Here's an 1883 US Supreme Court case on licensing a patent: http://scholar.google.ca/scholar_case?case=8570269263668695613&hl=en&as_sdt=2&as_vis=1&oi=scholarr h

Here's an 1883 US Supreme Court case on licensing a patent: http://scholar.google.ca/scholar_case?case=8570269263668695613&hl=en&as_sdt=2&as_vis=1&oi=scholarr http://scholar.google.ca/scholar_case?case=85702692636686956... Licensing law has really only taken off in the 20th century I believe, but there's older stuff that's very related. Courts have long been troubled by licensing/assignment issues. IP is a "chose in action", and it's something that's more general. The older issue is about assigning debts. Here's an old Ontario law based on a UK statute I believe that allows for a certain kind of assignment after 1897: http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/statutes/english/elaws_statutes_90c34_e.htm#s53s1 http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/statutes/english/elaws_stat....