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

Finally a Dr. Land Book that could be a great movie!As a 27 year employee of Polaroid, who has read most of the Polaroid books, notably, Victor McElheny’s, Insisting on the Impossible and Peter Wensberg’s, Land’s Polaroid, I think Ronald Fierstein’s, A Triumph of Genius captured Dr. Edwin H. Land’s true persona with remarkable clarity. My own Polaroid history, Fall of an Icon- Polaroid after Edwin H. Land chronicles the rise and fall of Polaroid as seen from inside this once great company; but after several years of personal research on Land, I learned a lot in reading A Triumph of Genius.The first quarter of this book describes Land’s early life; Harvard experience; Polarizer development and World War II support. I had always thought Land was being a smart businessman when he engulfed the new Polaroid in applying his Polarized film to the war efforts. Fierstein paints Land as true patriot, wanting to rid the world of the evil Nazi’s- connected to his Jewish family’s escape from oppressive Russia. When Land met with President Eisenhower (as part of Land’s decades long service on Presidential Scientific advisory committees), Ike posed the question during early cold war with Russia, “I wish I knew what was going on over there with their long range missiles.” Land responds, according to Fierstein: “Why don’t we go look?” This was the genesis of the U2 spy plane program led on several fronts by Dr. Land. Truly a great scene in a Dr. Land movie!The next quarter of the book dwells a bit too tediously, in my mind, on the discovery portion of the Polaroid vs. Kodak lawsuit. The actual trial sections were however, detailed but exciting and suspenseful, even for someone who knew the results. Fierstein nicely captured the brilliance of Land on the witness stand and destruction of Kodak’s alleged “experts”. The description of the arrogant Kodak management and lawyers, along with the courageous judge Rya Zobel would provide great court room drama for the movie.I thought the book ended a bit too quickly. Land’s battery inventions and assault on the convential battery technology was a big part of Land’s patent files, but missing from the book. The Polaroid battery was a major roadblock to the SX70 program. The award portion of the Polaroid vs. Kodak lawsuit would have been an interesting addition, as would some detail on the unsuccessful Disney- Shamrock hostile takeover. But overall, Ronald Fierstein’s inside details on the early Dr. Land and the lawsuit provide Polaroid retirees with added testimony on why Edwin H. Land was a genius- a patriot- and a truly unique person. I thank you Mr. Fierstein for the great book!Milt Dentch

Having just read Ron Fierstein's riveting work, let me invite you to return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear, when photographs were captured on film, and "instant photography" had just been pioneered by Edwin Land's Polaroid Corporation.Fierstein's work profiles a company built by a visionary techie in competition with the reigning monarch of photography, Kodak of the Yellow Box. It will be instructive to those who aspire to chart the path of businesses that battle for hegemony by introducing products embodying "disruptive" technology. (Are you listening, denizens of Silicon Valley?)Fittingly, I write this on April 26, 2015, being celebrated as World Intellectual Property Day. The fulcrum of Fierstein's narrative is the patent litigation that Polaroid pursued and won against Kodak, after Kodak introduced its own version of a one-step instant color photography system. As an attorney in the law firm that represented Polaroid in that suit, the author was in the catbird seat to gain intimate knowledge of the facts and strategy. He now has effectively realized the opportunity that arises with the passage of time, to reveal in detail the hitherto-secret backroom machinations of the disputing parties. For my colleagues in the patent profession, it is a "must read" case study that illuminates strategy and tactics that eventually succeeded in eliminating the me-too Kodak product from the marketplace. To me, it demonstrates the ultimate triumph of the U.S. patent system.At this point in history, the public value of having a system of patents is under question, and the courts and Congress are being encouraged to whittle away at the protections ostensibly provided by patents. A week ago, John Oliver somewhat facetiously presented the issue on his HBO show Last Week Tonight. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bxcc3SM_KA&sns=em Those who are willing to walk in the moccasins of Shark Tank investors shown by Oliver would be helpfully enlightened by Fierstein's multifaceted telling of the Polaroid story.-Gerry J. Elman, Patent AttorneyElman Technology Law, P.C.Founding Editor, Biotechnology Law Report

Double decent.

A well written, in depth history of one of the greatest patent battles ever. The Polaroid v. Kodak suit involved several of Dr. Edwin Land's patents in instant photography. The patents dealt with leading edge technology if only 30 years ago, but obsolete today. Both companies have almost disappeared but the telling of development of the technology and exciting court room battle, by Ronald Fierstein makes a superlative read.Robert Mitchell

More about courtroom than about dr edwin land

The title says it all. A glorious book of a bygone era where intelligence always won!!

Good