Christie v. Seybold
United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
55 Fed. 69 (1893)
- Written by Eric Miller, JD
Facts
Charles Seybold (defendant) devised an idea for a new type of bookbinder’s press in October 1885. However, due to a claimed lack of tools and an unwillingness to perfect the invention in a shop owned by another person, Seybold did not reduce the machine to practical form until April 1889. Seybold filed his patent application on June 6, 1889. W. H. Christie (plaintiff) conceived of the same type of machine in the summer of 1886, reduced it to practice in 1888, and filed his patent application on June 7, 1889. The United States Patent and Trademark Office conducted an interference hearing in which it was determined that Christie was the true inventor. Seybold initiated proceedings in federal district court. The court held that Seybold was the true inventor. Christie appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Taft, J.)
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