Aro Mfg. Co., Inc. v. Convertible Top Co., 377 U.S. 476 (1964)

U.S. Supreme Court

Aro Mfg. Co., Inc. v. Convertible Top Co., 377 U.S. 476 (1964) Aro Manufacturing Co., Inc. v.

Convertible Top Replacement Co., Inc.

No. 75

Argued February 17, 1964

Decided June 8, 1964

377 U.S. 476

CERTIORARI TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE FIRST CIRCUIT

Syllabus

Respondent was the assignee of certain territorial rights in a combination patent for a top structure for convertible automobiles. The patent covered only the combination of several unpatented components, and made no claim to invention based on the fabric used in the top structure. Top structures using the patented combination were included in 1952-1954 cars made by General Motors Corp., pursuant to a patent license, and by Ford Motor Co., which had no license during that period. Respondent filed an infringement suit against petitioners, who, without a license, made and sold replacement fabrics to fit cars using the patented top structures. The patent owner (respondent's assignor) notified petitioners on January 2, 1954, that petitioners' sale of fabrics to fit Ford tops would be contributory infringement. On July 21, 1955, Ford paid the patent owner $73,000, and it was agreed that Ford, its dealers, customers and users, were released from all claims of infringement of the patent, other than with respect to "replacement top fabrics." The patent owner reserved the right to license the manufacture, use, and sale of such replacement fabrics under the patent. Respondent's claim of contributory infringement was upheld in the District Court and the Court of Appeals. That holding was reversed here ( 365 U. S. 365 U.S. 336) on the ground that the fabric replacement was permissible "repair" and not infringing "reconstruction," so that there was no direct infringement by the car owner to which petitioners could contribute. On remand, the District Court dismissed the complaint as to both General Motors and Ford cars . The Court of Appeals reinstated the judgment for respondent with respect to Ford cars, holding that, since Ford had not been licensed to produce the top structures on those cars, petitioners' sale of replacement fabrics for them constituted contributory infringement even though the replacement was merely "repair." The Court of Appeals thus concluded that its "previous decision in this case was not reversed insofar as unlicensed Ford cars are concerned."

Held:

Page 377 U. S. 477

1. This Court's previous decision did not reverse the Court of Appeals' holding as it applied to Ford cars. P. 377 U. S. 480.

2. Persons who purchased cars from Ford, which infringed the patent by manufacturing and selling them with the top structures, likewise infringed by using or repairing the top structures, and the supplier of replacement fabrics for use in such infringing repair was a contributory infringer under § 271(c) of the Patent Code. Pp. 377 U. S. 482-488.

3. A majority of the Court is of the view that § 271(c) requires knowledge by the alleged contributory infringer, not merely that the component sold by him was especially designed for use in a certain machine or combination, but also that the combination for which the component was designed was both patented and infringing. Pp. 377 U. S. 488-493.

(a) This knowledge requirement affords petitioners no defense with respect to replacement fabric sales after January 2, 1954, since they then had been notified of Ford's infringement. Pp. 377 U. S. 489-491.

(b) Petitioners are not liable for contributory infringement with respect to sales before that date, absent a showing on remand of their previous knowledge of Ford's infringement. P. 377 U. S. 491.

4. The patent owner's attempt, in the agreement with Ford, to reserve the right to license future replacement sales was invalid, since he cannot, in granting the right to use patented articles, impose conditions as to unpatented replacement parts to be used with those articles. After July 21, 1955, Ford car owners had authority to use and repair the patented top structures; hence, they were no longer direct infringers, and hence petitioners, as sellers of replacement fabrics for such use and repair, were not contributory infringers. Aro Mfg. Co. v. Convertible Top Replacement Co., 365 U. S. 336, followed. Pp. 377 U. S. 496-500.

5. The agreement with Ford did not eliminate petitioners' liability for sales prior to July 21, 1955, for, although a contributory infringer is a species of joint tortfeasor, the common law rule by which a release of one joint tortfeasor necessarily released another is not applied to contributory infringement. Pp. 377 U. S. 500-502.

6. For the guidance of the District Court, four Justices express the following views to the effect that the agreement of July 21, 1955, limits the damages that respondent may recover for the pre-agreement infringement:

Page 377 U. S. 478

(a) In contributory infringement cases, as in other instances of joint tortfeasors' liability, payment by one joint tortfeasor diminishes the amount that may be recovered from another. P. 377 U. S. 503.

(b) Under 35 U.S.C. § 284, only damages, or loss to the patent owner, are recoverable for infringement, and not the infringer's profits. Pp. 377 U. S. 503-507.

(c) Respondent's damages should not be measured by a royalty on petitioners' sales of replacement fabrics, since respondent could never have licensed those sales, which involved unpatented materials to be used in the mere repair of patented articles. Pp. 377 U. S. 507-509.

(d) If the payment by Ford to the patent owner was the equivalent of the royalties the patent owner would have received by licensing Ford in the first instance, petitioners would be liable only for nominal damages. Pp. 377 U. S. 512-513.

312 F.2d 52 reversed in part, affirmed in part, and remanded.

MR. JUSTICE BRENNAN delivered the opinion of the Court.

Respondent Convertible Top Replacement Co., Inc., (CTR) acquired by assignment from the Automobile Body Research Corporation (AB) all rights for the territory of Massachusetts in United States Patent No. 2,569,724, known as the Mackie-Duluk patent. This is a combination patent covering a top structure for automobile "convertibles." Structures embodying the patented combination were included as original equipment in 1952-1954 models of convertibles manufactured by the General Motors Corporation and the Ford Motor Company. They were included in the General Motors cars by authority of a license granted to General Motors by AB; Ford, however, had no license during the 1952-1954

Page 377 U. S. 479

period, and no authority whatever under the patent until July 21, 1955, when it entered into an agreement, discussed later, with AB; Ford's manufacture and sale of the automobiles in question therefore infringed the patent. Petitioner Aro Manufacturing Co., Inc. (Aro), which is not licensed under the patent, produces fabric components designed as replacements for worn-out fabric portions of convertible tops; unlike the other elements of the top structure, which ordinarily are usable for the life of the car, the fabric portion normally wears out and requires replacement after about three years of use. Aro's fabrics are specially tailored for installation in particular models of convertibles, and these have included the 1952-1954 General Motors and Ford models equipped with the Mackie-Duluk top structures.

CTR brought this action against Aro in 1956 to enjoin the alleged infringement and contributory infringement, and to obtain an accounting, with respect to replacement fabrics made and sold by Aro for use in both the General Motors and the Ford cars embodying the patented structures. The interlocutory judgment entered for CTR by the District Court for the District of Massachusetts, 119 U.S.P.Q. 122, and affirmed by the Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, 270 F.2d 200, was reversed here. Aro Mfg. Co. v. Convertible Top Replacement Co., 365 U. S. 336 ("Aro I"), petition for rehearing or alternative motion for amendment or clarification denied, 365 U.S. 890. Our decision dealt, however, only with the General Motors, and not with the Ford, cars. Like the Court of Appeals, we treated CTR's right to relief as depending wholly upon the question whether replacement of the fabric portions of the convertible tops constituted infringing "reconstruction" or permissible "repair" of the patented combination. The lower courts had held it to constitute "reconstruction," making the car owner for whom it was performed a direct infringer and Aro, which made

Page 377 U. S. 480

and sold the replacement fabric, a contributory infringer; we disagreed, and held that it was merely "repair." The reconstruction-repair distinction is decisive, however, only when the replacement is made in a structure whose original manufacture and sale have been licensed by the patentee, as was true only of the General Motors cars; when the structure is unlicensed, as was true of the Ford cars, the traditional rule is that even repair constitutes infringement. Thus, the District Court had based its ruling for CTR with respect to the Ford cars on the alternative ground that, even if replacement of the fabric portions constituted merely repair, the car owners were still guilty of direct infringement, and Aro of contributory infringement, as to these unlicensed, and hence infringing, structures. 119 U.S.P.Q. 122, 124. This aspect of the case was not considered or decided by our opinion in Aro I.

On remand, however, another judge in the District Court read our opinion as requiring the dismissal of CTR's complaint as to the Ford as well as the General Motors cars, and entered judgment accordingly. CTR appealed the dismissal insofar as it applied to the Ford cars, and the Court of Appeals reinstated the judgment in favor of CTR to the extent. 312 F.2d 52. In our view, the Court of Appeals was correct in holding that its "previous decision in this case was not reversed insofar as unlicensed Ford cars are concerned." 312 F.2d at 57. [Footnote 1]

Page 377 U. S. 481

However, we granted certiorari, 372 U.S. 958, to consider that question, and to consider also the issue that had not been decided in Aro I: whether Aro is liable for contributory infringement, under 35 U.S.C. § 271(c), with respect to its manufacture and sale of replacement fabrics for the Ford cars. [Footnote 2]

Page 377 U. S. 482

I [Footnote 3] CTR contends, and the Court of Appeals held, that, since Ford infringed the patent by making and selling the top structures without authority from the patentee, [Footnote 4] persons who purchased the automobiles from Ford likewise infringed by using and repairing the structures, and, hence Aro, by supplying replacement fabrics specially designed to be utilized in such infringing repair, was guilty of contributory infringement under 35 U.S.C. § 271(c). In Aro I, 365 U.S. at 365 U. S. 341-342, the Court said:

"It is admitted that petitioners [Aro] know that the purchasers intend to use the fabric for replacement purposes on automobile convertible tops which are covered by the claims of respondent's combination

Page 377 U. S. 483

patent, and such manufacture and sale with that knowledge might well constitute contributory infringement under § 271(c) if, but only if, such a replacement by the purchaser himself would, in itself, constitute a direct infringement under § 271(a), for it is settled that, if there is no direct infringement of a patent, there can be no contributory infringement. . . . It is plain that § 271(c) -- a part of the Patent Code enacted in 1952 -- made no change in the fundamental precept that there can be no contributory infringement in the absence of a direct infringement. That section defines contributory infringement in terms of direct infringement -- namely, the sale of a component of a patented combination or machine for use 'in an infringement of such patent.' And § 271(a) of the new Patent Code, which defines 'infringement,' left intact the entire body of case law on direct infringement. The determinative question, therefore, comes down to whether the car owner would infringe the combination patent by replacing the worn-out fabric element of the patented convertible top on his car. . . ."

Similarly here, to determine whether Aro committed contributory infringement, we must first determine whether the car owners, by replacing the worn-out fabric element of the patented top structures, committed direct infringement. We think it clear, under § 271(a) of the Patent Code and the "entire body of case law on direct infringement" which that section "left intact," that they did.

Section 271(a) provides that "whoever without authority makes, uses or sells any patented invention . . . infringes the patent." It is not controverted -- nor could it be -- that Ford infringed by making and selling cars embodying the patented top structures without any authority from the patentee. If Ford had had such authority, its purchasers would not have infringed

Page 377 U. S. 484

by using the automobiles, for it is fundamental that sale of a patented article by the patentee or under his authority carries with it an "implied license to use." Adams v. Burke, 17 Wall. 453, 84 U. S. 456; United States v. Univis Lens Co., 316 U. S. 241, 316 U. S. 249, 316 U. S. 250-251. But with Ford lacking authority to make and sell, it could, by its sale of the cars, confer on the purchasers no implied license to use, and their use of the patented structures was thus "without authority," and infringing under § 271(a). [Footnote 5] Not only does that provision explicitly regard an unauthorized user of a patented invention as an infringer, but it has often and clearly been held that unauthorized use, without more, constitutes infringement. Birdsell v. Shaliol, 112 U. S. 485; Union Tool Co. v. Wilson, 259 U. S. 107, 259 U. S. 114; see Sanitary Refrigerator Co. v. Winters, 280 U. S. 30, 280 U. S. 32-33; General Talking Pictures Corp. v. Western Electric Co., 305 U. S. 124, 305 U. S. 127.

If the owner's use infringed, so also did his repair of the top structure, as by replacing the worn-out fabric component. Where use infringes, repair does also, for it perpetuates the infringing use.

"No doubt . . . a patented article may be repaired without making the repairer an infringer, . . . but not where it is done for one who is. It is only where the device in patented form has come lawfully into the hands of the person for or by whom it is repaired that this is the case. In other words, if one, without right, constructs or disposes of an infringing machine, it affords no protection to another to have merely repaired it; the repairer, by supplying an essential part of the patented combination, contributing by

Page 377 U. S. 485

so much to the perpetuation of the infringement."

Union Special Mach. Co. v. Maimin, 161 F. 748, 750 (C.C.E.D.Pa.1908), aff'd, 165 F. 440 (C.A.3d Cir. 1908). Accord, Remington Rand Business Serv., Inc. v. Acme Card System Co., 71 F.2d 628, 630 (C.A.4th Cir. 1934), cert. denied, 293 U.S. 622; 2 Walker, Patents (Deller ed.1937) at 1487. Consequently, replacement of worn-out fabric components with fabrics sold by Aro, held in Aro I to constitute "repair," rather than "reconstruction," and thus to be permissible in the case of licensed General Motors cars, was not permissible here in the case of unlicensed Ford cars. Here, as was not the case in Aro I, the direct infringement by the car owners that is prerequisite to contributory infringement by Aro was unquestionably established.

We turn next to the question whether Aro, as supplier of replacement fabrics for use in the infringing repair by the Ford car owners, was a contributory infringer under § 271(c) of the Patent Code. That section provides:

"Whoever sells a component of a patented machine, manufacture, combination or composition, or a material or apparatus for use in practicing a patented process, constituting a material part of the invention, knowing the same to be especially made or especially adapted for use in an infringement of such patent, and not a staple article or commodity of commerce suitable for substantial noninfringing use, shall be liable as a contributory infringer."

We think Aro was indeed liable under this provision.

Such a result would plainly have obtained under the contributory infringement case law that § 271(c) was intended to codify. [Footnote 6] Indeed, most of the law was established

Page 377 U. S. 486

in cases where, as here, suit was brought to hold liable for contributory infringement a supplier of replacement parts specially designed for use in the repair of infringing articles. In Union Tool Co. v. Wilson, supra, 259 U.S. at 259 U. S. 113-114, the Court held that, where use of the patented machines themselves was not authorized,

"There was, consequently, no implied license to use the spare parts in these machines. As such use, unless licensed, clearly constituted an infringement, the sale of the spare parts to be so used violated the injunction [enjoining infringement]."

As early as 1897, Circuit Judge Taft, as he then was, thought it "well settled" that,

"where one makes and sells one element of a combination covered by a patent with the intention and

Page 377 U. S. 487

for the purpose of bringing about its use in such a combination he is guilty of contributory infringement and is equally liable to the patentee with him who in fact organizes the complete combination."

Thomson-Houston Elec. Co. v. Ohio Brass Co., 80 F. 712, 721 (C.A. 6th Cir. 1897). While conceding that, in the case of a machine purchased from the patentee, one "may knowingly assist in assembling, repairing, and renewing a patented combination by furnishing some of the needed parts," Judge Taft added:

"but, when he does so, he must ascertain, if he would escape liability for infringement, that the one buying and using them for this purpose has a license, express or implied, to do so."

Id. at 723. See also National Brake & Elec. Co. v. Christensen, 38 F.2d 721, 723 (C.A.7th Cir. 1930), cert. denied, 282 U.S. 864; Reed Roller Bit Co. v. Hughes Tool Co., 12 F.2d 207, 211 (C.A. 5th Cir. 1926); Shickle, Harrison & Howard Iron Co. v. St. Louis Car-Coupler Co., 77 F. 739, 743 (C.A.8th Cir. 1896), cert. denied, 166 U.S. 720. These cases are all authority for the proposition that

"The right of one, other than the patentee, furnishing repair parts of a patented combination, can be no greater than that of the user, and he is bound to see that no other use of such parts is made than that authorized by the user's license."

National Malleable Casting Co. v. American Steel Foundries, 182 F. 626, 641 (C.C.D.N.J.1910).

In enacting § 271(c), Congress clearly succeeded in its objective of codifying this case law. The language of the section fits perfectly Aro's activity of selling

"a component of a patented . . . combination . . . , constituting a material part of the invention, . . . especially made or especially adapted for use in an infringement of such patent, and not a staple article or commodity of commerce suitable for substantial noninfringing use."

Indeed, this is the almost unique case in which the component was

Page 377 U. S. 488

hardly suitable for any noninfringing use. [Footnote 7] On this basis, both the District Court originally, 119 U.S.P.Q. at 124, and the Court of Appeals in the instant case, 312 F.2d at 57, held that Aro was a contributory infringer within the precise letter of § 271(c). See also Aro I, 365 U.S. at 365 U. S. 341.

However, the language of § 271(c) presents a question, apparently not noticed by the parties or the courts below, concerning the element of knowledge that must be brought home to Aro before liability can be imposed. It is only sale of a component of a patented combination "knowing the same to be especially made or especially adapted for use in an infringement of such patent" that is contributory infringement under the statute. Was Aro "knowing" within the statutory meaning because -- as it admits, and as the lower courts found -- it knew that its replacement fabrics were especially designed for use in the 1952-1954 Ford convertible tops, and were not suitable for other use? Or does the statute require a further showing that Aro knew that the tops were patented, and knew also that Ford was not licensed under the patent, so that any fabric replacement by a Ford car owner constituted infringement?

On this question, a majority of the Court is of the view that § 271(c) does require a showing that the alleged contributory infringer knew that the combination for which his component was especially designed was both patented and infringing. [Footnote 8] With respect to many of the

Page 377 U. S. 489

replacement fabric sales involved in this case, Aro clearly had such knowledge. For, by letter dated January 2, 1954, AB informed Aro that it held the Mackie-Duluk patent; that it had granted a license under the patent to General Motors but to no one else; and that

"It is obvious

Page 377 U. S. 490

from the foregoing and from an inspection of the convertible automobile sold by the Ford Motor Company that anyone selling ready-made replacement fabrics for these automobiles would be guilty of contributory infringement of said patent."

Thus, the Court's interpretation of the knowledge requirement affords Aro no defense with respect to replacement fabric sales made after January 2, 1954. It would appear that the overwhelming

Page 377 U. S. 491

majority of the sales were, in fact, made after that date, since the oldest of the cars were 1952 models and since the average life of a fabric top is said to be three years. With respect to any sales that were made before that date, however, Aro cannot be held liable in the absence of a showing that, at that time, it had already acquired the requisite knowledge that the Ford car tops were patented and infringing. When the case is remanded, a finding of fact must be made on this question by the District Court, and, unless Aro is found to have had such prior knowledge, the judgment imposing liability must be vacated as to any sales made before January 2, 1954. As to subsequent sales, however, we hold, in agreement with the lower courts, that Aro is liable for contributory infringement within the terms of § 271(c).

In seeking to avoid such liability, Aro relies on the Mercoid cases. Mercoid Corp. v. Mid-Continent Investment Co., 320 U. S. 661; Mercoid Corp. v. Minneapolis-Honeywell Regulator Co., 320 U. S. 680. Since those cases involved essentially an application of the doctrine of patent misuse, which is not an issue in this case, [Footnote 9] they are not

Page 377 U. S. 492

squarely applicable to the contributory infringement question here. On the other hand, they are hardly irrelevant. The Court in Mercoid said, among other things, that the principle that "he who sells an unpatented part of a combination patent for use in the assembled machine may be guilty of contributory infringement" could no longer prevail "against the defense that a combination patent is being used to protect an unpatented part from competition." 320 U.S. at 320 U. S. 668. As the Court recognized, its definition of misuse was such as "to limit substantially the doctrine of contributory infringement" and to raise a question as to "what residuum may be left." 320 U.S. at 320 U. S. 669. See Report of the Attorney General's National Committee to Study the Antitrust Laws (1955) at 252. The answer to Aro's argument is that Congress enacted § 271 for the express purpose of reinstating the doctrine of contributory infringement as it had been developed by decisions prior to Mercoid, and of overruling any blanket invalidation of the doctrine that could be found in the Mercoid opinions. See, e.g., 35 U.S.C. §§ 271(c), (d); Hearings, supra, n 6 at 159, 161-162; and the Aro I opinions of MR. JUSTICE BLACK, 365 U.S. at 365 U. S. 348-349 and nn. 3-4; MR. JUSTICE HARLAN, id. at 365 U. S. 378, n. 6; and MR. JUSTICE BRENNAN, id. at 365 U. S. 365-367. Hence, where Aro's sale of replacement fabrics for unlicensed Ford cars falls squarely within § 271(c), and where Aro has not properly invoked the misuse doctrine as to any other conduct by CTR or AB, Mercoid cannot successfully be employed to shield Aro from liability for contributory infringement. [Footnote 10]

Thus, we hold that, subject to the reservation expressed at pp. 377 U. S. 488-491, supra, with respect to sales made before January 2, 1954, and subject to the further reservations

Page 377 U. S. 493

set forth in succeeding Parts of this opinion, Aro's sales of replacement fabrics for use in the Ford cars constituted contributory infringement under § 271(c).

II [Footnote 11] Although we thus agree with the Court of Appeals that Aro was liable for contributory infringement with respect to the Ford cars, we find merit in a defense asserted by Aro. In our view, this defense negatives Aro's liability as to some of the replacement fabrics in question, and, as to the others, reduces substantially -- quite possibly to a mere nominal sum -- the amount of recovery that CTR may be awarded. The defense is based on the agreement of July 21, 1955, between Ford and AB. See note 4 supra. This agreement affected Aro's liability differently, we think, depending upon whether the replacement fabric sales were made before or after the agreement date. We shall first discuss its effect on liability for the subsequent sales.

The agreement was made at a time when, as CTR states in its brief, "Ford had already completed its manufacture of all the cars here involved." Under it, Ford agreed to pay AB $73,000 for certain rights under the patent, which were defined by paragraph 1 of the agreement as follows:

"1. AB hereby releases Ford, its associated companies . . . [and] its and their dealers, customers and users for its and their products, of all claims that AB has or may have against it or them for infringement of said patents arising out of the manufacture, use or sale of devices disclosed therein and manufactured before December 31, 1955, other than the 'replacement top fabrics' licensed under paragraph 3. "

Page 377 U. S. 494

In paragraph 3, AB licensed Ford to make and sell "replacement top fabrics" for the Mackie-Duluk top structures, receiving in return a royalty -- separate from the $73,000 lump-sum payment -- of 5% of the net sales. And in paragraph 5, AB expressly reserved the right

"to license under . . . said Mackie-Duluk patent . . . the manufacture, use and sale of replacement top fabrics other than those supplied to, made by or sold by Ford . . . to the extent that AB is entitled to reserve such right under 35 United States Code, § 271 (1952)."

In a pretrial memorandum filed early in the lawsuit, the District Court construed the agreement in the following manner, which we think to be a correct interpretation of the parties' intention:

(1) With respect to all patented top structures manufactured before July 21, 1955, and all replacement fabrics installed before that date, it was a "release" to the parties named -- that is, Ford and its customers -- of the claims for infringement by manufacture, sale, or use of the patented combination;

(2) With respect to any new structures manufactured between July 21 and December 31, 1955 (it appears that there were no such structures), the agreement was a "future license" to Ford and its customers to make, sell, and use the patented combination, but "excepting replacements" unless these were provided by Ford under the special license granted by paragraph 3;

(3) With respect to the post-July 21 status of structures manufactured before July 21, the agreement was also a "future license" to Ford and its customers of the rights to make, sell, and use, but again, "excepting replacements" not provided by Ford; and

(4) The agreement "demonstrated an intention not to release" or license any persons other than Ford or its customers; in particular, the parties did not intend

Page 377 U. S. 495

to release or license contributory infringers like Aro in respect of replacement fabrics sold either before or after July 21.

Considering the legal effect of the agreement as so construed, the District Court went on to rule that, if the fabric replacement should be held to constitute repair, rather than reconstruction (as this Court did subsequently hold in Aro I), then:

(a) Aro would be liable for contributory infringement as to replacements made before July 21, 1955, since "I do not construe the agreement to release contributory infringers for rights of action already accrued;"

(b) however, despite the intention of the parties, Aro would not be liable as to replacements made after July 21, 1955, since,

"If replacement is legitimate repair, no average owner can 'do it yourself,' and he must be free to go to persons in the position of defendants without apprehension on their part."

The distinction between pre-agreement and post-agreement sales subsequently became irrelevant to the District Court's view of the case, when it held after trial that replacement of the fabrics constituted reconstruction, rather than repair; the Court's interlocutory judgment for CTR thus held Aro liable with respect to all the Ford cars in question. When this Court in Aro I reversed the ruling on the reconstruction-repair issue, the only reference in the opinions to the Ford cars took the view that Aro should be held liable only in respect of replacements made on those cars "before July 21, 1955," 365 U.S. at 365 U. S. 368 (concurring opinion), and thus agreed with the distinction originally drawn by the District Court. The present opinion of the Court of Appeals, however, in reinstating the Ford car portion of the interlocutory judgment for CTR without consideration of this distinction, appears to have held Aro liable in respect of replacement fabrics sold for the 1952-1954 Ford cars not only before

Page 377 U. S. 496

July 21, 1955, but also after that date and -- so long as the cars remain on the road -- up to the present and into the future.

CTR's argument in support of this result emphasizes that the agreement, in terms, ran in favor only of Ford and Ford's customers, and not of third parties like Aro, and that it expressly excepted "replacement top fabrics" from the scope of the rights it granted. Reliance is also placed on testimony that the amount to be paid by Ford under the agreement was set as low as $73,000 only because of a clear understanding between the parties that such payment would not affect AB's rights to recover from persons in the position of Aro. [Footnote 12] CTR thus argues:

"If the Ford agreement had never been made at all, it is clear that it would have been proper to require that Aro pay royalties, insofar as infringing Ford cars are concerned, even up to the present time. This being the case, it is clear that it was proper for the agreement to expressly recognize and to expressly exclude Aro's liability from its terms. Since Ford refused to purchase any rights for Aro, either before or after July 21, 1955, Aro is liable for its Ford repair activities both before and after that date."

Insofar as replacement fabrics sold "after that date" are concerned, we do not agree. We think the agreement's attempt to reserve rights in connection with future sales of replacement fabrics was invalid. By the agreement,

Page 377 U. S. 497

AB authorized the Ford car owners, in return for a payment from Ford, to use the patented top structures from and after July 21, 1955. Since they were authorized to use the structures, they were authorized to repair them so as "to preserve [their] fitness for use. . . ." Aro I, 365 U.S. at 365 U. S. 345, quoting Leeds & Catlin Co. v. Victor Talking Machine Co., 213 U. S. 325, 213 U. S. 336. The contrary provisions in the agreement, purporting to restrict the right of use and repair by prohibiting fabric replacement unless done with fabrics purchased from Ford or some other licensee, stand condemned by a long line of this Court's decisions delimiting the scope of the patent grant. When the patentee has sold the patented article or authorized its sale, and has thus granted to the purchaser an "implied license to use," it is clear that he cannot thereafter restrict that use; "so far as the use of it was concerned, the patentee had received his consideration, and it was no longer within the monopoly of the patent." Adams v. Burke, 17 Wall. 453, 84 U. S. 456. In particular, he cannot impose conditions concerning the unpatented supplies, ancillary materials, or components with which the use is to be effected. E.g., Carbice Corp. of America v. American Patents Development Corp., 283 U. S. 27; Mercoid Corp. v. Mid-Continent Investment Co., 320 U. S. 661; United States v. Loews, Inc., 371 U. S. 38, 371 U. S. 46. It follows that here, where the patentee has, by the Ford agreement, explicitly authorized the purchasers to use the articles, the patentee cannot thereafter restrict that use by imposing a condition that replacement parts may be purchased only from a licensed supplier.

With the restriction thus eliminated from consideration, it is clear that Aro cannot be liable for contributory infringement in connection with sales of replacement fabrics made after July 21, 1955. After that date, the Ford car owners had authority from the patentee -- indeed, had

Page 377 U. S. 498

a "license" [Footnote 13] -- fully to use and repair the patented structures. Hence, they did not commit direct infringement under § 271(a) when they had the fabrics replaced; hence, Aro, in selling replacement fabrics for this purpose, did not commit contributory infringement under § 271(c). The case as to the post-agreement sales is thus squarely ruled by Aro I. It was held there, despite AB's attempt to reserve the right to license sales of replacement fabrics, that General Motors car owners, who were authorized to use the patented structures by virtue of the license granted General Motors by AB, performed nothing more than "permissible repair" when they replaced the worn-out fabrics, and hence that there was no direct infringement by the owners to which Aro, by selling the replacement fabrics, could contribute. In other words, since fabric replacement was "repair," rather than "reconstruction," it was merely an aspect of the use of the patented article, and was thus beyond the patentee's power to control after the use itself had been authorized. So here, the Ford car owners were authorized to use the patented structures after July 21, 1955, by virtue of the agreement between AB and Ford. Hence, they were likewise entitled, despite AB's attempt to reserve this right, to perform the "permissible repair" of replacing the worn-out fabrics; hence, just as in Aro I, the car owners, by replacing the fabrics, committed no direct infringement to which Aro's sales could contribute.

"[I]f the purchaser and user could not be amerced as an infringer certainly one

Page 377 U. S. 499

who sold to him . . . cannot be amerced for contributing to a nonexistent infringement."

Aro I, 365 U.S. at 365 U. S. 341.

CTR would have it that this result is inconsistent with Birdsell v. Shaliol, 112 U. S. 485, and Union Tool Co. v. Wilson, 259 U. S. 107. In our view, it is not. Birdsell allowed the patentee to hold one infringer liable for use of the patented machines after obtaining a judgment against another infringer for the manufacture and sale of the same machines; Union Tool held infringement to exist where the defendant, after being held liable for the manufacture and sale of certain infringing machines, sold spare parts for use in the same machines. Both cases turned upon the fact that the patentee had not collected on the prior judgment, and thus had not received any compensation for the infringing use -- or, indeed, any compensation at all. [Footnote 14] Here, in contrast, the amount paid by Ford under the agreement was expressly stated to include compensation for the use of the patented structures by Ford's purchasers; moreover, the agreement covered future use, and, in this respect, operated precisely like a license, with the result that, after the agreement date, there was simply no infringing use for which the patentee was entitled to compensation. See Birdsell v. Shaliol, supra, at 112 U. S. 487. In sum, AB obtained its reward for the use of the patented structures under the terms of the agreement with Ford; CTR cannot obtain from Aro here another reward for the same use.

Page 377 U. S. 500

We therefore hold, in agreement with the District Court's original view, that Aro is not liable for replacement fabric sales [Footnote 15] made after July 21, 1955. Insofar as the judgment of the Court of Appeals imposes liability for such sales, it is reversed. [Footnote 16]

III [Footnote 17] Turning to the question of replacement fabric sales made before July 21, 1955, we agree with the District Court that the agreement between AB and Ford did not negative Aro's liability for these sales. With respect to the post-agreement sales, the agreement necessarily absolved Aro of liability, its intention to the contrary notwithstanding, because it had the effect of precluding any direct infringement to which Aro could contribute. With respect to the pre-agreement sales, however, Aro's contributory infringement had already taken place at the time of the agreement. Whatever the agreement's effect on the amount recoverable from Aro -- a matter to be discussed in 377 U. S. in the teeth of its contrary language and intention, to have erased the extant infringement.

It is true that a contributory infringer is a species of joint tortfeasor, who is held liable because he has contributed with another to the causing of a single harm to the plaintiff. See Wallace v. Holmes, 29 Fed.Cas. 74, 80 (No. 17,100) (C.C.D.Conn.1871); Thomson-Houston Elec. Co. v. Ohio Brass Co., supra, 80 F. at 721; Rich,

Page 377 U. S. 501

21 Geo.Wash.L.Rev. 521, 525 (1953). It is also true that, under the old common law rule, a release given to one joint tortfeasor necessarily released another, even though it expressly stated that it would have no such effect. See Prosser, Torts (2d ed. 1955) at 243-244. Under this rule, Aro's argument on this point would prevail, since the agreement did release Ford's purchasers for their infringing use of the top structures before the agreement date, and that was the use to which Aro contributed. See Schiff v. Hammond Clock Co., 69 F.2d 742, 746 (C.A.7th Cir.1934), reversed for dismissal as moot, 293 U.S. 529. But the rule is not applicable. Even in the area of nonpatent torts, it has been repudiated by statute or decision in many if not most States, see Prosser, supra, at 245, and by the overwhelming weight of scholarly authority. E.g., American Law Institute, Restatement of Torts (1939), § 885(1) and Comments b-d. And application of the rule to contributory infringement has been rejected by this Court. In Birdsell v. Shaliol, supra, at 112 U. S. 489, the Court applied to a patent case the proposition that,

"By our law, judgment against one joint trespasser, without full satisfaction, is no bar to a suit against another for the same trespass."

What is true of a judgment is true of a release. See Prosser, supra, at 241-244. A release given a direct infringer in respect of past infringement, which clearly intends to save the releasor's rights against a past contributory infringer, does not automatically surrender those rights. Thus, the District Court was correct in denying that "defendants are entitled to the fortuitous benefit of the old joint tortfeasor rule." The mere fact that the agreement released Ford and Ford's customers for their past infringement does not negate Aro's liability for its past infringement. Hence, the judgment of the Court of Appeals, insofar as it relates to Ford car replacement fabric sales made by Aro before July 21, 1955 -- and subject to

Page 377 U. S. 502

the reservation set forth at pp. 377 U. S. 488-491, supra, with respect to sales made before January 2, 1954 -- is affirmed; accordingly, the case is remanded to the District Court for a determination of damages and for such other proceedings as that court deems appropriate.

IV [Footnote 18] The case must now be remanded for a determination of the damages to be recovered from Aro in respect of the infringing pre-agreement sales. It is true that the lower courts have not yet expressly addressed themselves to the damages issue, and that the parties have not argued it here. Nevertheless, it appears that all concerned in this litigation have shared a specific assumption as to the measure of damages that would be available to CTR if it succeeded in establishing infringement. Because we sharply disagree with that assumption, and because expression of our views may obviate the need upon remand for lengthy proceedings before a master in this already over-long litigation, we deem it in the interest of efficient judicial administration to express those views at this time. In brief, it is or opinion that the Ford agreement, while it does not negate Aro's liability for the prior sales as it does for the subsequent ones, does have the effect of limiting the amount that CTR can recover for the pre-agreement infringement, and probably of precluding recovery of anything more than nominal damages.

If the sum paid by Ford for the release of it and its customers constituted full satisfaction to AB for the infringing use of the patented structures, we think it clear that CTR cannot now collect further payment from Aro

Page 377 U. S. 503

for contributing to the same infringing use. The rule is that

"Payments made by one tortfeasor on account of a harm for which he and another are each liable, diminish the amount of the claim against the other whether or not it was so agreed at the time of payment and whether the payment was made before or after judgment. . . ."

Restatement of Torts, supra, § 885(3). It has been said that "all courts are agreed" upon such a rule. Prosser, supra, at 246. And its applicability to contributory infringement cases has been clearly indicated by this Court. Birdsell v. Shaliol, supra, at 112 U. S. 488-489; see Hazeltine Corp. v. Atwater Kent Mfg. Co., 34 F.2d 50, 52 (D.C.E.D.Pa.1929). Indeed, if "actual damages" or "full compensation" paid by a maker and seller can have the effect of releasing a user, as was indicated in Birdsell, such a result should follow a fortiori where, as here, the damages paid were expressly stated to be compensation for use of the device, and the person subsequently sued is a contributory infringer liable merely for contributing to the same infringing use. In such a case, full payment by or on behalf of the direct infringer leaves nothing to be collected from the contributory infringer. We therefore find it necessary to consider whether the payment by Ford to AB constituted full payment for the infringing use committed directly by Ford's purchasers and contributorily by Aro.

This depends upon the measure and total amount of recovery to which CTR and AB are entitled. In particular, if they are entitled to recover a royalty from Aro on the infringing sales of replacement fabrics, it is clear that no such recovery was included in the payment from Ford, whose representatives

"weren't interested in buying any sort of a release or license or anything else that

Page 377 U. S. 504

would help out these replacement top people."

See note 12 supra. CTR does contend, and all involved in this litigation have apparently assumed, that a judgment holding Aro liable for contributory infringement will result in recovery of such a royalty on Aro's sales. [Footnote 19] This is the assumption with which we disagree. It is our view that, despite our affirmance of the judgment against Aro as to sales made before the agreement date, no such royalty will be available to CTR as part of its recovery. We are, indeed, doubtful that CTR can properly be allowed recovery of anything more than nominal damages from Aro.

The measure of recovery for patent infringement is governed by 35 U.S.C. § 284, which provides:

"Upon finding for the claimant, the court shall award the claimant damages adequate to compensate for the infringement, but in no event less than a reasonable royalty for the use made of the invention by the infringer, together with interest and costs as fixed by the court."

"When the damages are not found by a jury, the court shall assess them. In either event, the court may increase the damages up to three times the amount found or assessed."

It is presumably the language "in no event less than a reasonable royalty" that has led to the assumption noted

Page 377 U. S. 505

above. But that assumption ignores the fact -- clear from the language, the legislative history, and the prior law -- that the statute allows the award of a reasonable royalty, or of any other recovery, only if such amount constitutes "damages" for the infringement. It also ignores the important distinction between "damages" and "profits," and the relevance of this distinction to the 1946 amendment of the statute.

"In patent nomenclature, what the infringer makes is 'profits,' what the owner of the patent loses by such infringement is 'damages.'"

Duplate Corp. v. Triplex Safety Glass Co., 298 U. S. 448, 298 U. S. 451. Profits and damages have traditionally been all-inclusive as the two basic elements of recovery. Prior to 1946, the statutory precursor of the present § 284 allowed recovery of both amounts, reading as follows:

"[U]pon a decree being rendered in any such case for an infringement, the complainant shall be entitled to recover, in addition to the profits to be accounted for by the defendant, the damages the complainant has sustained thereby. . . ."

R.S. § 4921, as amended, 42 Stat. 392. By the 1946 amendment, Act of August 1, 1946, c. 726, § 1, 60 Stat. 778, 35 U.S.C. (1946 ed.), §§ 67, 70, the statute was changed to approximately its present form, whereby only "damages" are recoverable. [Footnote 20] The purpose of the change was precisely to eliminate the recovery of profits as such, and allow recovery of damages only.

"The object of the bill is to make the basis of recovery in patent infringement suits general damages, that is, any damages the complainant can

Page 377 U. S. 506

prove, not less than a reasonable royalty, together with interest from the time infringement occurred, rather than profits and damages."

H.R.Rep.No.1587, 79th Cong., 2d Sess. (1946), to accompany H.R. 5311 at 1-2; S.Rep.No.1503, 79th Cong., 2d Sess. (1946), to accompany H.R. 5311 at 2. [Footnote 21] There can be no doubt that the amendment succeeded in effectuating this purpose; it is clear that, under the present statute, only damages are recoverable. See, e.g., Ric-Wil Co. v. E. B. Kaiser Co., 179 F.2d 401, 407 (C.A. 7th Cir. 1950), cert. denied, 339 U.S. 958; Livesay Window Co. v. Livesay Industries, Inc., 251 F.2d 469, 471-472 (C.A. 5th Cir. 1958); Laskowitz v. Marie Designer, Inc., 119 F. Supp. 541, 554-555 (D.C.S.D.Cal.1954); Cullen, 28 J.Pat.Off.Soc. 838 (1946); Wolff, 28 J.Pat.Off.Soc. 877 (1946).

The 1946 amendment is of crucial significance to the total amount of CTR's recovery against Aro, and hence to the amount, if any, that may still be recovered after receipt of the payment from Ford. When recovery of the infringer's profits, as such, was allowed, the rule was that "complainant's damages are no criterion of defendant's profits;" it was "immaterial that the profits made by the defendant would not have been made by the plaintiff." 3 Walker, Patents (Deller ed. 1937), § 845 at 2186. And, in cases of joint infringement, this Court was said to have declared the doctrine that, whereas,

"when the total damage sustained has been paid by one tortfeasor, the damages cannot be duplicated through a recovery against another,"

nevertheless,

"every infringer of a patent right may be made to give up whatever profits he has derived from the infringement, and . . . one infringer

Page 377 U. S. 507

is not relieved by payment by another infringer, but each is accountable for the profits which he has received."

Hazeltine Corp. v. Atwater Kent Mfg. Co., supra, 34 F.2d 50, 52. Under such a rule, CTR might well argue that the payment received from Ford could have no effect in preventing it from recovering the profits made by Aro -- which might even exceed the amount of a royalty on Aro's sales.

But the present statutory rule is that only "damages" may be recovered. These have been defined by this Court as

"compensation for the pecuniary loss he [the patentee] has suffered from the infringement, without regard to the question whether the defendant has gained or lost by his unlawful acts."

Coupe v. Royer, 155 U. S. 565, 155 U. S. 582. They have been said to constitute

"the difference between his pecuniary condition after the infringement, and what his condition would have been if the infringement had not occurred."

Yale Lock Mfg. Co. v. Sargent, 117 U. S. 536, 117 U. S. 552. The question to be asked in determining damages is

"how much had the Patent Holder and Licensee suffered by the infringement. And that question [is] primarily: had the Infringer not infringed, what would Patent Holder-Licensee have made?"

Livesay Window Co. v. Livesay Industries, Inc., supra, 251 F.2d at 471.

Thus, to determine the damages that may be recovered from Aro here, we must ask how much CTR suffered by Aro's infringement -- how much it would have made if Aro had not infringed. Asking that question, we may assume first that the agreement of July 21, 1955, did not exist, and that AB had not collected a cent from Ford. Even on that assumption, we would find it difficult to see why CTR's damages should be measured by a royalty on Aro's sales. CTR and AB were not deprived of such a royalty by Aro's infringement, for they could not have licensed Aro's sales in any event; they

Page 377 U. S. 508

were denied the right to do so in Aro I, and would still be denied it even if they had received no royalties on the patented combinations themselves. For the right could not be granted without allowing the patentee to "derive its profit, not from the invention on which the law gives it a monopoly, but from the unpatented supplies with which it is used. . . ." Motion Picture Patents Co. v. Universal Film Mfg. Co., 243 U. S. 502, 243 U. S. 517; Mercoid Corp. v. Mid-Continent Investment Co., supra, at 320 U. S. 666-667. It would be absurd to say that what CTR could not recover from Aro in Aro I after it had licensed General Motors it could recover here if it had stood by and let Ford infringe -- as it apparently did, see p. 377 U. S. 511, infra -- and had then brought suit against Aro before settling with Ford. The rules prohibiting extension of the patent monopoly to unpatented elements are not so readily circumvented. This does not mean, of course, that CTR would have no remedy for Aro's contributory infringement. It could, in a proper case, obtain an injunction; it could recover such damages as had actually been suffered from the contributory infringement by virtue of the prolongation of the use of the infringing automobiles; it could, in a case of willful or bad-faith infringement, recover punitive or "increased" damages under the statute's trebling provision; and it could perhaps -- we express no view on the question -- recover from Aro a royalty on Ford's sales of the patented top structures even though such damages were primarily caused not by Aro's infringement, but by Ford's, in a case where they could not be recovered from Ford or Ford's customers. It is difficult to conceive of any instance, however, in which actual damages could properly be based on a royalty on sales of an unpatented article used merely to repair the patented structure.

If CTR thus could not collect a royalty on Aro's sales in the absence of any payment from Ford, it surely cannot

Page 377 U. S. 509

do so here after AB, in return for $73,000, has released Ford and Ford's customers from liability for the direct infringement to which Aro contributed. Are there, indeed, any actual damages that CTR can recover from Aro after receiving $73,000 from Ford? The answer depends on whether CTR and AB suffered any loss by Aro's infringement -- which depends, in turn, on how much they would have made if Aro had not infringed. But, in view of the merely contributory nature of Aro's infringement, this leads, in turn, to the question how much CTR and AB would have made if Ford had not infringed, for, in that event -- as was held in Aro I with respect to the General Motors cars, and as we have held in 377 U. S. supra, with respect to the post-agreement Ford car sales -- Aro could not have contributorily infringed. If Ford had not infringed, AB would have made a royalty on Ford's sales of the patented top structures -- as it made such a royalty under its license to General Motors in Aro I. The amount that would thus have been received must be compared, however, with the amount that AB in fact received from Ford. We shall assume for the present -- although CTR will have an opportunity to disprove the assumption upon remand -- that the amount received by AB under the agreement was the same amount it would have received had it licensed Ford in the first place to produce the same number of convertible tops. [Footnote 22] On this assumption, AB is just as well off now as it would have been if Ford had never infringed the patent. And since, if Ford

Page 377 U. S. 510

had not infringed, Aro could not have contributorily infringed, it follows that what CTR and AB would have made if Aro had not infringed was precisely what they did make by virtue of the Ford agreement. Their pecuniary position was not rendered one cent worse by the total infringement to which Aro contributed, and hence they are not entitled -- on the assumption stated above as to the payment by Ford -- to anything more than nominal damages from Aro.

To allow recovery of a royalty on Aro's sales after receipt of the equivalent of a royalty on Ford's sales, or to allow any recovery from Aro after receipt of full satisfaction from Ford, would not only disregard the statutory provision for recovery of "damages" only, but would be at war with virtually every policy consideration in this area of the law. It would enable the patentee to derive a profit not merely on unpatented, rather than patented, goods -- an achievement proscribed by the Motion Picture Patents and Mercoid cases, supra -- but on unpatented and patented goods. In thus doubling the number of rewards to which a patentee is entitled "under our patent law as written," see MR. JUSTICE BLACK concurring in Aro I, 365 U.S. at 365 U. S. 360, it would seriously restrict the purchaser's long established right to use and repair an article which he has legally purchased, and for the use of which the patentee has been compensated. See Adams v. Burke, 17 Wall. 453. The patentee could achieve this result, moreover, by the simple tactic of not licensing or suing the manufacturer in the first place, but rather standing by while the direct infringement occurs, thus allowing contributory infringements to spring up around him, with the result of bringing within the reach of his monopoly unpatented items that would never have been there if the manufacturer had been licensed from the start. And little is sacrificed, for it is almost always possible to sue or settle with the manufacturer at a later date. This,

Page 377 U. S. 511

in fact, seems to have been the strategy that AB employed here. It first sent Ford a notice of infringement -- according to the deposition testimony of AB's own counsel -- in late 1953, "a day or so after we got the patent." Yet it did nothing to stop Ford's infringement, and did not settle with Ford until 18 months later, by which time all the automobiles in question had been manufactured. In view of the apparently deliberate delay and of the unquestionably solvent status of the infringer, it indeed seems unlikely that the amount paid for the release was less than would have been paid under a license. In any event, the notion is intolerable that, by such delay, CTR and AB could entitle themselves to collect from Aro what they could not have collected had Ford been licensed from the start as General Motors was.

To achieve such a result through use of the contributory infringement doctrine would be especially ironic in view of the purpose of that doctrine as set forth in case law and commentary and as presented to the Congress in urging passage of § 271(c). That purpose is essentially, as was stated in the earlier versions of the bill that became § 271(c), "to provide for the protection of patent rights where enforcement against direct infringers is impracticable," H.R. 5988, 80th Cong., 2d Sess.; H.R. 3866, 81st Cong., 1st Sess. At the hearings on § 271(c) itself, Mr. Rich, see n 6, supra, explained to the subcommittee that "There may be twenty or thirty percent of all the patents that are granted that cannot practically be enforced against direct infringer. . . ." Hearings, supra, n 6 at 160. [Footnote 23] Such a purpose might have been applicable here if CTR and AB had been unable to enforce

Page 377 U. S. 512

the patent against Ford (a rather unlikely event), since it would indeed have been impractical to sue every one of the car owners. But where the patentee has, in fact, enforced the patent against so solvent and accessible a direct infringer as Ford, it is difficult to see why it should then be allowed to invoke the contributory infringement doctrine -- designed for cases "where enforcement against direct infringers is impracticable" -- so as to enforce the patent a second time and obtain a reward that it could not extract from a direct infringer alone. Whatever the result might have been under the old "damages and profits" provision, no such perversion of the congressional purpose is possible within the rule allowing recovery of "damages" only.

Hence, we think that, after a patentee has collected from or on behalf of a direct infringer damages sufficient to put him in the position he would have occupied had there been no infringement, he cannot thereafter collect actual damages from a person liable only for contributing to the same infringement. This principle is but an application of the rule that full satisfaction received from one tortfeasor prevents further recovery against another. It is consistent with the Court's opinion in Birdsell v. Shaliol, supra, at 112 U. S. 488-489. See also George Haiss Mfg. Co. v. Link-Belt Co., 63 F.2d 479, 481 (C.A.3d Cir. 1932); Buerk v. Imhaeuser, note 14 supra, 4 Fed.Cas. 597. And it is squarely in accord with a recent decision of the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Farrand Optical Co., Inc. v. United States, 325 F.2d 328, 335 (C.A.2d Cir. 1963). Nor is there any authority, even in lower courts, directly to the contrary. Of the many cases cited by CTR for the correct proposition that use or repair of an infringing structure constitutes infringement, relatively few deal at all with the question of amount of recovery. Some of these, it is true, do allow recovery on sales of infringing machines and a further

Page 377 U. S. 513

recovery on sales of spare parts for those machines. But they are all distinguishable; either the parts themselves were patented, [Footnote 24] or the infringing parts supplier had sold the machines as well, and thus had arguably taken the sales of both machines and parts away from the patentee, [Footnote 25] or the overlapping recovery allowed from the direct and contributory infringers was one of profits, rather than damages. [Footnote 26]

In the Farrand case, supra, the payment by the direct infringer was made under judicial decree, and there could thus be no question but that it represented full compensation for the infringing use. Where a private release of past infringement which does not purport to release others is involved, the adequacy of the compensation must always be a question of fact. Hence, here, while it seems unlikely that Ford's payment under the agreement was any less than would have been paid under a license -- that is, anything less than full satisfaction to AB for the infringing use committed directly by Ford's purchasers and contributorily by Aro -- we think the case must nevertheless be remanded for findings on the question. We would also allow the lower courts to consider whether Aro's conduct has been such as to warrant an award of punitive or increased damages, although we think that very unlikely.

V The result is that the judgment of the Court of Appeals is reversed insofar as it holds Aro liable for contributory infringement with respect to replacement fabric sales

Page 377 U. S. 514

made after July 21, 1955. The judgment is affirmed insofar as it holds Aro liable with respect to sales made before that date, but subject to the reservation based on the knowledge requirement with respect to sales made before January 2, 1954. The case is remanded to the District Court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

It is so ordered.

[Footnote 1]

The "repair versus reconstruction" issue had been the only issue expressly considered or decided by the Court of Appeals on review of the District Court's original interlocutory judgment, see 270 F.2d at 202, and was thus the focal point of the briefs and arguments here in Aro I. See, e.g., Brief for the United States as Amicus Curiae at 2-3 and n. 1; but see Brief for the Respondent at 73-76. That the Court considered no other issue, and thus dealt only with the General Motors, and not with the Ford, cars, is evident from its statement of the "determinative question" as being that of repair versus reconstruction, 365 U.S. at 365 U. S. 342; from its failure to consider the body of authority holding that even repair of an infringing article constitutes infringement; and from, among other such statements in its opinion, see id. at 365 U. S. 344, 365 U. S. 346, its reliance on the proposition that "a license to use a patented combination includes the right" to repair it, id. at 365 U. S. 345 -- a proposition that, of course, was not applicable to the Ford cars, whose owners had purchased the patented structures from an unlicensed manufacturer, and thus had no "license to use" them. The three other opinions in Aro I were likewise directed entirely to the issue of repair versus reconstruction, and gave no attention to the different considerations that would come into play in the absence of a license from the patentee to the automobile manufacturer. The concurring opinion of MR. JUSTICE BLACK, for example, relied on the proposition that "One royalty to one patentee for one sale is enough under our patent law as written," 365 U.S. at 365 U. S. 360, which would seem inapplicable to the situation presented by the Ford cars, where the patentee had not received any royalty on the sale of the patented structures. See also id. at 365 U. S. 354, 365 U. S. 356, n. 9; and see the dissenting opinion of MR. JUSTICE HARLAN, 365 U.S. at 365 U. S. 369 365 U. S. 373. The concurring opinion of MR. JUSTICE BRENNAN did refer to the presence in the case of the unlicensed Ford cars; it stated, 365 U.S. at 365 U. S. 368, that

"the judgment of the Court of Appeals must be reversed, except, however, as to the relief granted respondent [CTR] in respect of the replacements made on Ford cars. . . ."

That the author of that opinion did not understand the Court as having ruled differently on the Ford car question, or as having ruled on it at all, is shown by the fact that he concurred generally in the result, rather than concurring in part and dissenting in part. The Court said nothing to indicate disagreement with this interpretation of its opinion and decision.

[Footnote 2]

We also granted Aro's motion for leave to use the record that was before us in Aro I, 372 U.S. 958.

CTR has made a Motion to Settle the Record, asking us to declare that certain items designated for printing by Aro do not comprise a portion of the record before this Court. We postponed further consideration of the motion until the hearing of the case on the merits. 375 U.S. 804. The items in question, which were not included in the record in Aro I, consists of certain requests for admissions and answers thereto, and of materials involved in an accounting proceeding begun after the original affirmance by the Court of Appeals but subsequently stayed and never completed. A motion to strike the same materials from the record was made by CTR in the course of the second appeal to the Court of Appeals, and was denied by that court "without prejudice to renewal in its brief at the oral argument, or upon taxation of costs." CTR did not renew the motion upon brief or oral argument in the Court of Appeals, but says that it still intends to do so upon taxation of costs if costs should ever be taxed against it by the Court of Appeals. Because of these events in the Court of Appeals, the motion in this Court is also denied, without prejudice to its renewal upon taxation of costs in the Court of Appeals.

[Footnote 3]

This Part of the opinion -- with the exception of the point discussed at p. 377 U. S. 488 and note 8 infra -- expresses the views of JUSTICES HARLAN, BRENNAN, STEWART, WHITE, and GOLDBERG.

[Footnote 4]

The case will be considered in this Part of the opinion without reference to the agreement made on July 21, 1955, between Ford and AB, and thus on the assumption that Ford never obtained any authority under the patent. The effect of that agreement will be considered in succeeding Parts of the opinion.

[Footnote 5]

We have no need to consider whether the car owners, if sued for infringement by the patentee, would be entitled to indemnity from Ford on a breach of warranty theory. In fact, they were not sued, and were released from liability by the agreement between Ford and AB. See infra at 377 U. S. 493-495.

[Footnote 6]

The section was designed to "codify in statutory form principles of contributory infringement" which had been "part of our law for about 80 years." H.R.Rep. No. 1923 on H.R. 7794, 82d Cong., 2d Sess. at 9; see also Congressman Rogers' statement, Hearings before Subcommittee No. 3 of House Judiciary Committee on H.R. 3760, 82d Cong., 1st Sess. at 159:

"Then, in effect, this recodification, particularly as to section 231 (which became § 271 in the Patent Code of 1952), would point out to the court at least that it was the sense of Congress that we remove this question of confusion as to whether contributory infringement existed at all, and state in positive law that there is such a thing as contributory infringement, or at least it be the sense of Congress, by the enactment of this law, that if you have in the Mercoid case ( 320 U. S. 320 U.S. 661) done away with contributory infringement, then we reinstate it as a matter of substantive law of the United States, and that you shall hereafter, in a proper case, recognize or hold liable one who has contributed to the infringement of a patent."

"That is the substantive law that we would write if we adopted this section 231 as it now exists. Is that not about right?"

Mr. Giles S. Rich, now judge of the Court of Customs and Patent Appeals, then spokesman for proponents of § 271(c), answered that the statement of the bill's purpose was "very excellent." Ibid. See also 98 Cong.Rec. 9323, 82d Cong., 2d Sess., July 4, 1952 (colloquy of Senators Saltonstall and McCarran).

[Footnote 7]

Aro's factory manager admitted that the fabric replacements in question not only were specially designed for the Ford convertibles, but would not, to his knowledge, fit the top structures of any other cars.

[Footnote 8]

This view is held by THE CHIEF JUSTICE and JUSTICES BLACK, DOUGLAS, CLARK and WHITE. See the opinion of MR. JUSTICE BLACK, post, pp. 377 U. S. 524-528, and of MR. JUSTICE WHITE, post, p. 377 U. S. 514.

JUSTICES HARLAN, BRENNAN, STEWART and GOLDBERG dissent from this interpretation of the statute. They are of the view that the knowledge Congress meant to require was simply knowledge that the component was especially designed for use in a combination, and was not a staple article suitable for substantial other use, and not knowledge that the combination was either patented or infringing. Their reasons may be summarized as follows:

(1) No other result would have been consistent with the congressional intention to codify the case law of contributory infringement as it existed prior to this Court's decision in Mercoid Corp. v. Mid-Continent Investment Co., 320 U. S. 661 -- and to do this not only in general, see note 6 supra, and p. 377 U. S. 492, infra, but with specific reference to the knowledge requirement. See Hearings, supra, note 6 at 159-160 163-165. Under that case law, liability was established by a showing that the component was suitable for no substantial use other than in the patented combination, since it was

"the duty of the defendant to see to it that such combinations which it is intentionally inducing and promoting shall be confined to those which may be lawfully organized."

Thomson-Houston Elec. Co. v. Ohio Brass Co., supra, 80 F. at 720-723. Accord, Mercoid Corp. v. Mid-Continent Investment Co., supra, at 320 U. S. 664; 3 Walker, Patents (Deller ed. 1937) at 1764-1765, and cases cited. See Freedman v. Friedman, 242 F.2d 364 (C.A.4th Cir. 1957).

(2) The House Committee's change in the language of the bill concerning the knowledge requirement, see the opinion of MR. JUSTICE BLACK, post, pp. 377 U. S. 524-528, was not intended to limit liability to cases where the alleged contributory infringer had knowledge of the patented or infringing nature of the combination; it was intended merely to assure that the statute would be construed to require knowledge that the article sold was a component of some combination and was especially designed for use therein, rather than simply knowledge that the article was being sold. See, e.g., the statement of Congressman Crumpacker, Hearings, supra, at 175, objecting to the original language on the ground that "the way it is phrased the word knowingly' refers directly to the word `sells.'" See also id. at 175-176. While the representatives of a manufacturing concern and of the Justice Department did urge the Committee to adopt the position which the Court now holds it did adopt, none of the Congressmen said anything to indicate agreement with these views or disagreement with the contrary view expressed by the spokesman for the sponsors of the bill. This view, as clearly stated on several occasions at the Hearings, was that

"[Y]ou know that the component is going into that machine. You don't have to know that it is patented. You don't have to know the number of the patent, and you don't have to know that the machine that it is going into constitutes an infringement."

Id. at 175; see also id. at 160, 176.

(3) The suggestion that a person cannot be liable even for direct infringement when he has no knowledge of the patent or the infringement is clearly refuted by the words of § 271(a), which provides that "whoever without authority makes, uses or sells any patented invention . . . infringes the patent," with no mention of any knowledge requirement. And the case law codified by § 271 has long recognized the fundamental proposition that,

"To constitute an infringement of a patent, it is not necessary that the infringer should have known of the existence of the patent at the time he infringed it or, knowing of its existence, it is not necessary that he should have known his doings to constitute an infringement."

3 Walker, Patents (Deller ed. 1937), § 453. See, e.g., United States v. Berdan Fire-arms Mfg. Co., 156 U. S. 552, 156 U. S. 566; Sontag Chain Stores Co. v. National Nut Co., 310 U. S. 281, 310 U. S. 295; Boyden v. Burke, 14 How. 575, 55 U. S. 582.

(4) Section 284 of 35 U.S.C., quoted in the opinion of MR. JUSTICE BLACK, post, p. 377 U. S. 528, n. 14, does not require a different conclusion. That section prevents a patentee from recovering damages for infringement unless he has marked the patented article with notice of the patent. Since a patentee may hardly be expected to make the article when it has not been manufactured or sold by him, but rather by an infringer, the section has been held not to apply to such a situation. Wine Ry. Appliance Co. v. Enterprise Ry. Equip. Co., 297 U. S. 387. That, of course, is the situation here with respect to the Ford cars.

[Footnote 9]

Aro does contend here that recovery by CTR is precluded by misuse of the patent, and also that such misuse entitles Aro to an award of treble damages for violation of the antitrust laws. Although the point was arguably raised by Aro's original answer and counterclaim, and was decided against Aro in the original opinion of the District Court, 119 U.S.P.Q. at 122, n. 1, it was substantially abandoned on the first appeal, and hence was not ruled on in the first opinion of the Court of Appeals. Accordingly, this Court's opinion in Aro I stated that patent misuse "is not an issue in this case." 365 U.S. at 365 U. S. 344, n. 10; see also the dissenting opinion of MR. JUSTICE HARLAN, 365 U.S. at 365 U. S. 376-377 and n. 5. On remand, after the District Court had dismissed without prejudice the counterclaim alleging misuse, the Court of Appeals held that neither the defense based on misuse nor the counterclaim was in the case, the defense having been "clearly abandoned" and the counterclaim never having been adequately pleaded. 312 F.2d at 58. We do not find error in this ruling, and thus have no occasion to consider Aro's allegations of patent misuse.

[Footnote 10]

We have no doubt that § 271(c), as so construed and applied, within the limitations set forth in the succeeding portions of this opinion, is constitutional.

[Footnote 11]

This Part of the opinion expresses the views of JUSTICE BRENNAN, STEWART, WHITE, and GOLDBERG. MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurs in the result.

[Footnote 12]

Counsel for AB testified on deposition as follows:

"I . . . definitely told them that there were these other replacement top manufacturers, and that, if we were left in a position to collect royalty from them, that obviously we could give Ford a lower rate, and that is what Ford said they wanted, that they weren't interested in buying any sort of a release or license or anything else that would help out these replacement top people. . . ."

[Footnote 13]

The District Court termed the agreement a "future license" in this respect, and AB's counsel on more than one occasion referred to it as a "release or license." It is difficult to see why it should not be considered a license insofar as it related to future activity, see De Forest Radio Tel. & Tel. Co. v. United States, 273 U. S. 236, 273 U. S. 241, although, of course, its proper label is less important than its clear effect of authorizing Ford's purchasers to make full use of the patented structures.

[Footnote 14]

In Birdsell, the Court relied on the fact that only nominal damages had been awarded in the prior suit. 112 U.S. at 112 U. S. 489. In Union Tool, the Court's statement that the patentee had not "received any compensation whatever for the infringement by use of these machines," 259 U.S. at 259 U. S. 113, was apparently based on the fact that the damages and profits awarded by the prior judgment had not yet been calculated or paid. See Brief for Respondent at 37, and the opinion of the Court of Appeals, 265 F. 669, 673 (C.A. 9th Cir. 1920). Compare Buerk v. Imhaeuser, 4 Fed.Cas. 597 (No. 2,108) (C.C.S.D.N.Y.1876), 4 Fed.Cas. 594 (No. 2,107) (C.C.S.D.N.Y.1876).

[Footnote 15]

The date of the sale by Aro, rather than the date of the installation in the car by the purchaser from Aro, should control, since it is the act of sale that is made contributory infringement by § 271(c).

[Footnote 16]

Since Aro's infringement thus terminated in 1955, it would seem that the perpetual injunction included in the interlocutory judgment would no longer be a proper element of relief.

[Footnote 17]

This Part of the opinion, like Part I, expresses the views of JUSTICES HARLAN, BRENNAN, STEWART, WHITE and GOLDBERG.

[Footnote 18]

This Part of the opinion expresses the views of JUSTICE BRENNAN, STEWART, WHITE, and GOLDBERG. MR. JUSTICE HARLAN considers that the matters here dealt with are not ripe for decision and should be left for determination in the future course of this litigation.

[Footnote 19]

AB's counsel asserted on deposition: "I believe we would have the right to arrive at royalty and otherwise consider as patented the replacement top. . . ." When asked by the District Court at a hearing concerning a judgment bond how much he expected to recover, CTR's counsel replied: "I suppose a reasonable royalty would be 5 per cent." Considerable evidence was introduced before the Master as to Aro's income from infringing sales and as to royalty rates fixed in licenses granted by CTR or AB to other replacement fabric suppliers. See also the statement of AB's counsel quoted in note 12 supra, and the statement in CTR's brief quoted supra at 377 U. S. 496.

[Footnote 20]

In the 1952 codification, §§ 67 and 70 of the 1946 Code were consolidated in the present § 284. The stated purpose was merely "reorganization in language to clarify the statement of the statutes." H.R.Rep. No. 1923, 82d Cong., 2d Sess. at 10, 29.

[Footnote 21]

See also Hearing before the House Committee on Patents, 79th Cong., 2d Sess., on H.R. 5231 (subsequently amended, reintroduced, and reported as H.R. 5311), Jan. 29, 1946, e.g., pp. 2-3.

[Footnote 22]

No answer was given by AB's counsel to the question how the $73,000 figure had been arrived at, except to say that it would have been larger if it had been intended to release contributory infringers as well. But the fact that paragraph 3 of the agreement provides for a 5% royalty on replacement tops, as the General Motors license agreement also apparently did, suggests that the effective royalty received from Ford for the right to make and sell the patented top structures was the same as that received from General Motors.

[Footnote 23]

See also Thomson-Houston Elec. Co. v. Ohio Brass Co., supra, 80 F. 712, 721; Rep.Atty.Gen.Nat.Comm. to Study the Antitrust laws, supra, at 252; Rich, 21 Geo.Wash.L.Rev. 521, 542 (1953); Eastman, 48 Mich.L.Rev. 183, 187 (1949); Note, 66 Yale L.J. 132 (1956).

[Footnote 24]

Reed Roller Bit Co. v. Hughes Tool Co., 12 F.2d 207, 209, 210 (C.A.5th Cir. 1926).

[Footnote 25]

National Brake & Elec. Co. v. Christensen, 38 F.2d 721 (C.A.7th Cir. 1930); Graham v. Mason, 10 Fed.Cas. 930 (No. 5,672) (C.C.D.Mass.1872).

[Footnote 26]

E.g., Conmar Products Corp. v. Tibony, 63 F. Supp. 372, 374 (D.C.E.D.N.Y.1945).

MR. JUSTICE WHITE, concurring.

I agree with my Brother BLACK that the plain language and legislative history of § 271(c) require the alleged contributory infringer to have knowledge of the infringing nature of the combination to which he is contributing a part. Otherwise, I share MR. JUSTICE BRENNAN's view of this case.

Section 271(a) imposes no comparable requirement of knowledge in the case of the direct infringer who makes or uses the patented combination, and § 287 does not say that one who makes or uses without knowledge is not infringing. It specifies that the "infringer" is not liable for damages until notice of the "infringement." In any event, § 287, as my Brother BRENNAN says, is not applicable here under Wine Ry. Appliance Co. v. Enterprise Ry. Equipment Co., 297 U. S. 387, because the patentee has not manufactured the article and has had no opportunity to mark it in accordance with § 287.

Here, the patentee gave notice to Aro, and I think it is liable on Ford tops sold by it after that date, but not before, unless it had knowledge from other sources. After the notice date, the knowledge requirement of § 271(c) was satisfied, and the use of Ford cars by the owners thereof was direct infringement providing the necessary predicate for contributory infringement under § 271(c).

Page 377 U. S. 515

MR. JUSTICE BLACK, with whom THE CHIEF JUSTICE, MR. JUSTICE DOUGLAS and MR. JUSTICE CLARK, join, dissenting.

For a number of reasons, I would reverse the judgment and reinstate the order of dismissal of the District Court.

I With regret, I find it necessary to disagree with the inferences the Court draws from the past history of this case. Respondent Convertible held exclusive rights for Massachusetts in a combination patent on a convertible automobile top, the combination consisting of wood or metal supports, a fabric cover, and a mechanism to seal the fabric against the side of the automobile in order to keep out weather. None of the elements of the combination was patented or patentable. During the years in question, General Motors Corporation and the Ford Motor Company manufactured automobiles with tops like those described in the patent. General Motors had a license from Convertible authorizing it to do so. Ford did not. Petitioner Aro manufactured and sold fabric replacement covers which were purchased by owners of both General Motors and Ford cars when the covers originally installed on the cars wore out. Convertible settled a claim it made against Ford for direct infringement, and did not sue Ford dealers or Ford car owners. It maintained also that the individual General Motors and Ford car owners who replaced their worn-out covers with Aro replacement covers, by doing so, directly infringed the combination patent. Convertible did not sue the individual car owners who patched or replaced the worn-out fabric, but it did bring this suit against Aro, charging that Aro, by selling the replacement fabric, thereby helped the individual car owners infringe, and so became liable as a contributory

Page 377 U. S. 516

infringer under 35 U.S.C. § 271(c). [Footnote 2/1] The District Court held that the patent was valid, and that Aro had been guilty of contributory infringement; it enjoined Aro from further alleged infringements, and ordered an accounting to determine the damages due Convertible from Aro's sales of replacement fabrics to owners both of General Motors and of Ford cars. 119 U.S.P.Q. 122. The Court of Appeals affirmed the judgment, 270 F.2d 200, and we granted certiorari to review it. We reversed the judgment. Aro Mfg. Co. v. Convertible Top Replacement Co., 365 U. S. 336. We denied a petition for rehearing or alternative motion for amendment or clarification in which Convertible argued that our reversal applied only to replacements of General Motors, and not Ford, cars. 365 U.S. 890.

When the District Court received the mandate of this Court, it entered judgment dismissing the complaint on the ground that this Court's decision and mandate had reversed the prior judgment in its entirety. But Convertible appealed the dismissal to the Court of Appeals. That court said:

"The puzzling question is whether the Supreme Court, in reversing this court, intended to reverse in toto, or only to reverse insofar as replacement tops for General Motors cars were concerned."

312 F.2d 52, 56 (C.A.1st Cir.). Thereupon, the Court of Appeals, reversing the District Court's action taken in obedience to this Court's mandate,

Page 377 U. S. 517

held that this Court, when it said "Reversed" at the end of its opinion, had meant to reverse not the entire judgment, but only that part of the judgment enjoining Aro from selling replacement fabrics for General Motors cars, which were made under licenses, and ordering an accounting for such sales in the past; the Court of Appeals said that this Court had, in effect, affirmed the earlier judgment insofar as that judgment concerned replacements for Ford fabrics. This Court today, in affirming the Court of Appeals' judgment, says:

"Our decision dealt, however, only with the General Motors, and not with the Ford, cars."

Ante, p. 377 U. S. 479. The Court's statement of what we did is, I think, completely refuted by the record in this case.

The opinion of the Court was delivered by MR. JUSTICE WHITTAKER. That opinion was joined by THE CHIEF JUSTICE, MR. JUSTICE BLACK, MR. JUSTICE DOUGLAS, and MR. JUSTICE CLARK. The grounds for the Court's opinion, as I shall point out, applied alike to the repair of Ford cars which had originally been sold by the manufacturer without a license from Convertible and to General Motors cars that had been sold with such a license. MR. JUSTICE BRENNAN, however, dissented from the grounds of the Court's opinion, although he concurred in the judgment of reversal "except, however, as to the relief granted respondent in respect of the replacements made on Ford cars before July 21, 1955." 365 U.S. at 365 U. S. 368. MR. JUSTICE HARLAN, joined by Justices Frankfurter and STEWART, dissented from the Court's opinion and from its judgment in its entirety. 365 U.S. at 365 U. S. 369. His grounds for dissenting from the Court's opinion were substantially the same as those of MR. JUSTICE BRENNAN. [Footnote 2/2]

Page 377 U. S. 518

The difference between MR. JUSTICE HARLAN's dissent and MR. JUSTICE BRENNAN's opinion concurring in the Court's judgment "except . . . as to the relief granted . . . in respect of the replacements made on Ford cars" was a very minor one: both agreed, contrary to what the Court decided, that a person could be held liable for contributory infringement of a combination patent, even though he furnished a replacement for only a part of the combination, if the part replaced was important enough for the substitution to amount to "reconstruction," rather than merely "repair," of the device; MR. JUSTICE BRENNAN, however, believed that the question whether there had been a "reconstruction" was for this Court to decide as a matter of law, and that there had not been a "reconstruction" here, while MR. JUSTICE HARLAN said that the trial court's findings that there had been a "reconstruction" were decisive.

The difference in the approach of JUSTICES HARLAN and BRENNAN from that of Mr. Justice Whittaker, writing for the Court, is responsible, as I read the record, for the fact that, while the Court reversed the former judgment in its entirety, MR. JUSTICE BRENNAN was willing to reverse it only as to replacement fabrics sold for General Motors cars. MR. JUSTICE BRENNAN believed that, since the licensed General Motors cars, as built, did not directly infringe the patent, and Aro contributed to what did not amount to a "reconstruction" of them, Aro, as to them, was not a contributory infringer; the Ford cars, however, were built by the manufacturer without a license from Convertible, so Ford and the purchasers who used its cars were allegedly direct infringers, and, since Aro helped Ford owners continue to use infringing tops, it was a contributory infringer even though the replacement covers did not "reconstruct" the tops. The Court, however, in Mr. Justice Whittaker's opinion, rejected completely the notion that there could ever be, within the meaning of

Page 377 U. S. 519

§ 271(c), any contributory infringement -- whether based on a finding of "reconstruction" or on some other theory -- in a case like this one, where the patent was merely a combination patent and the party which was sued for infringement had sold replacements for only a part of the combination. The Court's opinion relied on the fact that the fabric Aro used was not itself patented, that Convertible had made no claim to invention based on the fabric or its shape, pattern or design, and that a combination patent gave its owner a monopoly on nothing but the combination as a whole, since, Mr. Justice Whittaker said,

"if anything is settled in the patent law, it is that the combination patent covers only the totality of the elements in the claim, and that no element, separately viewed, is within the grant."

365 U.S. at 365 U. S. 344. The effect of the Court's holding was that, since the top fabric was not itself patented, Convertible could not extend its monopoly privileges regarding the combination as a whole to the unpatented fabric cover part of the top. Obviously, this holding of the Court, and the reasons Mr. Justice Whittaker gave for it, did not depend on whether the fabric was used on a Ford or on a General Motors car.

Mr. Justice Whittaker and the four members of the Court who joined him were, of course, familiar with the alleged distinction which Convertible tried to draw between its rights with reference to the General Motors licensed cars, on the one hand, and the Ford unlicensed cars, on the other. The district judge, in his opinion, drew the distinction, [Footnote 2/3] Convertible's brief in this Court drew the distinction, [Footnote 2/4] and MR. JUSTICE BRENNAN drew the

Page 377 U. S. 520

distinction in his opinion by concurring in the Court's judgment with respect to replacement fabrics for General Motors cars, but dissenting with respect to those for Ford cars. It is apparent, therefore, that, to the majority who joined in Mr. Justice Whittaker's opinion, the asserted distinction was simply irrelevant, since Convertible, as the holder of a combination patent, could under no circumstances prevent others from making and supplying unpatented and unpatentable replacement parts for any element of the combination. The Court's opinion by Mr. Justice Whittaker made it crystal clear that the Court was holding that, with respect to combination patents like the one here,

"No element, not itself separately patented, that constitutes one of the elements of a combination patent is entitled to patent monopoly, however essential it may be to the patented combination and no matter how costly or difficult replacement may be."

365 U.S. at 365 U. S. 345.

Finally, the Court did not conclude its opinion with the words "reversed in part and affirmed in part," as it would have done if, like MR. JUSTICE BRENNAN, it had accepted Convertible's asserted distinction. The order in the opinion by Mr. Justice Whittaker was simply, "Reversed," which meant "Reversed," not "Reversed in part and affirmed in part."

If all this could have left any doubt that the Court reversed the judgment of the Court of Appeals in its entirety, rather than in part only, that doubt would certainly have been removed by the action taken on Convertible's petition for rehearing or alternative motion for amendment or clarification of the Court's judgment. This motion specifically pointed out the alleged distinction between Convertible's rights with respect to Aro's replacement

Page 377 U. S. 521

fabrics for the two kinds of cars. The Court denied the motion and the petition for rehearing, 365 U.S. 890, and, in so doing, rejected precisely the same argument [Footnote 2/5] which today's Court is now accepting. Since the motion and petition for rehearing were rejected, five Justices must have found Convertible's arguments without merit. At that time, April 17, 1961, Mr. Justice Whittaker was still a member of the Court. It can be assumed that there were four votes for rehearing -- those of MR. JUSTICE BRENNAN, who had not joined the Court's judgment with reference to the fabric replacements for Ford cars, and of MR. JUSTICE HARLAN, Mr Justice Frankfurter, and MR. JUSTICE STEWART, who had dissented from the Court's opinion in its entirety. Four votes could not grant the motion or the petition for rehearing, but five votes -- those of MR. JUSTICE HARLAN, MR. JUSTICE BRENNAN, MR. JUSTICE STEWART, MR. JUSTICE WHITE, and MR. JUSTICE GOLDBERG -- now reverse the earlier rulings of this Court. This is, of course, permissible, but there is no reason why today's action in departing from the prior holding should also be pointed to as, in the words the Court of Appeals used to describe our previous opinion, a "puzzling question." Compare 79 U. S. 12 Wall. 457, overruling Hepburn v. Griswold, 8 Wall. 603. As to the merits of today's departure from our prior holding, I think that the old majority was right, and the new majority is wrong, for all of the reasons set out in Mr. Justice Whittaker's opinion for the Court and in my concurring opinion, 365 U.S. at 365 U. S. 346.

Page 377 U. S. 522

II The Court now holds that, although the fabric used on these car tops was unpatented and clearly unpatentable, the combination patentee nevertheless is free to expand its monopoly beyond the patent's boundaries through preventing the sales of that single element, the unpatented fabric. The new majority relies largely on 35 U.S.C. § 271(c), as did MR. JUSTICE HARLAN, Mr. Justice Frankfurter, MR. JUSTICE STEWART and MR. JUSTICE BRENNAN the first time this case was here. As I said, I am satisfied with the answers given to the new majority's interpretation of § 271(c) by what was said in Mr. Justice Whittaker's opinion for the Court and in my concurrence. But since the new majority is now giving Convertible a legal monopoly over the unpatented fabric cover, I find it necessary to reach the constitutional question urged by Aro.

Article I, § 8 of the Constitution gives Congress the power to

"promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries."

The granting of patent monopolies under this constitutional authority represents a very minor exception to the Nation's traditional policy of a competitive business economy, such as is safeguarded by the antitrust laws. When articles are not patentable, and therefore are in the public domain, as these fabric covers were, to grant them a legally protected monopoly offends the constitutional plan of a competitive economy free from patent monopolies except where there are patentable "Discoveries." And the grant of a patent monopoly to the fabrics can no more be justified constitutionally by calling their sale by competitors "contributory infringement" than by giving it an other label. Cf. Compco Corp. v. Day-Brite Lighting, Inc., 376 U. S. 234; Sears, Roebuck & Co. v. Stiffel Co., 376 U. S. 225.

Page 377 U. S. 523

III The Court holds, quite properly I think, that a patentee can get only one recovery for one infringement, no matter how many different persons take part in the infringement. In this case Ford, allegedly a direct infringer of the Convertible patent, made a settlement with Convertible for all past infringements in making its cars and obtained a license to use the patent in the future. The Court holds that, while there can be only one recovery for the alleged infringement which Ford turned loose on the trade, Convertible should nevertheless have an opportunity to try to prove, if it can, that it settled with Ford for less than the full amount of its damages. This, I think, brings about an unjust result which the patent law does not compel. Here Ford, the principal infringer, obtained a complete release from all damages for its infringement, and I would hold that innocent purchasers of Ford cars containing the infringing devices are entitled to be released just as Ford has been. There is considerable merit and fairness in the idea that completely releasing from liability one of several persons, all of whom are obligated to another, releases them all. This is particularly so in the area of patent law, where the doctrine of contributory infringement is rested on the belief that a direct infringer may sometimes be collection-proof, and that, in such a situation, the patentee should be given a chance to collect its damages from a more solvent company which knowingly aided the infringement. The original infringement, if there was infringement here, [Footnote 2/6] was Ford's. Fairness would require that, if recovery can be had from the chief wrongdoer, here, Ford, the first obligation of the injured person is to try to hold Ford completely

Page 377 U. S. 524

responsible. This should be particularly true in instances like this, where one company infringes a patent and sells goods which enter into the channels of trade throughout the Nation, thereby subjecting an untold number of innocent dealers, future purchasers, and even repairmen to damages. The statutory right to sue for infringement -- involving treble damages, punitive damages, attorney's fees, etc. -- should not be construed in a way that permits unnecessary harassment of people who have bought their goods in the open market place. I can think of nothing much more unfair than to visit the infringement sins of a large manufacturer upon the thousands of ultimate purchasers who buy or use its goods.

IV For the foregoing reasons, I believe that Aro should not be held liable for any damages at all, and that the District Court should be ordered to dismiss the case. A majority of the Court, however, remands the case for determination of whether and to what extent Aro is liable for damages. Whether Aro is liable for any damages at all depends on whether it and the persons to whose infringement Aro is alleged to have contributed can be held liable for damages even though they may have had no knowledge that a patent covered the top or that their conduct infringed or helped to infringe that patent. I would hold that, unless there was such knowledge, there can be no infringement or contributory infringement.

Section 271(c), the section dealing with contributory infringers (which Aro is alleged to be), provides that whoever sells a component of a patented combination

"constituting a material part of the invention, knowing the same to be especially made or especially adapted for use in an infringement of such patent . . . shall be liable as

Page 377 U. S. 525

a contributory infringer. [Footnote 2/7]"

Usually the word "knowing" means "knowing," and I am unwilling to say that, in § 271(c), it means "unknowing." This statute, to me, means rather plainly that, in order to violate it, one who sells an article must know that the article is to be used "in an infringement of such patent," and that it is "especially made or especially adapted" for that purpose. Furthermore, the legislative history of the statute confirms this interpretation.

As originally drafted § 271(c) provided:

"Whoever knowingly sells a component of a patented . . . combination . . . , especially made or especially adapted for use in an infringement of such patent . . . shall be liable as a contributory infringer. [Footnote 2/8]"

Several times, the House Committee considering the bill was told that, because of the position of the word "knowingly" in the section, it was not clear exactly how much a person had to be shown to have known before he could be held liable as a contributory infringer. [Footnote 2/9] Some witnesses expressed fear that the section might be construed to mean that a person could be held liable for selling an article even though he did not know that it was adapted for use in a patented device and that it would be used in an infringement. [Footnote 2/10] On the other hand, advocates of a

Page 377 U. S. 526

broad liability for contributory infringement said that there should be required only knowledge that an article was to be used in a particular device -- that a person would be liable as a contributory infringer even if he did not know of the existence of any patent and of any likely infringement. [Footnote 2/11] After hearing both sides, the House Committee changed the language of the bill to read, as § 271(c) now provides:

"Whoever sells a component of a patented . . . combination . . . , knowing the same to be especially

Page 377 U. S. 527

made or especially adapted for use in an infringement of such patent . . . shall be liable as a contributory infringer. [Footnote 2/12]"

Both the House and Senate reports explained that

"This latter paragraph is much more restricted than many proponents of contributory infringement believe should be the case. The sale of a component of a patented machine, etc., must constitute a material part of the invention and must be known to be especially made or especially adapted for use in the infringement before there can be contributory infringement. . . . [Footnote 2/13]"

The House Committee thus attempted to make clear that innocent persons, who acted without any knowledge that the goods they sold were adapted for use in the infringement of a patent which they knew about, could not be held liable as contributory infringers. It is hard to believe that Congress intended to hold persons liable for acts which they had no reason to suspect were unlawful, and, as I have pointed out, the legislative history shows Congress did not. Therefore I am wholly unwilling to construe the section as meaning that one who sells an unpatented and unpatentable piece of fabric to be used to repair an automobile top can be held liable for treble damages as a contributory infringer even though he had absolutely no knowledge that there was a patent on the top and that the top had been sold without a license, and could not, because of this lack of knowledge, have sold the top "knowing the same to be especially made or especially adapted for use in the infringement of such patent."

Furthermore, to justify its result, the Court today, in defining "contributory infringement," expands the coverage

Page 377 U. S. 528

of § 271(a), which deals with "direct infringement," so as to make every consumer or repairman who innocently buys or repairs an unmarked article which infringes a patent liable for damages as a direct infringer. In order for there to be contributory infringement, the Court admits, there must be a direct infringement which the alleged contributory infringer has aided. Here, Ford was a direct infringer, but Aro sold nothing to Ford. And so, in order to find a direct infringer who used Aro fabrics, and thereby justify its result, the Court says that any individual who buys a product such as an automobile from an infringing manufacturer and devotes it to his personal use is, without more, liable as a direct infringer of the patent under § 271(a) -- even though he did not know that the manufacturer of the product had infringed some patent, indeed, even though he perhaps did not know what a patent is.

The Court's interpretation of § 271(a) concerning the lack of necessity for knowledge before a person can be mulcted in damages for direct infringement is strangely inconsistent with another provision of the patent code, 35 U.S.C. § 287, [Footnote 2/14] which states in unequivocal, easily understood language that

"no damages shall be recovered by the patentee in any action for infringement, except

Page 377 U. S. 529

on proof that the infringer was notified of the infringement and continued to infringe thereafter."

Yet the Court here is holding, with no support in any judicial precedent, [Footnote 2/15] and certainly none in common sense or justice, that innocent consumers of patented products and those who equally innocently do no more than repair worn-out parts can be subjected to punitive or treble damages even though they neither knew nor suspected that any patent forbade them to buy, use or repair those products. It would be one thing to require those who sell new inventions for profit to check the records of the Patent Office. It is quite another to hold, as the Court now does, that every housewife, plumber, and auto repairman must do so.

The tremendous burden that the Court's construction of the patent laws will put on innocent bona fide dealers in or purchasers of unpatented products (if Congress does not change the Court's ruling) cannot be accurately predicted. The number of patented appliances of various kinds in automobiles is certainly not small. Just a few of those that have appeared in litigation in the courts are

Page 377 U. S. 530

windshield sun visors, wheel attachments, drive-shaft bushing assemblies, automobile heaters and windshield defrosters, steering stabilizers, shock absorbers, pistons, steering gear checks, steering wheels, radiator shields, clutch release thrust bearings, mountings for rear-view mirrors, vacuum-operated gear-shift mechanisms, spark plug and coil connectors, wire springs for upholstered seat structures, steering gear idler arms, windshield wiper blade assemblies, and others. [Footnote 2/16] After the Court's opinion in this case, it will certainly behoove purchasers of new or second-hand cars and repair shops which mend those cars to hire experts, if they can find them, in order to try to ascertain whether or not any car which they have bought (maybe on credit from a second-hand dealer) or are asked to repair is a booby trap waiting to subject them to suits for infringement by reason of some one of the car's patented appliances, the name or existence of which the owner of the car may not even suspect. And automobiles are, of course, not the only equipment in which ordinary purchasers use patented devices. Purchasers of homes equipped with modern appliances, as well as millions of buyers of consumer goods in general, may soon be made unhappily aware of the broad scope of patent monopolies as interpreted by this Court. Entrepreneurs in the new corporate business of suing for infringements (Aro claimed that Convertible was such a corporation, set up with no other function) may soon become as common as patents themselves.

Neither the language nor the purpose of the patent laws requires that they be construed to bring about such threats on so wide a scale to the free functioning of our business economy and to purchasers of patented appliances who are wholly innocent of any intention to infringe patents. I do not believe that, in construing the patent

Page 377 U. S. 531

laws we should attribute to Congress the purpose of bringing about such unreasonable, absurd, and wholly unjust results. Cf. United States v. American Trucking Assns., Inc., 310 U. S. 534, 310 U. S. 542-544; Church of the Holy Trinity v. United States, 143 U. S. 457, 143 U. S. 459. I cannot believe that Congress intended to subject to damages thousands of ultimate consumers who do not know and have no reason to suspect that lawsuits are lurking in every patented contrivance concealed somewhere within the hidden recesses of their automobiles.

I would reverse the judgment of the Court of Appeals and send the case back to the District Court with instructions to dismiss it.

[Footnote 2/1]

"Whoever sells a component of a patented machine, manufacture, combination or composition, or a material or apparatus for use in practicing a patented process, constituting a material part of the invention, knowing the same to be especially made or especially adapted for use in an infringement of such patent, and not a staple article or commodity of commerce suitable for substantial noninfringing use, shall be liable as a contributory infringer."

66 Stat. 811, 35 U.S.C. § 271(c).

[Footnote 2/2]

MR. JUSTICE BRENNAN's opinion said:

"My Brother HARLAN's dissent cogently states the reasons why I also think that is too narrow a standard of what constitutes impermissible 'reconstruction.'"

365 U.S. at 365 U. S. 362.

[Footnote 2/3]

119 U.S.P.Q. at 124.

[Footnote 2/4]

One of Convertible's argument headings read, "The Proposed Rules of Law Propounded By Aro and the Government Cannot, Under the Facts of This Case, Extend to Ford Cars." Brief for Respondent, Aro Mfg. Co. v. Convertible Top Replacement Co., No. 21, 1960 Term, p. 73. The argument extended over the next several pages. Id., pp. 73-76.

[Footnote 2/5]

Respondent's Petition for a Limited Rehearing or, in the Alternative, Motion for Amendment or Clarification of the Court's Opinion, Aro Mfg. Co. v. Convertible Top Replacement Co., No. 21, 1960 Term, pp. 1-13. That the replacements for Ford cars should be treated differently from those for General Motors cars was the only argument made in the petition and motion.

[Footnote 2/6]

For discussion of the doubtful validity of this combination patent, see my concurring opinion in the former decision of this case, 365 U.S. at 365 U. S. 350-352.

[Footnote 2/7]

(Emphasis supplied.)

[Footnote 2/8]

§ 231(c), H.R. 3760, 82d Cong., 1st Sess. (Emphasis supplied.)

[Footnote 2/9]

See e.g., Hearings before Subcommittee No. 3, Committee on the Judiciary, on H.R. 3760, 82d Cong., 1st Sess., Ser. No. 9, p. 215.

[Footnote 2/10]

The chief engineer and chairman of the board of a company which manufactures instruments to customers' specifications testified:

"We make a large number of devices and people come to us in the industry from distant points. . . . When you realize that there are some 600,000 patents and millions of claims involved under the present status of the bill, . . . and we become liable as contributory infringers, you can see it would be impossible for us to know in all cases whether we infringed or not. . . ."

"'Knowingly sells' will thus become highly controversial, and it will be construed by various patent lawyers to meet their particular situation."

Id. at 141-142. When a witness from the Antitrust Division of the Justice Department raised the same objection, the following exchange took place:

"[Congressman] BRYSON. It seems to me that, if he sells it at all, he knows he sells it."

"Mr. FUGATE [of the Justice Department]. He knows he sells it; but, as in this case that I mentioned, the cutter of the metal plate according to a special pattern didn't know that it was to be used in an infringing manner, that it was to be used in a patented combination."

"[Congressman] ROGERS. Inasmuch as you recognize that the law still gives a cause of action against the contributor who helps infringe, would there be any objection on the part of the Justice Department to clarify that law in definite words, so that there would not be the confusion that the gentlemen have testified to?"

Id. at 164-165.

[Footnote 2/11]

Mr. Giles S. Rich of the National Council of Patent Law Associations stated:

"'[K]nowingly sells a component of a patented machine' means to us that you know that the component is going into that machine. You don't have to know that it is patented. You don't have to know the number of the patent, and you don't have to know that the machine that it is going into constitutes an infringement. You just know its ultimate destination."

Id. at 175.

[Footnote 2/12]

(Emphasis supplied.)

[Footnote 2/13]

H.R.Rep. No. 1923, 82d Cong., 2d Sess., p. 9; S.Rep. No. 1979, 82d Cong., 2d Sess., p. 8.

[Footnote 2/14]

"Patentees, and persons making or selling any patented article for or under them, may give notice to the public that the same is patented either by fixing thereon the word 'patent' or the abbreviation 'pat.', together with the number of the patent, or when, from the character of the article, this can not be done, by fixing to it, or to the package wherein one or more of them is contained, a label containing a like notice. In the event of failure so to mark, no damages shall be recovered by the patentee in any action for infringement, except on proof that the infringer was notified of the infringement and continued to infringe thereafter, in which event damages may be recovered only for infringement occurring after such notice. Filing of an action for infringement shall constitute such notice."

66 Stat. 813, 35 U.S.C. § 287.

[Footnote 2/15]

The cases which the Court cites as contrary to this view neither considered nor decided the issue whether innocent persons entirely unaware that their conduct would either infringe or contribute to the infringement of a patent can be held liable as direct or contributory infringers. Wine Ry. Appliance Co. v. Enterprise Ry. Equipment Co., 297 U. S. 387, held that a primary infringer, like Ford here, which ordered manufactured for itself and which sold for profit a patented door latch could not escape liability for infringement simply because a statutory notice of the patent was not marked on the infringing latches. The Court pointed out that the patentee had never had an opportunity to attach a notice, because the infringer was producing the latches without the patentee's knowledge. The situation in the case before us, involving an asserted liability of consumers of unmarked goods, rather than a seller of those goods for profit, does not even remotely resemble that in Wine. In none of the other cases relied on was § 287 interpreted or even considered by the Court.

[Footnote 2/16]

See 35 U.S.C.A. § 271, n. 139.