Ransom v. New York
U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Southern New York
This was an action on the case [by Franklin Ransom and Uzziah Wenman against the mayor, aldermen, and commonalty of the city of New York], tried by Judge Hall and a jury, for the Infringement of letters patent granted to. plaintiffs February 13, 1841 [No. 1,980], for an “improvement in fire engines.” The defense embraced a variety of issues, which are fully referred to in the charge of the court.
1Opinion of the CourtHall, District Judge
(charging jury). The constitution of the United States conferred upon congress the power to promote the progress of the useful arts by securing to inventors for a limited time the exclusive privilege of using their inventions. In pursuance of that power, in 1790, congress passed an act [1 Stat. 109] authorizing certain officers of the government to grant patents, for the purpose of carrying into effect the power which had been given them by the terms of the constitution; and in 183G, the congress of the United States passed an act, repealing the prior acts upon that subject, under which act…
2Cited by4 opinions
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