Robbie commented in 020506 MMDigest:

>[ Couldn't Andy obtain license from the patent owner to build
>[ a machine himself, and use it to produce music rolls for sale?
>[ Under what conditions must the patent owner grant license?

Robbie,  There are no conditions I know of under which a patent owner
must grant a license.

The owner of a patent can extend the use of his patent to anyone for
any purpose he desires.  It is best to get the terms of use in writing,
especially if it involves using the patent for profit.

Occasionally important patents are pooled in the spirit of reducing the
cost to industry and to induce cooperation in large scale important
issues such as military aircraft building, and widely used technologies
like VHS, CD and DVD methods.  Such pooling is usually the result of
government intervention in the name of public policy.  Don't look for
this to happen soon on laser music roll cutting patents.

I doubt that there is any way to force a patent owner to extend the use
of it to others, even if he is just sitting on the patent.

Don Shenbarger