Co-Operation

The act of working together to a common end or for a certain purpose. The word is used in this sense in the law of maritime capture. "Co-operation," which will give a title to booty, must directly tend to produce the capture in question. 35 L. J. Adm. 17. And it is used in the like sense in the law of patents to express the working together of the parts of a machine, etc., not (of necessity) simultaneously, but unitedly. "The courts do not mean merely acting together or simultaneously, but unitedly, to a common end, — a unitary result. Each and every part must have its subfunction to perform, and each must have a certain relation to or dependence upon the other." 82 Fed. 444. It is used also in the same general sense in the law of master and servant as another expression of what is meant by habitual association or consociation. "Whether the co-operation is in a particular business in the same line of employment, or there is habitual association in the performance of duties, in either case the situation of the parties must be such that they may exercise a mutual influence upon each other promotive of proper caution." 182 Ill. 548.

In economics. The combined action of numbers. It is of two distinct kinds:
(1) Such co-operation as takes place when several persons help each other in the same employment;
(2) such co-operation as takes place when several persons help each other in different employments. These may be termed "simple co-operation" and "complex co-operation." Mill, Pol. Ec. 142.

In patent law. Unity of action to a common end or a common result, not merely joint or simultaneous action. Boynton Ch v. Morris Chute Co. (C. Ct) 82. Fed. 444; Fastener Co. v. Webb (C. C.) 89 Fed. 987; Hoimes, etc., Tel. Co. v. Domestic, etc., Tel. Co. (C. Ct) 42 Fed. 227.

The combined action of numbers. It is of two distinct kinds: (1) Such co-operation as takes place when several persons help each other in the same employment; (2) such co-operation as takes place when several persons help each other in different employments. These may be termed "simple co-operation" and "complex co-operation." Mill, Pol. Ec. 142.