Comments on: “Did Thomas Edison Die a Poor Man? http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/02/10/did-thomas-edison-die-a-poor-man/ Yesterday's tomorrow, today. Sat, 30 Aug 2008 11:18:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: jayessell http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/02/10/did-thomas-edison-die-a-poor-man/#comment-1046560 jayessell Mon, 11 Feb 2008 23:33:34 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/02/10/did-thomas-edison-die-a-poor-man/#comment-1046560 He's one to talk about piracy if the Tom Hanks mini series "From the Earth to the Moon" is to be believed. French filmmaker Melies "Le Voyage dans la Lune" was ripped off by the Edison company according to Mr. Hanks. But, according to other sources, the American producer Lubin pirated the film under the title <i>A Trip to Mars</i>. There was a movie in the 1970s about the Edison Patent Thugs. I don't remember the title, but here is an article: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1316/is_v17/ai_3959885/pg_4 He’s one to talk about piracy if the Tom Hanks mini series “From the Earth to the Moon” is to be believed.

French filmmaker Melies “Le Voyage dans la Lune” was ripped off by the Edison company according to Mr. Hanks.

But, according to other sources, the American producer Lubin pirated the film under the title A Trip to Mars.

There was a movie in the 1970s about the Edison Patent Thugs. I don’t remember the title, but here is an article:

http://findarticles.com/p/arti.....59885/pg_4

]]> By: jmyint http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/02/10/did-thomas-edison-die-a-poor-man/#comment-1046486 jmyint Mon, 11 Feb 2008 02:20:25 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/02/10/did-thomas-edison-die-a-poor-man/#comment-1046486 Well 12 million at the time of Edison's death would be about 150 million today. That's still a chunk of change but Edison was notoriously bad at making business decisions. Well 12 million at the time of Edison’s death would be about 150 million today. That’s still a chunk of change but Edison was notoriously bad at making business decisions.

]]> By: Mike Brisendine http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/02/10/did-thomas-edison-die-a-poor-man/#comment-1046485 Mike Brisendine Mon, 11 Feb 2008 02:15:48 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/02/10/did-thomas-edison-die-a-poor-man/#comment-1046485 That's a major meess-up on the American Heritage site. LOL! That’s a major meess-up on the American Heritage site. LOL!

]]> By: Stannous http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/02/10/did-thomas-edison-die-a-poor-man/#comment-1046464 Stannous Sun, 10 Feb 2008 20:11:08 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/02/10/did-thomas-edison-die-a-poor-man/#comment-1046464 I meant to post this here but put it on the Menlo Park light page: According to today's American Heritage Pic of the Day Edison's also the world's shortest person: http://www.americanheritage.com/picture/index.jsp?startRow=&pictureID=339&page=viewPicture&publishMonthYear=All I meant to post this here but put it on the Menlo Park light page:
According to today’s American Heritage Pic of the Day Edison’s also the world’s shortest person:
http://www.americanheritage.co.....thYear=All

]]> By: spayced http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/02/10/did-thomas-edison-die-a-poor-man/#comment-1046455 spayced Sun, 10 Feb 2008 17:46:06 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/02/10/did-thomas-edison-die-a-poor-man/#comment-1046455 Well yes it's a bit of a stretch that he was poor. But it does raise the interesting and true point that patents give little income compared to manufacturing and selling. He also complained that patents don't last long enough. Which makes you wonder how Copyrights managed to get extended to 120 years but patents remain at 17. (The rationale for both long and short lengths that it will encourage innovation, wtf) The final point, that parties can litigate to drain your money is still an issue today. Well yes it’s a bit of a stretch that he was poor. But it does raise the interesting and true point that patents give little income compared to manufacturing and selling. He also complained that patents don’t last long enough. Which makes you wonder how Copyrights managed to get extended to 120 years but patents remain at 17. (The rationale for both long and short lengths that it will encourage innovation, wtf) The final point, that parties can litigate to drain your money is still an issue today.

]]> By: Matthew http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/02/10/did-thomas-edison-die-a-poor-man/#comment-1046438 Matthew Sun, 10 Feb 2008 14:16:31 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/02/10/did-thomas-edison-die-a-poor-man/#comment-1046438 The article doesn't explain how if he died with an estate worth $12m he could have been poor. The article doesn’t explain how if he died with an estate worth $12m he could have been poor.

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