Motion Picture Patents Co. v. Ullman

186 F. 174, 1910 U.S. App. LEXIS 5722

Opinion

HOLT, District Judge.

I think the great weight of authority is to the effect that it is no defense to a suit for the infringement of a patent that the complainant and third parties have entered into a combination or conspiracy in restraint of trade, in violation of the Sherman anti-trust act (Act July 2, 1890, c. 647, 26 Stat. 209 [U. S. Comp. St. 1901, p. 3200]). Strait v. National Harrow Co. (C. C.) 51 Fed. 819; Otis Elevator Co. v. Geiger (C. C.) 107 Fed. 131; General Electric Co. v. Wise (C. C.) 119 Fed. 922; Independent Baking Powder Co. v. Boorman (C. C.) 130 Fed. 726; Motion Picture Patents Co. v. Laemmle (C. C.) 178 Fed. 104. Such a suit is not based on contract, but on tort, and, of course, the fact that a man. has entered into some illegal contract does not authorize others to injure him with impunity.

The paragraph of the answer excepted to alleges that the suit is not brought in good faith to prevent infringement, but for the purpose of carrying out and making effective a contract, combination, and conspiracy between the complainant and the Eastman Kodak Company to monopolize the manufacture, sale, and use of ifioving pictures in violation of the Sherman act. But the bill is a simple bill for the infringement of a patent. Its purpose is apparent on its face. The mere assertion that it has some other purpose is not an allegation of fact, and is not admitted by the exception. If incidentally it effects some other result, that does not authorize infringement.

My conclusion is that the exception should be sustained.