March 47

Mess^rs

W are inst^d by h^ve rec^d ins^ns f^m – I write t you concerning y^r inf^t of his phot^c pat^t by selling y^e prepared prepared or iodised paper & in var^s other ways. of w^ch <illegible deletion> obt^nd We have ample proof of y^r hav^g act^d in this mann^r but we trust that it has not arisen f^m any delib^te intentⁿ on y^r part of invading y^e pat^t <illegible deletion> but another only fm y^r not hav^g read y^e specifictⁿ & not having from your thus not being aware of y^e extent of y^e pat^t right – Should this be the case, we are willing to meet you amicably and if you wish (as it seems you do) to practice this beautiful art we would we believe that there w^d be no objectⁿ to grant you a lic^se to do so on reasonable moderate terms such as may be <illegible> agreed by hereafter after receiving from you a reasonable compensation for the infringement of which we complain. But on the other hand If you decline this amicable proposal on our part, it will become our duty to defend the rights of the patentee from any such infringem^t in future and we shall therefore in that <illegible> immediately take the necessary proceedings in Chancery against you; –

We hope however to rec^ve f yo f^m you such an ans^r as will prevent y^e necessity for any proceedings of that kind, w^ch will give us much satisfactⁿ pleasure as we think that a satisfact^y arrg^t might easily be made between yourself & the patentee

<expanded version>

March 1847

Monsieurs,

We are instructed by have received instructions from William Henry Fox Talbot to write to you concerning your infringement of his photographic patent by selling the prepared prepared or iodised paper and in various other ways. of which have obtained We have ample proof of your having acted in this manner but we trust that it has not arisen from any deliberate intention on your part of invading the patent rights but another only from your not having read the specification and not having from your thus not being aware of the extent of the patent right – Should this be the case, we are willing to meet you amicably and if you wish ( as it seems you do) to practice this beautiful art we would we believe that there would be no objection to grant you a license to do so on reasonable moderate terms such as may be agreed by him after receiving from you a reasonable compensation for the infringement of which we complain. But on the other hand If you decline this amicable proposal on our part, it will become our duty to defend the rights of the patentee from any such infringement in future and we shall therefore in that <illegible> immediately take the necessary proceedings in Chancery against you; –

We hope however to receive from you from you such an answer as will prevent the necessity for any proceedings of that kind, which will give us much satisfaction pleasure as we think that a satisfactory arrangement might easily be made between yourself and the patentee