I'm currently working on an ASB TL set during the ACW in which the CSA gains cartridge converted Colt revolvers of the Richard-conversion design. I am having trouble with one butterfly though which I need help with.
Obviously if the CSA gains these cartridge recieving guns some will fall into Union hands and many will want to copy the design and put it to use in the Union Army. Sadly a patent held by Rollin White would make this illegal as it did in OTL. Basicaly the patent gave White the rights to all revolver designs with a completly bored through cylinder. Many companies tried to ignore the patent and manufacture guns with bored through cylanders before the patent's expiration but white always sued them and always won. After the his patent's expiration in 1869 White issued a bill to renew it and according to Wikipedia:
Since White's patent renewal was revoked these reasons in OTL how might the US government react to the situation in my TL where the CSA ignores the patent to their own gain? With the threat that the CSA could pose due to this would it be possible for government officials such as Lincoln to support a revocation of White's patent in order to allow the US Army to gain cartridge recieving revolvers in my TL?
I've found this situation has raised alot more interesting questions than I originaly thought it would since there has in recent history been alot of actions taken on patent rights around the world and putting such situations into an ACW setting could be very interesting.
Obviously if the CSA gains these cartridge recieving guns some will fall into Union hands and many will want to copy the design and put it to use in the Union Army. Sadly a patent held by Rollin White would make this illegal as it did in OTL. Basicaly the patent gave White the rights to all revolver designs with a completly bored through cylinder. Many companies tried to ignore the patent and manufacture guns with bored through cylanders before the patent's expiration but white always sued them and always won. After the his patent's expiration in 1869 White issued a bill to renew it and according to Wikipedia:
The bill passed both houses of congress with no debate, but was vetoed by President Ulysses S Grant on 11 January 1870 who returned it to the Senate without his signature with the following statement: "To the Senate of the United States: I return herewith without my approval Senate bill No. 273, entitled An act for the relief of Rollin White, for the reasons set forth in the accompanying communication, dated December 11, 1869 from the Chief of Ordinance Alexander Brydie Dyer."
Dyer's objection was on the grounds that White holding on to his patent during the American Civil War served as "an inconvenience and embarrassment" to Union forces for the "inability of manufacturers to use this patent". Dyer went on to write that "its further extension will operate prejudicially to its interests by compelling it to pay to parties already well paid a large royalty for altering its revolvers to use metallic cartridges."
Since White's patent renewal was revoked these reasons in OTL how might the US government react to the situation in my TL where the CSA ignores the patent to their own gain? With the threat that the CSA could pose due to this would it be possible for government officials such as Lincoln to support a revocation of White's patent in order to allow the US Army to gain cartridge recieving revolvers in my TL?
I've found this situation has raised alot more interesting questions than I originaly thought it would since there has in recent history been alot of actions taken on patent rights around the world and putting such situations into an ACW setting could be very interesting.