Thomas Edison: Inventor or Patent Thief?

Thomas Edison: Inventor or Patent Thief? Most inventions are created from a multitude of ideas and a number of men, and one man simply cannot be credited for the inventions such as the phonograph, the kinetoscope, or the light bulb. Unfortunately, it is usually the corrupt businessman who exploits such creations and claims them as his own who receives the lion’s share. Thomas Alva Edison was an ideal example of such a person. Edison hardly played any role in the actual production of anything revolutionary, but by patenting other people’s products and commercializing them, he was able to gain a great deal of success. Edison did not even have any form of scientific or engineering education, and only received three months of any kind of formal education in his life. (Gehring 1) However, throughout his life, he managed to become the holder of 1,093 U.S. patents, along with various others internationally. However, almost every one of these products had been a revision or improvement of an earlier invention or patent. (Gehring 1) In essence, Edison was nothing but a fraudulent entrepreneur who thrived off of the work of his associates and others. Most people would say that Edison was the inventor of the light bulb. The fact that this misconception runs so rampant, even in today’s society, is alarming. The story of the light bulb predates Edison by over 70 years, beginning with Englishman Humphrey Davey’s electric lamp in 1806. (Krystek 1) Davy’s device was blindingly bright, and it could not be put to practical use in the common household. However, this did lead to the invention of arc lamps soon after, which were used in lighthouses, public assembly areas, and searchlights. (Krystek 1) In 1841, an inventor named Frederick DeMoleyns patented the first incandescent light bulb, and J.W. Starr followed in 1845. (Krystek 1) Joseph Swan had even been installing incandescent bulbs in homes in England years before Edison even got his working. (Nakagawa 1) Swan’s house was the

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