UNIROYAL GOODRICH
The Uniroyal Goodrich Tire Company
600 South Main Street
Akron, Ohio 44397-0001
(216) 374-2951
Telecopy: (216) 374-4329Alan A. Csontos
General Patent Counsel and
Assistant Secretary
January 7, 19xxMr. Clyde Knight, Jr.
10 E. xxxxxxx Road
Gxxxxxxxxx, NY 12345RE: SUBMISSION #XX-X
Dear Mr. Knight:
We have received your recent submission relating to AN INFLATION DEVICE and assigned to it the above-referenced number. Please refer to this number in any future communications relating to this submission.
Like many other consumer products companies, The Uniroyal Goodrich Tire Company (UGTC) receives unsolicited submissions about our products, the design or construction of tires, processes and equipment for making tires, ways of advertising or selling tires, or other technical or business matters. We understand that persons making such submissions ordinarily do so with the desire or expectation of receiving compensation for their ideas. Hence, to prevent a misunderstanding, we want to explain UGTC's position on receiving and/or evaluating outside submissions.
We appreciate the opportunity to consider these submissions, and want to deal fairly with the persons making them. But UGTC cannot restrict itself or obligate itself with respect to the use of ideas which are already known to UGTC or otherwise are freely available to everyone. Further, UGTC cannot restrict itself with respect to developments that UGTC is already working on but has not yet publicized.
Consequently, UGTC will review and evaluate unsolicited submissions from persons outside UGTC only after first receiving a written assurance from such person that UGTC is not obligated in any way by such evaluation. Hence, l will evaluate your submission only on the following basis:
Each submission and any accompanying information must be submitted will writing, preferably by means of a sketch or drawing together with a written description. If we need further explanation or information on your submissions, we will request the same in writing.
No confidential relationship is created or will be implied from the fact that UGTC has received and/or evaluated any submission, or that UGTC has reviewed any information which may have been provided at our request to supplement the submission.
UGTC shall not be obligated to make any payment to you, or to take or refrain from any other action as a result of having received and/or evaluated any such submission, except as may be stated in a written contract between the parties defining UGTC's rights to use such submission. If a submission encompasses subject matter covered by a patent, a trademark or a copyright, or an application therefor, then the person submitting such subject matter or the owner of such rights shall rely exclusively on the rights available under the laws of the United States for the protection of such subject matter. We ask that you identify whether the submission is covered or intended to be covered by this form of protection.
It is understood that UGTC shall have no restrictions or obligations to you with respect to any submission, information, or idea
(a) which UGTC already has in its possession prior to your submission,
(b) which is already in the public domain at the time of your submission, or which becomes public or generally known after your submission,(d) which UGTC independently develops without aid of or access to your submission. If after evaluation, UGTC decides that it has no interest in using your submission, we will inform you in writing. UGTC is not obligated to express to you any reason why it has no interest. If UGTC decides that it has an interest in using your submission, we shall inform you in writing and request that the parties enter into good faith discussions on entering into an equitable agreement permitting UGTC to use your submission.
If you are satisfied to have UGTC review your submission on the foregoing conditions, please note your acceptance by signing the attached copy of this letter and returning it to me. We will then proceed to evaluate your submission.
If you are not in agreement with the above conditions, please let us know and we'll return whatever original written information that was sent to UGTC. If we do not receive your signed copy of this document within 60 days after the date shown hereon, we will presume that you have not agreed to our terms and conditions and we will return your original submission to you. In either case, the UGTC Law Division will retain an archive copy of such submission solely for its records.
Thank you for considering UGTC in this matter. We appreciate your interest in UGTC and its products. Please do not hesitate to call if you have any questions.
Very truly yours,
Alan A. Csontos
dlh/Xx
Attachment
ACCEPTED:
By:______________________________________
Date:____________________________________
