Ex Parte JOHNSON - Page 4




                Interference No. 104,316                                                                                                             
                Sauer Inc. v. Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd.                                                                                       

                         9. Sauer has been accorded the benefit of the earlier filing dates of applications                                          
                07/706,279; 07/482,656; and 07/319,164. The earliest of such filing dates is March 3, 1989.                                          
                         10. Kanzaki has been accorded benefit of the earlier filing dates of Japanese                                               
                applications 63-24193; 63-55828; 63-67005; and 63-79665. The earliest of such filing dates is                                        
                February 3, 1988.                                                                                                                    
                         11. On June 29, 1987, representatives from Sauer and representatives from Kanzaki had                                       
                a personal meeting in the United States. At that meeting, it was generally agreed between the                                        

                respective company representatives that the two parties will work jointly to develop a rear engine                                   
                rider package including an 1HT (integrated hydrostatic transmission). (Exhibit 2228; Exhibit                                         

                241118; Exhibit 2412 13; Exhibit 2413 13; Exhibit 2407 17).                                                                          
                         12. It was also agreed during the June 29, 1987, meeting that Mr. Joseph Louis of                                           
                Sauer and Mr. Koichiro Fujisaki of Kanzaki would be responsible for the conceptual design of                                         
                the IHT. (Exhibit 2228; Exhibit 2411 T 9; Exhibit 2412 T 4; Exhibit 2413 ý 4; Exhibit 2407 T 8).                                     
                         13. Neither party represents that the agreement reached on June 29, 1987, to jointly                                        
                develop a rear engine rider including an IHT was itself a binding contract with enforceable terms.                                   
                Neither party represents that the agreement was in writing and neither party submitted a                                             
                summary of each party's specific responsibilities, obligations, and commitments under the                                            
                agreement. On page 47 of its brief, Sauer states that the parties were jointly developing an IHT                                     

                pursuant to "what was going to be" a contractual joint venture. We find that the so called                                           



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