[LB063670], Letter from John F Randolph to Fleming (J.) & Co, August 15th, 1899
https://edisondigital.rutgers.edu/document/LB063670
Transcription
Aug 15, 1899. Messrs J. Fleming & Co., 175 Churratallah St., Calcutta, India. Dear Sirs:- Mr. Edison has requested me to reply to your letter of the 13th of July, and in answer thereto I would say that he has different methods of handling different patent rights, so that he is unable to answer your query as to this. The question as to whether goods slod and sent to one territory can be used in another is also something he cannot answer, inasmuch as his different companies have different methods of handling their business, and he, not being acquainted with the details, cannot advise you. So far as the word “Phonograph” is concerned, he has endeavored to copyright this in all of the different countries of the world, but of course there are always spurious and illegitimate parties who will endeavor to foist upon the public apparatus that is not manufactured by any of the concerns to which he sold his rights, and in which a great many cases he is interested, so that it is difficult to reach everyone in all parts of the universe. As to his foreign phonograph patents, these from his control about ten years ago, and we are not in a position to say whom the patents were distributed in the countries which you mention in paragraph 6 of your letter. Regretting that we cannot give you full and detailed information as you desire it, we are. Yours very truly, LABORATORY OF THOMAS A. EDISON, By J.F. Randolph Secy