White's is closing

[WM6]

, does the patent belong to the inventor or the Assignee?

Interesting question:

https://help.patsnap.com/hc/en-us/articles/115004886689-Inventors-and-Assignees

[Elliot]

Very sad to hear. I suspect the cost of manufacturing in the USA hasn't helped.

[Kev]

Bad news Carl, there will be more demand for machines as the global economic situation runs away.....

Just about every good idea or innovation I discover, I later find that Whites has a patent on it, yet they never seem to use most of them, they just tie it up so others can't use it.
This has made me very angry at times.

So I wonder in a situation where Whites follows Tesoro, does the patent belong to the inventor or the Assignee?

Would they likely sell their IP in a final strip-down scenario?

[Carl-NC]

Although this says they are "suspending manufacturing" it probably means they are done. Perhaps they will look for a buyer but I think that is a tough sell.

I've always assumed that White's would eventually fold but thought they could coast another 5 years. White's had a lot of problems, but I gotta say that in all the jobs I've had the past 40 years, the 6 with White's was by far the most fun.

[Carl-NC]

Important Information from White's Electronics

June 18, 2020 To our valued White's Dealers- This is a very difficult message to write, but the time has come for retirement from White's Electronics. We are suspending manufacturing operations at our Sweet Home facility while we re-evaluate the future of the company. It is never easy to make these decisions, however, we are faced with the reality of intense competition in the industry and ongoing counterfeit instruments coming from China. Lastly, there have been critical material shortages since the Covid 19 shutdown that we now find insurmountable. All of us here in Sweet Home are grateful for your service. We consider each you part of the White's extended family. Sincerely, Ken White