Brown v. John Hastle & Co., Ltd [1906] UKHL 671 (30 March 1906)

Brown v. John Hastle & Co., Ltd [1906] UKHL 671 (30 March 1906)

The claim in the earlier patent is limited to a specific mechanical arrangement, and the later patent's device, which uses a different mechanism, does not infringe that arrangement.

Citation
[1906] UKHL 671
Parties
Pursuer/respondent: Brown; Defender/appellant: John Hastle & Company, Limited
Jurisdiction
United Kingdom
Judgment Date
30 March 1906
Procedural Posture
Patent Infringement / Appeal to House of Lords
Outcome
appeal allowed; judgments reversed with expenses
Legal Topics
Patent Infringement, Claim Construction, Mechanical Arrangement, Estoppel
Intellectual Property Patent Law Patent Infringement Claim Construction Mechanical Arrangement Estoppel

Case Brief

Summary, issues, holding and outcome

More case intelligence is available

Unlock the full research layer for this judgment.

Full judgment text Downloadable case file Legal principles 2 Party arguments 2
Sign in to unlock

Parties

Brown

Pursuer/respondent

John Hastle & Company, Limited

Defender/appellant

Procedural Posture

Patent Infringement / Appeal to House of Lords

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the later patent infringed the mechanical arrangement claimed in the earlier patent
  2. 2 Proper construction of the patent claim

Ratio Decidendi

The claim in the earlier patent is limited to a specific mechanical arrangement, and the later patent's device, which uses a different mechanism, does not infringe that arrangement.

Court Disposition

appeal allowed; judgments reversed with expenses

Orders

  • Judgments of the Court of Session reversed
  • Appellants awarded expenses