5 Famous Inventions That Were Actually Stolen

Creating new and better ways to work, play and learn is fundamental to the story of humanity. Invention, the ability to see problems in a new light and create something that solves those problems led us out of the darkness and sparked the rise of human civilization. As ideas and inventions traveled with people and others took them, refined them and made better tools and ideas.

Over time, influential individuals realized the power of ideas and inventions and worked hard to prevent others from stealing their secrets. And so it has gone, from the ancient world to our modern times. Closely kept secrets, inventions or ideas somehow get away from their creators and forever change our world.

Closely Guarded Secrets

In the modern world, inventions and ideas can be patented to protect them by force of law. Despite that protection, many of the important developments in science and technology associated with famous inventors may actually be the work of others. Controversy surrounds the development of the X-ray, telephone, cotton gin, incandescent lamp and other modern inventions. In ancient times, stolen inventions created empires and forever changed the shape of the world.

How Rome Stole the Sea

The ancient Romans exemplify the concept of taking the ideas of others and adapting them to their own needs. Indeed, their empire might never have dominated the world without borrowed and stolen ideas. For over a thousand years, the Phoenicians dominated trade and travel throughout the Mediterranean Sea. Over time, the Phoenician colony of Carthage grew into an unmatched maritime power. Carthage proved a barrier to Roman expansion and Rome's answer to the problem, war, went badly at first. When a Carthaginian ship ran aground, the Romans captured it, completely disassembled it and copied it board for board. Western civilization today might be very different if that one ship hadn't fallen into Roman hands.

The Telephone

Everyone associates the telephone with Alexander Graham Bell. The truth is, he didn't invent the first telephone at all. The first working telephone prototype was developed by Italian inventor Antonio Meucci. He filed for patent in 1872 but failed to renew it as required. As a result, Mr. Bell got the opportunity to patent his version of the telephone in 1876 and the rest is history. Mr. Bell might be speaking Italian if Mr. Meucci had taken steps to protect his invention.

The Cotton Gin

It is fairly common for one person to take advantage of another's ideas. This seems to be the case for Catherine Littlefield Greene. Without Mrs. Greene, the textile industry of today might be impossible. Everyone associates the cotton gin with Eli Whitney but Mrs. Greene provided the idea, design and the financing needed to develop and market the invention.

Eli Whitney, a tutor for Mrs. Greene's children, agreed to work with her to build and promote the device. Whitney didn't really steal her idea. The laws and mores of the time made it extremely difficult for a woman to do public work. Working with and through a man is the only way she could accomplish her aims without facing public indignation and scandal. Now history gives the credit to Eli Whitney but it was Catherine Greene who revolutionized textiles and help rebuild the economy of the Southern States as a result.

The Automobile

The motor car is an idea with a multitude of "inventors" but the first practical gas powered car is historically associated with Henry Ford and his model T. In fact, Ford was late to the starting line because Karl Benz received a patent for his automobile and began to sell them in 1888. This led to the later Mercedes Benz line of vehicles that dominated the market in Europe. Ford didn't develop a self-propelled motor car until 1896.

Radio

The development of radio could be considered an act of intellectual piracy today. Marconi, who received a patent for the idea in 1904, developed and built his radio using patented technology developed by Nikola Tesla. Marconi's work infringed on seventeen of Tesla's patented ideas and before 1904, Marconi was repeatedly refused patent due to conflict with previously patented inventions. When Marconi finally received a patent, Tesla lacked the resources to successfully defend his work. It was only after his death that Tesla finally received credit for the invention of wireless radio transmission.

There are several ways to protect your idea. Filing a provisional patent application protects your invention while you are trying to find companies to help with manufacturing and distribution. You may also consider a patent attorney to devise an intellectual property protection plan. Find out if your invention is patentable by visiting the United States Patent and Trademark Office. You'll find a wide range of helpful tools and information for protecting your ideas.

Editor's Note: Jon Silva works with Marsh Fischmann & Breyfogle LLP and enjoys the discussion and reporting of law. His interests include electrical engineering and renewable energy.