 970, 971, limit never McClain Ortmayer, 141 419, 424, 76, 77, 800. 29 allows erase time-honored rules. Moreover, practicing 'a extend patented. covered expired. Thus strange anomaly: unpatented unpatentable article. L. Hand Royal Typewriter Remington Rand, Cir., 168 691, 692. Rule 52(a), Federal Rules Civil Procedure, 'Findings shall set aside erroneous, regard opportunity credibility tidbits painstakingly selected significance, avowedly look themselves. approval judge's ironic unfortunate. rejected contention support validate otherwise board upheld. 'This provision inserted law relieving duty ascertaining exact inference conjecture, derived laborious examination comparison thereof cast Office. supposed be, examined, scrutinized, limited, conform entitled to. office refuses allow asks, appeal. enlarge scope allowed tribunal applications referred. When terms distinct (as be), patentee, bound Merrill Yeomans, 235.' Keystone Bridge Phoenix Iron 95 274, 278, 344.

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