Control Data Corporation records. Legal records.
Scope and Content Note
This series consists of records documenting Control Data Corporation (CDC) litigation, including the Honeywell vs. CDC and Sperry Rand vs. CDC cases, as well as records documenting the everyday legal activities of the company. Materials include court documents, legal briefs, case background materials, memos and correspondence, and patent files. Also included are PLATO legal agreements and contracts, as well as legal agreements/contracts (1970s - 1980s) from the files of James F. Hogg, Vice President and Associate General Counsel for CDC, 1975-1985. Hogg was also a partner with the firm Oppenheimer Wolff Donnelly in Minneapolis, 1971-1977. Control Data had a relationship with this firm beginning in the early years of the company, and legal correspondence from the firm's lawyers can be found throughout the CDC collection.
The bulk of the materials in this collection were created from 1952-1983; however, some patent records and other background documents from the Sperry Rand vs. CDC and Honeywell vs. CDC cases date as early as 1919.
This series includes few records from the CDC vs. IBM case. More information about CDC vs. IBM can be found in the William C. Norris Executive Papers series and in an oral history with Elmer B. Trousdale (OH 271). More information about CDC litigation can be found in the News Releases series, in the William C. Norris Executive Papers series, and in the Executive History Project Records under John Sciamanda and James F. Hogg.
Legal documents from the early years of CDC (1957-1961) can be found in the Executive Papers series under Fremont Fletcher, including correspondence regarding Sperry Rand vs. CDC and CDC’s legal dispute with E.J. Manning, former owner of Cedar Engineering Corporation (CDC’s first subsidiary).
Researchers should consult the following series for additional information on the Control Data Corporation's legal activities:
- Executive Papers - William C. Norris
- Executive Papers (Fremont Fletcher)
- Executive History Project Files (1980) (John Sciamanda, James F. Hogg)
- News Releases
Acronyms used in this finding aid:
- CETA = Comprehensive and Employment Training Act
This is one series of the Control Data Corporation Records (CBI 80). Please see the other series finding aids for further information regarding the Control Data Corporation.
Dates
- 1952-1983
Creator
- Control Data Corporation (Organization)
Language of Materials
English
Use of Materials:
Access to the collection is unrestricted.
Copyright:
The Charles Babbage Institute holds the copyright to all materials in the collection, except for items covered by a prior copyright (such as published materials). Researchers may quote from the collection under the fair use provisions of the copyright law (Title 17, U.S. Code).
Historical Note
The Control Data Corporation's (CDC) legal needs were handled by legal experts both inside and outside the company. These experts provided assistance in many aspects of the company's operations, including litigation, patent work, computer sale agreements and leases, real estate leases, stock offerings, contracts, and acquisitions.
Control Data's involvement in litigation began early in the company's history. In 1958, Sperry Rand sued CDC for patent infringement and illegal use of trade secrets based on its belief that several of its former employees (who had left Sperry Rand for CDC) had used research and patents developed at Sperry Rand. CDC eventually won the case. In 1964, Honeywell brought suit against the Control Data Corporation for patent infringement. The case was settled by 1967.
Extent
18 boxes (9.5 cubic feet)
Abstract
This series consists of records documenting Control Data Corporation (CDC) litigation, including the Honeywell vs. CDC and Sperry Rand vs. CDC cases, as well as records documenting the everyday legal activities of the company. Materials include court documents, legal briefs, case background materials, memos and correspondence, and patent files.
Arrangement of Collection
The materials in this collection are arranged into the following groups:
- Legal Subject Files
- Honeywell vs. Control Data Corporation
- Sperry Rand vs. Control Data Corporation
Acquisition:
The records were given to the Charles Babbage Institute by Ceridian Corporation in 1991.
- Computers -- United States -- Patents Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Control Data Corporation
- Honeywell Inc.
- PLATO (Electronic Computer System) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Patent suits -- United States Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Sperry Rand (Corporation)
- Sperry Rand (Corporation). Univac Division
- Title
- Control Data Corporation Records. Legal Records. Finding Aid.
- Author
- Prepared by Maria Plonski, Amanda Schwarze, and Josh Knatterud-Hubinger, March-April, 2004.
- Date
- 2004
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- English
Collecting Area Details
Contact The Charles Babbage Institute Archives Collecting Area
Elmer L. Andersen Library
222 - 21st Avenue South
Minneapolis MN 55455
612-624-5050
cbi@umn.edu
