Weizmann Wins Law Suit in Chemical Discovery

(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

Judgment in favor of Dr. Chaim Weizmann in a case concerning his scientific discovery in chemistry was rendered yesterday by Justice Romer.

The case, which had been pending for a long time, consisted of a complaint of the “Commercial Solvents Corporation” of London, with which Dr. Weizmann is connected, against the “Synthetic Products Company” of London. The plaintiffs, Dr. Weizmann’s corporation, asked for an injunction to restrain the Synthetic Products Company from infringing on the rights of the former company on the patent granted in 1915 to Dr. Weizmann for the production of Aceton and Butyl alcohol from maize starch through fermentation caused by a bacillus isolated by Dr. Weizmann. This discovery of Dr. Weizmann was said to have been a highly valuable weapon during the World War.

The defendants, the Synthetic Products Company, denied that they infringed on the patent rights of Dr. Weizmann, alleging moreover, that Weizmann’s patent was not valid. The Synthetic Products Company introduced a counter-plaint for the revocation of Dr. Weizmann’s patent, claiming that the process of production and the invention on which Dr. Weizmann’s patent was based was not the invention of Dr. Weizmann but of Prof. Fernbach of the Pasteur Institute in Paris. Prof. Fernbach accused Dr. Weizmann of basing his invention on valuable confidential information obtained from him.

Following a prolonged argument, Justice Romer yesterday issued judgment in the case, declaring that he found no truth in the allegations made against Dr. Weizmann and that he found Dr. Weizmann’s baccillus “by” had been isolated by Dr. Weizmann after long and arduous experiments, without any information from Prof. Fernbach. Justice Romer alleged that the defendant’s attack on Weizmann’s patent had no grounds whatsoever, and rendered judgment in favor of Dr. Weizmann, both on his plaint and counterplaint, with costs.