Utynam's Heirs
01 November 2008
A monthly column devoted to IP curiosities and controversies, named in honour of John of Utynam - who received the world's first recorded patent in 1449
diary@managingip.com
Hollywood hears patent case
Utynam was pleased to learn that a patent case has made it to the big screen with "Flash of Genius", a Universal Pictures film now playing in US cinemas. Starring actor Greg Kinnear, the movie recounts the story of small inventor Robert Kearns and his battle against Ford Motor Company to win credit for inventing the so-called intermittent windshield wiper.
Kearns claimed that he approached Ford with his invention in the late 1960s, only to have it stolen and implemented in Ford and then Chrysler cars, without credit to him, soon after. The inventor sued Ford in 1978, but didn't get his day in court until 1990, after having refused a $30 million settlement offer, suffering a nervous breakdown and destroying his marriage.
Once in court, Kearns (mostly representing himself) successfully convinced the jury that Ford's claim that his invention was obvious because...
Only subscribers have complete access to Managing IP Magazine,
log in or
subscribe now.
Alternatively take a
free trial, giving you 48-hour access to Managing IP Magazine (some articles and surveys may be excluded).
Subscribe Now
This article is available to subscribers. Please click subscribe to read the rest of the article.
Subscribe
Take a free trial
Please take a free 48-hour trial to gain limited access. Some articles and surveys may be excluded.
Take a free trial