Legal Opinion
Aronson v. Quick Point Pencil Co.
Supreme Court of the United States
Decided March 5, 1979No. 77-1413PublishedCited by 206 opinions
1Opinion of the CourtChief Justice Burger
We granted certiorari, 436 U. S. 943, to consider whether federal patent law pre-empts state contract law so as to pre-*259elude enforcement of a contract to pay royalties to a patent applicant, on sales of articles embodying the putative invention, for so long as the contracting party sells them, if a patent is not granted.(1)
In October 1955 the petitioner, Mrs. Jane Aronson, filed an application, Serial No. 542677, for a patent on a new form of keyholder. Although ingenious, the design was so simple that it readily could be copied unless it was protected by patent. In June 1956, while the…
2Cases cited8 opinions
- Hines v. DavidowitzSupreme Court of the United States · 1941
- Sears, Roebuck & Co. v. Stiffel Co.Supreme Court of the United States · 1964
- Kewanee Oil Co. v. Bicron Corp.Supreme Court of the United States · 1974
- Lear, Inc. v. AdkinsSupreme Court of the United States · 1969
- Compco Corp. v. Day-Brite Lighting, Inc.Supreme Court of the United States · 1964
3 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.
3Cited by206 opinions
- Bonito Boats, Inc. v. Thunder Craft Boats, Inc.Supreme Court of the United States · 1989
- Pitney Bowes, Inc., Cross-Appellee v. Celina Mestre, Personal Representative of the Estate of Luis Mestre, Deceased, Cross-AppellantCourt of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit · 1983
- ProCD, Inc. v. ZeidenbergCourt of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit · 1996
- Thomas & Betts Corporation and Thomas & Betts Holdings, Inc. v. Panduit CorporationCourt of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit · 1998
- V. T. A., Inc. v. Airco, Inc.Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit · 1979
201 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.