M'KAY tJ. SMITH.
295
Nagle was not the inventor. This disposes of the.first two claims of the Nagle patent. ' The third claim relates to an improved nail-carrier. The nail-carrier of Nagle is identical with that used in the Eppler machine, except its edge is smooth instead of serrated. It is said the nail passes through the carrier with less obstruction when the edge is smooth. Admitting this, there is nothing which can properly be termed invention in ma.king the edge of the carrier smooth instead of corrugateq, and the claim must be held to be void. The fourth claim is not in controversy. The bill must be dismissed, with costs; and it is so ordered.
MoKAY, Trustee, 'V. SAllE
SMITH
and others.
v.
TUCKER.
«(Mowit
(JQUre,
D. Mas8achu8etts. November 27, 1886.)
PATENTS FOR 1Nv1llNTIONS-BILL IN EQUITY AGAINST LlCENSlIlE-mJUNCTION AND ACCOUNT. '
A bill in, equity which sets forth 8 license to defendants to use oertain patentsembodied in machines leased to them by plaintiff, the license, providing for payment of license fees, or purchase and use Of license stamps. and for rendering accounts, and. which alleges failure of defendantsil1 their obligations under the license, and prays for discovery and acqount, and decree for payment of fees, and an injunction until such payment, shows a cause for equitable relief.
In Equity. Motions to dismiss bills. J. J. Myer8, for complainant. a. A. Taber and P. E. Tucker, for defendants. COLT, J. In these two cases the bills are substantially alike. The ddendants have filed a motion to dismiss in each case on the ground that the plaintiff bas a plain, adequate, and complete remedy at law. The bills set forth a license to the defendants to use certain patents embodied in machines lel!-sed to the defendants. The licensG provides, among other things, that the licensee shall pay the sum of 10 cents for every pair of shoes made by the aid ofthe machines, or by the use of the patents, ot any of them, or instead thereof he shall purchase and affix to every pair of shoes a license stamp of a value to be determined by reference to a schedule attached to and forming part of the license. The licensee agrees to keep an account of the shoes made, and to render an account every six months to the licenser. It was also agreed that the lice'nse shall continue until the expiration of all the patents, or any extensions or renewals of the same. The bills allege that the defendants have continued to use the machines,
296
FEDERAL REPORTER.
making many pairs of shoes monthly; and that since August or September, 1881, they have wholly neglected to purchase and affix stamps to the shoes made by the machines, and that they have refused to pay any license fees, neglected to render any accounts, and that they the indicator registering the amount have removed from the of work done. The prayer of the bills is for discovery and account; also that the defendants may be decreed to pay the license fees found due,and that they may be enjoined from using the machines until they have paid the amount found due under the license. The only question raised by these motions to dismiss is whether, upon the allegations coqtained in the bills, the plaintiff has made a case cognizable in a court of equity, or whether his proper remedy is at law. I think the plaintiff has brought himself within recognized grounds of equitable jurisdiction, and that the motions should be denied. The bills not only pray for discovery and account, which of themselves might be deemed insufficient in this class of cases, but they also pray for an injunction against the use of machines embodying patents which are unexpired. Billa of this character have frequently been sustained by the courts. Goodyear v. Oongress Rubber 00., 3 Blatchf.449; Woodworth v. Weed, 1 Blatch£. 165; Wilson v. Sherman, Id.536; Eureka 00. v. Bailey 00., 11 Wall. 488; Magic Ruifie 00. v. Elm OityOo., 13 Blatchf. 151; White v. Lee, 3 Fed. Rep. 222; Nesmith v. Oalvert, 1 Wood & M. 34. In Orandall v. Plano 00., 24 Fed. Rep. 738, and in.Perkins v. Hend7'yX, 23 Fed. Rep. 418, no injunction was asked for. Motions denied.
THE ZOUAVE. MCWILLIAMS
and another v.
THE ZOUAVE.
(Di8trict Gourt, D. New Jer8ey.
December 8, 1886.)
1
ADMIRALTy-RuLE 53-COUNTER-CLAIM-CRoss-LmEL.
The original libel was for repairs made to a boiler, which had been con· structed by the libelants for the respondent under a contract which stipu laterl for the use of a certain well known brand of iron. A different quality of iron from that agreed on was used, with the consent of the respondent, on the representations of the libelants that it was equally as good and just as expensive as the other; and the boiler was, on delivery, accepted and paid for by the respondent. Subsequently the repltirs now sued for were put on the boiler, and the respondent files a cross-lihel for a counter-claim for damages for breach of the original contract. Held, that such counter-claim does not arise out of the same cause of action for which the original libel was brought, as contemplated by admiralty rule 53. .
To authorize a set-off, the debts must be between the same parties in their own right, and be of the same kind or quality, and be clearly ascertained or liq uidated. Neither at law nor in equity can unliquidated damages be allowed under the defense of a set-off. (Syllabus by the Gourt.)
2.
SET-OFF AND COUNTER-CLAIM-UNLIQUIDATED DAMAGES.