Lights, camera, action! The history of filmmaking stretches
back over a century, and in that time, the technologies in front of
and behind the lens have advanced in leaps and bounds. Just as it
takes more than a script and a wad of cash to make a film,
inventing a whole new industry needs a lot of Intellectual Property
(IP) to go with it.
Several critical phases of innovation, each involving one or
more inventors, ensured that moviemaking evolved from a curiosity
into multi-billion-dollar mainstream entertainment. Though not
every idea was a winner, it is no surprise that patent protection
has played a significant role in this artform's evolution and
quirks.
The Lumières, Méliès and Edison: camera
and film pioneers
