"Flash of Genius" - A Timely Reminder

The release of the new movie "Flash of Genius" has brought the subject of  How Inventors Always Get Screwed into the daily media diet.

BTW, if you don't know about Armstrong, you should read Lawrence Lessing's (he's not the Internet Lessig) 1956 biography, "Man of High Fidelity." The book is sadly out of print (old paperback copies are selling for $25.00 on Amazon (NSDQ: AMZN)). ortunately, though, the complete text of the book has been posted here by the Internet Archive...

Anyway, if you think American technological prowess begins and ends with the Mac and iPhone, you owe it to yourself to read this tale of a true genius struggling against those out to steal the fruits of his brilliance. In Armstrong's case, his nemesis was RCA impresario David Sarnoff....

RCA -- along with Westinghouse and a host of other companies -- infringed Amstrong's patents for years. He was less lucky than Kearns, though. He committed suicide by walking out of a hotel window in 1954...

The point I want to make is that people who think modern technology sprung fully realized in some easy and fun way from the landscaped corporate vistas of Silicon Valley don't know squat. Every development from Maxwell, Edison, and Tesla; up through Marconi and De Forest; to Eckert, Mauchly and the present day has not come without a humongous struggle. (For another great tale of inventor screwing -- tellingly, also involving RCA -- read Tube: The Invention of Television by David Fisher, about the travails of Philo Farnsworth.)

 

The importance of this topic in the current scenario cannot be over-stated.  Our leaders keep telling us that we're going to innovate our way out of the current energy / economic / environmental crises.  Maybe somebody needs to remind our leaders what really happens to the individuals who produce the innovations we're counting on to reshape the world.

If they really want to "transform America" (as one of the major party candidates stated upon launching his campaign), then they need to take a long hard look at how individual genius suffers in a world dominated by monolithic corporate capitalism.

Comments

[Wolfger]

It's also a reminder that all the "Intellectual Property" laws are crap. The people who write them like to portray them as a boon to the little guy who creates something new, but in reality these laws only protect the wealthy (who often steal rather than innovate).

[munch]

Just one more reason in favor of participatory economics, in my humble opinion. Capitalism has served its purpose in history; it's time for something better.

[Ross88888]

Flash of Genius is terrific. It honors garage inventors and reminds viewers how important inventions and inventors are to society. If you liked Flash of Genius--you'll love the book "GADGET NATION: A Journey Through The Eccentric World of Invention" Just like FOG, Gadget Nation looks at the tough road garage inventors have to travel on their way to success. Gadget Nation showcases more than 100 off-beat gadgets and the inventors behind them... From Bird Diapers to Slippers with headlights, Gadget Nation tells the inventors stories and shines a light on this truly American phenomenon. Innovation, creativity and ingenuity--ultimately it's all about reaching for the American Dream. Check it out at www.gadgetnation.net

[Roga]

I'm a little bit surprised by the comments here. I'm well aware of the evils of corporatism (notice I didn't say capitalism), but I don't think government grants are the answer in any way, shape, or form. Government can be just as evil as large corporations, if not more so. In another age, EMC2 would have gotten a grant from the Carnegie Foundation. An examination of history shows that those who produce both technological and business success are exceedingly rare. I'm not saying one should allow evil to prosper without a fight, but I do think that in order to remain sane, innovators must come to some peace with the fact that someone will share credit and reward for their toils.

[Roga]

I'm a little bit surprised by the comments here. I'm well aware of the evils of corporatism (notice I didn't say capitalism), but I don't think government grants are the answer in any way, shape, or form. Government can be just as evil as large corporations, if not more so. In another age, EMC2 would have gotten a grant from the Carnegie Foundation. An examination of history shows that those who produce both technological and business success are exceedingly rare. I'm not saying one should allow evil to prosper without a fight, but I do think that in order to remain sane, innovators must come to some peace with the fact that someone will share credit and reward for their toils.