Sewing Machine Combination
Encyclopedia
The Sewing Machine Combination was the first patent pool
in US history. It was formed by the "Albany Agreement" of 24 October 1856 and lasted until its last patent expired in 1877. It existed for the purpose of reducing the licensing and litigation overhead being imposed by the patent thicket
known as the Sewing machine war.
Its four member companies were:
In addition to its four member companies, dozens of other companies licensed its patents, for which they paid royalties and submitted annual production reports.
Patent pool
In patent law, a patent pool is a consortium of at least two companies agreeing to cross-license patents relating to a particular technology. The creation of a patent pool can save patentees and licensees time and money, and, in case of blocking patents, it may also be the only reasonable method...
in US history. It was formed by the "Albany Agreement" of 24 October 1856 and lasted until its last patent expired in 1877. It existed for the purpose of reducing the licensing and litigation overhead being imposed by the patent thicket
Patent thicket
A patent thicket is "a dense web of overlapping intellectual property rights that a company must hack its way through in order to actually commercialize new technology," or, in other words, "“an overlapping set of patent rights” which require innovators to reach licensing deals for multiple patents...
known as the Sewing machine war.
Its four member companies were:
- Isaac SingerIsaac SingerIsaac Merritt Singer was an inventor, actor, and entrepreneur. He made important improvements in the design of the sewing machine and was the founder of the Singer Sewing Machine Company...
's Singer Manufacturing Company - Elias HoweElias HoweElias Howe, Jr. was an American inventor and sewing machine pioneer.-Early life & family:Howe was born on July 9, 1819 to Dr. Elias Howe, Sr. and Polly Howe in Spencer, Massachusetts. Howe spent his childhood and early adult years in Massachusetts where he apprenticed in a textile factory in...
's Howe Machine Company - Wheeler & WilsonWheeler & WilsonWheeler & Wilson was an American company which produced sewing machines.- Overview :Allen B. Wilson in 1849 made possible one of the world's greatest industries, and the sound administrative policy of Nathaniel Wheeler and his associates was responsible for the transformation of the industry from...
- Grover & Baker
In addition to its four member companies, dozens of other companies licensed its patents, for which they paid royalties and submitted annual production reports.