The Tesla Patents Revoked in Germany

The Elektrotechnische Zeitschrift quoting the Köln. Ztg. states that the suit of the Allgemeine Elektric ts-Gesellschaft of Berlin against the Aktien-Gesellschaft Helios of Cologne, for the revocation of the Tesla patents was tried before the German Patent Office and resulted in the revocation of the patents according to paragraph 11 of the German Patent Laws. The case will be appealed to the Imperial Court by the Helios Company. Just what "Tesla patents" were revoked is not stated. The term is usually applied in this country to those dealing with induction motors requiring phase currents for their operation.

The paragraph of the German Patent Law above referred to reads as follows.

§ 11. A patent can be revoked after the expiration of three years, reckoned from the date of publication of allowance.

1. If the patentee fails to carry out his invention in Germany to a suitable extent, or at least to do everything that is necessary to ensure its being carried out.

2. If the grant of license to others for using the invention appears to be demanded in the interest of public welfare, but the patentee nevertheless refuses to grant such license upon adequate compensation and against sufficient security.