licensee estoppel
Defined in 1 dictionary — Case Law
Definitions from Case Law
From 395 U.S. 653 - Lear, Inc. v. Adkins · 1969Most cited · 1,447 citing opinions
so long as a licensee is operating under a license agreement he is estopped to deny the validity of his licensor's patent in a suit for royalties under the agreement. The theory underlying this doctrine is that a licensee should not be permitted to enjoy the benefit afforded by the agreement while simultaneously urging that the patent which forms the basis of the agreement is void