United States v. Dubilier Condenser Corp. Case Brief
Complete case briefs with LSD+
Every LSD.Law brief pairs a full IRAC analysis with opinion summaries at three levels of depth, written by a team of Harvard Law and MIT graduates - a quick synopsis when you are pressed for time, the complete reasoning when you need to go deep.
Adaptive Case Views
Toggle between Flash, Standard, and Expanded. Get what you need, when you need it.
Exam-Ready IRAC Format
We deliver the precise structure professors look for in exam answers.
Complex Cases, Clarified
We break down dense legal reasoning into something digestible, helping you grasp core concepts.
Case Brief Summary & Legal Analysis
tl;dr: Government scientists invented devices outside their specific assignments using government resources. The Supreme Court held the scientists owned the patents because they were not hired to invent, but the government retained a non-exclusive, royalty-free “shop right” to use the inventions.
Legal Significance: This case established the default rule for patent ownership in employment, distinguishing between a general employment for research, which grants the employer only a “shop right,” and a specific employment to invent, which requires the employee to assign the patent to the employer.
United States v. Dubilier Condenser Corp. Law School Study Guide
Use this case brief structure for your own legal analysis. Focus on the IRAC methodology to excel in law school exams and cold calls.
Case Facts & Court Holding
Key Facts & Case Background
Francis Dunmore and Percival Lowell were scientists employed in the radio section of the U.S. Bureau of Standards, engaged in general research and testing. Their assigned work involved projects such as “airplane radio.” On their own initiative and not as part of any specific assignment from a superior, they began experimenting with using alternating current (AC) from a standard house-lighting circuit to power radio receiving sets. This project was independent of their assigned tasks and was driven by their own scientific curiosity. They conducted this research during work hours, using government laboratory materials and facilities. After conceiving and perfecting the inventions, they disclosed them to their superiors, who permitted them to continue refining the devices. The employees filed for and obtained patents, which they later licensed to the Dubilier Condenser Corp. The United States sued, seeking an assignment of the patents, arguing that the inventions were its equitable property because they were developed by government employees in a government laboratory.
Court Holding & Legal Precedent
Issue: Does an employer obtain title to a patent for an invention conceived by an employee during the course of a general employment in a research field, where the employee was not specifically hired or directed to make that invention?
No. The employees, Dunmore and Lowell, are the rightful owners of the Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupid
IRAC Legal Analysis
About IRAC analysis
IRAC (Issue, Rule, Analysis, Conclusion) is the structure professors expect in exam answers. Each LSD.Law brief states the issue, the governing rule with citations, the court's application of that rule, and the conclusion - the same reasoning pattern you will use on exams and in practice.
Legal Issue
Does an employer obtain title to a patent for an invention conceived by an employee during the course of a general employment in a research field, where the employee was not specifically hired or directed to make that invention?
Conclusion
This decision remains a cornerstone of U.S. patent law, clarifying the default Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi u
Legal Rule
An employee is entitled to ownership of a patent for their invention Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut
Legal Analysis
The Supreme Court's analysis centered on the nature of the employment contract Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, q
Flash-to-Full Case Opinions
Flash Summary
- An employee generally owns the patent for an invention made during