"Stinky Pete" wrote in message
t...
No. Stolen. They bought a very small number from the Brits. They then
copied
the design illegally, i.e. stolen.

I thought they were given them rather than any purchase.

The Whittle design was done while he was a serving officer and so any
rights, patents, etc. rest with the Crown.

The UK government of the day didn't make an issue of it, and the person
responsible, the then President of the Board of Trade, is now dead, so we
can't ask him.

I should add that as he went on to become Prime Minister it obviously didn't
do his political career any harm either...

--
William Black
------------------
Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords
is no basis for a system of government