Crittenden v. White

• Decision Date: 17 May 1876
• Citation: 23 Minn. 24
• Parties: Mason H. Crittenden and others v. Dana White and others
• Court: Minnesota Supreme Court

23 Minn. 24

Mason H. Crittenden and others v. Dana White and others

Supreme Court of Minnesota

May 17, 1876

Action on a promissory note, by endorsees, against the makers. Defence, that the note was given for part of the purchase-money upon a sale of a patent-right, and that the vendor (payee) had failed to comply with any of the provisions of Laws 1871, c. 26. At the trial in the court of common pleas of Ramsey county, before Brill, J., evidence was received, under objection and exception, in support of this defence. The jury found for the defendants, a new trial was refused, and the plaintiffs appealed.

Order reversed.

W. K Gaston and Geo. L. Otis, for appellants.

Smith & Egan, for respondents.

OPINION

Gilfillan C. J.

The only question in this case which it is necessary to consider is the validity of the "Act to regulate the sale of patent-rights, and prevent frauds in connection therewith," passed March 6, 1871. Laws 1871, c. 26. This act requires of the owners of patent-rights the performance of certain acts before they can sell such rights within the state, and makes it a misdemeanor to sell such rights without having performed such acts. A similar law of the state of Indiana came before the United States circuit court, in the case Ex parte Robinson, 2 Bissell 309 20 F. Cas. 961, and was held invalid for reasons so sound and conclusive that we need do nothing more than copy them from the report of the case: "It is clear that this kind of legislation is unauthorized. To congress is given, by the constitution, the power to promote the progress of science and the useful arts, by securing for limited times, to authors and inventors, the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries. This power has been exercised by congress, which has directed the manner in which patents shall be obtained, and, when obtained, how they shall be assigned and sold. The property in inventions exists by virtue of the laws of congress, and no state has a right to interfere with its enjoyment, or to annex conditions to the grant. If the patentee complies with the law of congress on the subject, he has a right to go into the open market anywhere within the United States, and sell his property. If this were not so, it is easy to see that a state could impose terms which would result in a prohibition of the sale of this species of property within its borders, and in this way nullify the laws of cong...