Flash of Genius (how do you protect a good idea?)

Throughout modern history, brilliant inventors without the resources to protect their patents have been shoved aside. Antonio Meucci: telephone. Jacob Davis: blue jeans. Nikola Tesla: radio. Hans Lippershey: telescope. All were men whose inventions were patented by others with names much more familiar:
Alexander Graham Bell. Levi Strauss. Guglielmo Marconi. Galileo Galilei.
Based on the true story of university professor and part-time inventor Robert Kearns (GREG KINNEAR of Little Miss Sunshine, As Good as It Gets) decades-long battle with the U.S. automobile industry, Flash of Genius tells the tale of one man whose fight to receive recognition for his ingenuity would come at a heavy price. But this determined engineer refused to be silenced, and he took on the corporate titans in a battle that nobody thought he could win.
The Kearns were a typical 1960s Detroit family, trying to live their version of the American Dream. Local college professor Bob married schoolteacher Phyllis (LAUREN GRAHAM of Because I Said So, Bad Santa) and, by their mid-thirties, had six kids who brought them a hectic but satisfying Midwestern existence.
When inveterate tinkerer Bob invents the intermittent windshield wiper—a device that would eventually be used by every car in the world. Bob is not only proud and thrilled, but the Kearns think they have struck gold. Working with family friend Gil Previck (DERMOT MULRONEY of Zodiac, About Schmidt), they develop the revolutionary product and take it to market. But their aspirations are dashed after the automotive giants who embraced Bobs device unceremoniously take his creation and shun the man who imagined it.
Ignored, threatened and then buried in years of litigation, Bob is haunted by what was done to his family and their future. He turns to attorneys, including Gregory Lawson (ALAN ALDA of The Aviator, Crimes and Misdemeanors), to help him fight the seemingly impossible battlebut their approach and willingness to settle leaves Bob with the realization he alone must pursue the justice he needs. He becomes a man obsessed. His conviction is simple: his lifes work—or for that matter, anyones work—should be acknowledged by those who stand to benefit. And while paying the toll for refusing to compromise his dignity, this everyday David will try the unthinkable: to bring Goliath to his knees.

http://www.blacktree.tv

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• filmmaker
• reel
• interview
• trailer
• inventor
• copyright
• infringement
• suit
• patent
• attorney

[JaiPapa]

Kick Ford's ass!

[brillantandfantastic]

i have to see this!!

[TD94S]

Such a good movie.

[massivecrown]

"It's just a windshield wiper. To YOU maybe, to ME it's the Mona Lisa...". Such a powerful comeback! :)

[spitfirez89]

@justwantyoutoseeme an idea worth millions

[justwantyoutoseeme]

crying over wiperblades

[GaunletofDestruction]

@my2blue Or as my friend would always say "found on road dead".

[PlanesofExistence]

this movie was great. you could really feel the characters pain from the uncredited theft of his invention. you saw how distraught the character was, and you were were enveloped in the repercussion of his choices both good and bad. like loosing his wife, when he chose recognition and money instead of his wife. when he won his case it really made you feel happy, the best part when he looks at his reflection. you can see hes proud.

[Chrono348]

After reading many posts here you should all do more research on the subject before you post things bashing only Ford for this. Apparently Mercedes Benz, Honda, Toyota, Chrysler, GM, Etc. Nearly every automotive company stole his Idea, and he had lawsuits standing against each company, but the only two companies that had to pay money to him were Ford Motor company and Chrysler. The other lawsuits were thrown out of court due to Age and hassle, and missing paperwork filing over the years.

[poortaiwanese]

buy japanese cars

[azharbinhafiz]

F#$@ Corp. world

any alternatives?

[Gutsyndicate]

I thought woman invented windsheild wipers?