COPYRIGHTS - LACHES AS A DEFENSE TO SUIT FOR COPYRIGHT AND PATENT INFRINGEMENT

Plaintiff manufacturer sued, inter alia, for copyright infringement in the appropriation of the content of his catalogues by defendant, a former employee. It appeared that plaintiff had known of the infringement for over three years before filing suit, during which time he had made no protest or complaint, but had stood by while defendant incurred large expense in printing and distributing the catalogues. Held, plaintiff's laches barred relief for the infringement. Wiegand Co. v. Trent Co., (C. C. A. 3d, 1941) 122 F. (2d) 920.