From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Letter to The Automotive Products Co. Ltd. concerning the ownership of ideas and patents for a Booster Dual Braking System.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 120\2\ scan0210 | |
| Date | 5th October 1937 | |
| Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/AFM.{Anthony F. Martindale}17/MH.{M. Huckerby} 1029 Messrs. The Automotive Products Co. Ltd., Tachbrook Road, Leamington Spa. 5th. October 1937. For the attention of C.Hayes, Esq. Dear Sirs, Re Booster Dual Braking System. U.B.Application No.27466/36. The above idea which originated in these works, and which was modified by Mr. Parnell would, if your suggestions were carried out become your property and Rolls-Royce would have manufacturing rights, which would in any case be granted to them if they were using Lockheed components. Any ideas of members of this Firm become automatically the property of this Company, owing to the terms of the contracts between them. Under the circumstances the writer does not feel justified in assigning to you the rights of this Company, even if they are of no real value. As the name of Rolls-Royce is not mentioned in the patent a free licence is necessary to further safeguard their position. We were not especially desirous that a patent should be taken out on this idea, but as you agreed to pay the costs we made no objections to your proceeding with the patent. In future, however, should any similar circumstances arise we will not be agreeable to your taking out a patent and we have already stopped another firm from taking a | ||