A Triumph of Genius : Edwin Land, Polaroid, and the Kodak Patent War

One man Steve Jobs outspokenly admired was Edwin Land, the creator of Polaroid's instant photography. Jobs revered Land as "a national treasure," and modeled much of his career after his. Neither had a college degree, but both men built highly successful, innovative organizations. Both were perfectionists, micro-managers with fanatic attention to detail, consummate showmen and marketers. In many ways, Edwin Land was the original Steve Jobs. This riveting biography from the American Bar Association, visits the spectacular life of Edwin Land, breakthrough inventor. At the time of his death, he stood third on the list of our most prolific inventors, behind only Thomas Edison and one of Edison's colleagues. Land's most famous achievement of course, was the creation of a type of film and camera that could produce a photographic print an instant after the picture was taken. The book takes you behind the scenes of his discoveries, his triumphs, and defeats. This book presents an unprecedented look at a reclusive genius. You'll learn details of Land's involvement over four decades with top-secret U.S. military intelligence efforts during World War II and through the Cold War in the service of seven American presidents. Additionally, you'll thrill to the compelling first-hand look at perhaps our nation's most important legal battles over intellectual property - Kodak versus Polaroid. This corporate and legal struggle is a story of almost operatic dimension. What began as a cooperative and collegial relationship ended in Kodak's betrayal. The conflict led to an epic legal battle, a dramatic event for Land who, from the witness stand, personally starred in a compelling courtroom drama. More than a simple biography, this fascinating book details the most significant patent litigation of the 20th century over the one-step photography technology developed by Polaroid and its founder, Dr. Edwin H. Land. It's a biographical legal thriller that is not to be missed! One man Steve Jobs outspokenly admired was Edwin Land, the creator of Polaroid's instant photography. Jobs revered Land as'a national treasure,'and modeled much of his career after his. Neither had a college degree, but both men built highly successful, innovative organizations. Both were perfectionists, micro-managers with fanatic attention to detail, consummate showmen and marketers. In many ways, Edwin Land was the original Steve Jobs. This riveting biography from the American Bar Association, visits the spectacular life of Edwin Land, breakthrough inventor. At the time of his death, he stood third on the list of our most prolific inventors, behind only Thomas Edison and one of Edison's colleagues. Land's most famous achievement of course, was the creation of a type of film and camera that could produce a photographic print an instant after the picture was taken. The book takes you behind the scenes of his discoveries, his triumphs, and defeats. This book presents an unprecedented look at a reclusive genius. You'll learn details of Land's involvement over four decades with top-secret U.S. military intelligence efforts during World War II and through the Cold War in the service of seven American presidents. Additionally, you'll thrill to the compelling first-hand look at perhaps our nation's most important legal battles over intellectual property - Kodak versus Polaroid. This corporate and legal struggle is a story of almost operatic dimension. What began as a cooperative and collegial relationship ended in Kodak's betrayal. The conflict led to an epic legal battle, a dramatic event for Land who, from the witness stand, personally starred in a compelling courtroom drama. More than a simple biography, this fascinating book details the most significant patent litigation of the 20th century over the one-step photography technology developed by Polaroid and its founder, Dr. Edwin H. Land. It's a biographical legal thriller that is not to be missed!'Edwin Land was a multi-faceted genius, and his Polaroid was a quintessential American success story. With great skill, Ron Fierstein tells the full story of the company's epic court battle with Kodak for the first time - a sobering tale with many lessons for 21st-century entrepreneurs.'- Harry McCracken, Technology Editor, Fast Company magazine About the Author Ronald K. Fierstein was a young lawyer on the team of litigators from the prestigious patent law firm of Fish & Neave representing Polaroid in its epic patent battle with Eastman Kodak over instant photography technology. He had the unique experience of working closely with Polaroid's two main witnesses, Dr. Edwin Land and Howard Rogers, during the discovery phase of the litigation and then throughout the dramatic federal court trial in Boston. After leaving the practice of law in the early 1980s, he has enjoyed a long and successful career in the entertainment industry, representing artists in the recording (Suzanne Vega, Shawn Colvin, Mary Chapin Carpenter) and theater (Harvey Fierstein) industries. Ron lives with his wife in Chappaqua, NY, and spends as much time as he can at their second home on the beautiful island of North Hero, VT. They have two grown sons. One man Steve Jobs outspokenly admired was Edwin Land, the creator of Polaroid s instant photography. Jobs revered Land as "a national treasure," and modeled much of his career after his. Neither had a college degree, but both men built highly successful, innovative organizations. Both were perfectionists, micromanagers with fanatic attention to detail, consummate showmen and marketers. In many ways, Edwin Land was the original Steve Jobs. This riveting biography from the American Bar Association, visits the spectacular life of Edwin Land, breakthrough inventor. At the time of his death, he stood third on the list of our most prolific inventors, behind only Thomas Edison and one of Edison s colleagues. Land s most famous achievement of course, was the creation of a revolutionary film and camera system that could produce a photographic print moments after the picture was taken. The book takes you behind the scenes of his discoveries, his triumphs, and also the defeats of this reclusive genius. You'll learn details of Land s involvement over four decades with topsecret U.S. military intelligence efforts during World War II and through the Cold War in the service of seven American presidents. Additionally, you'll thrill to the compelling firsthand look at one of our nation s most important legal battles over intellectual property Polaroid versus Kodak. This corporate and legal struggle is a story of almost operatic dimension. What began as a cooperative and collegial relationship ended in Kodak s betrayal. The conflict led to an epic legal battle, a dramatic event for Land who, from the witness stand, personally starred in a compelling courtroom drama. More than a simple biography, this fascinating book is a biographical legal thriller that is not to be missed." This riveting biography from the American Bar Association, visits the spectacular life of Edwin Land, breakthrough inventor. At the time of his death, he stood third on the list of our most prolific inventors, behind only Thomas Edison and one of Edison’s colleagues. Land’s most famous achievement of course, was the creation of a revolutionary film and camera system that could produce a photographic print moments after the picture was taken. The book takes you behind the scenes of his discoveries, his triumphs, and also the defeats of this reclusive genius.

You'll learn details of Land’s involvement over four decades with top-secret U.S. military intelligence efforts during World War II and through the Cold War in the service of seven American presidents. Additionally, you'll thrill to the compelling first-hand look at one of our nation’s most important legal battles over intellectual property—Polaroid versus Kodak. This corporate and legal struggle is a story of almost operatic dimension. What began as a cooperative and collegial relationship ended in Kodak’s betrayal. The conflict led to an epic legal battle, a dramatic event for Land who, from the witness stand, personally starred in a compelling courtroom drama.

More than a simple biography, this fascinating book is a biographical legal thriller that is not to be missed! Cover 1 Title Page 2 Copyright 3 Table of Contents 5 Prologue 9 Landisms 11 Chapter 1. A Very Special Young Man 13 Chapter 2. Polaroid Is Born 42 Chapter 3. One-Step Photography 77 Chapter 4. A Consumer Curiosity? 109 Chapter 5. Color 149 Chapter 6. Absolute One-Step Photography 191 Chapter 7. The Big Push—The Bigger Divide 218 Chapter 8. Aladdin Emerges 257 Chapter 9. The Coming Storm 296 Chapter 10. A Fight for Survival 339 Chapter 11. Kodak’s View 372 Chapter 12. The Battle Is Joined 396 Chapter 13. Early Skirmishes in Discovery 423 Chapter 14. Searching for the Facts 443 Chapter 15. Kodak’s Big Assault 457 Chapter 16. Land Joins the Fray 479 Chapter 17. The Long, Slow Road to the Courthouse 499 Chapter 18. The Final Turn 526 Chapter 19. Over the Precipice 546 Chapter 20. Land’s Day in Court 566 Chapter 21. The Cross-Examination 605 Chapter 22. After the Main Event 634 Chapter 23. Kodak’s Defense 656 Chapter 24. The Battle of the Experts 683 Chapter 25. The Waiting Game 712 Chapter 26. Victory at Last 748 Chapter 27. The Hammer Falls Harder 769 Chapter 28. Aftermath 801 Chapter 29. Epilogue 820 Acknowledgments 850 Dedication 855 Endnotes 857 Index 1050 EBC,Converted One man Steve Jobs outspokenly admired was Edwin Land, the creator of Polaroid's instant photography. Jobs revered Land as ""a national treasure, "" and modeled much of his career after his. Neither had a college degree, but both men built highly successful, innovative organizations. Both were perfectionists, micro-managers with fanatic attention to detail, consummate showmen and marketers. In many ways, Edwin Land was the original Steve Jobs.;Cover; Title Page; Copyright; Table of Contents; Prologue; Landisms; Chapter 1. A Very Special Young Man; Chapter 2. Polaroid Is Born; Chapter 3. One-Step Photography; Chapter 4. A Consumer Curiosity?; Chapter 5. Color; Chapter 6. Absolute One-Step Photography; Chapter 7. The Big Push-The Bigger Divide; Chapter 8. Aladdin Emerges; Chapter 9. The Coming Storm; Chapter 10. A Fight for Survival; Chapter 11. Kodak's View; Chapter 12. The Battle Is Joined; Chapter 13. Early Skirmishes in Discovery; Chapter 14. Searching for the Facts; Chapter 15. Kodak's Big Assault.