CHAPTER 23

THE UTTER HELPLESSNESS OF A POOR INVENTOR TO OBTAIN JUSTICE

It is confessedly an enigma to many a man, why if an inventor is so unlucky as not to possess the large sums of money required to engage the services of competent attorneys, he must be content to see the despoiler of the fruits of his labor enjoy it. And should he, the inventor, be so indecorous as to accuse him of it, the law will immediately fly to the assistance of his despoiler, and clap the unlucky inventor in jail for libel.

Again, if a man, as member of a corporation, appropriates another man's property the law does not permit him to retain it, or exempt him from the consequences of this unlawful action by reason of any limitation of responsibility as a member of a corporation. But, should the corporation appropriate another man's invention, and after expensive and long drawn-out litigations, the inventor should be awarded damages from the company for exploiting his invention, all the company has to do to avoid paying the award is to fail, and the same individuals can re-organize to do the same business under a new charter and name, and may steal the same inventor's patent again, providing it pays it to do so, and the inventor would have to commence to fight again in court.

Why, oh why, is the stealing of one kind of property a criminal offense, and another only a civil tort?