Audio
Archive
2013
January
February
March
April
May
2012
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
2011
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
2010
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
2009
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
2008
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
2007
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Subscribe
Oct. 03, 2008
Flash of Genius
Click 
to enlarge images
to enlarge images
|
|
Tweet |
|
In 1967, inventor Robert Kearns received patents on the mechanism of the intermittent windshield wiper for cars. Kearns offered his idea to several automakers but was turned away -- but then Ford and Chrysler began manufacturing cars containing the technology. His suit against the two automakers became a long-running patent battle, eventually reaching the Supreme Court, where it raised questions about just how non-obvious and unique an invention had to be to deserve patent protection. Kearns eventually was awarded some $30 million in damages. In this segment, Ira talks with an author, movie director, and actor behind the new film 'Flash of Genius' about the Kearns windshield wiper patent battle. |
Produced by Christopher Intagliata, Associate Senior Producer
Guests
-
John Seabrook
Staff writer at The New Yorker
Author of "Flash of Genius and Other True Stories of Invention"
New York, New York -
Mark Abraham
Producer, First-time director
Director of "Flash of Genius"
Los Angeles, California -
Greg Kinnear
Actor
Plays lead role of Bob Kearns in "Flash of Genius"
Los Angeles, California
FEATURED READING
Brilliant Blunders
by Mario Livio
ADVERTISEMENT
RELATED BLOG POSTS
- This Dinosaur Is Made From Balloons, Not Bones
A project for the Virginia Museum of Natural History is more than a bunch of hot air.
- Predicting Storms, Electroshock Therapy, Germaphiles, and More
Each week we’ll round up links to science stories or studies that blow our mind, tickle our funny bone, or generally strike our ...
- The Perils of Plankton
An artist magnifies an overlooked environmental problem in sculptures that are larger than life.
- Brilliant Blunders
Were the theories of illustrious minds such as Linus Pauling and Albert Einstein free of serious blunders? Absolutely not!
Discussion