Chapter 8, Point 6

The Little Intermittent Windshield Wiper And Its Little Inventor

The core of this point tell about the infringement of a patent. The owners is Robert W. Kearns, a Maryland inventor and former engineering professor at Wayne State University, Michigan. He obtained a patent for his first intermittent car windshield wiper system in 1967.

The idea of this invention, was get when he open a champagne bottle on his wedding, and the cork virtually blinding him in his right eye. From this situation, he thinking how difficult it is to drive in a drizzling rain. Kearns’s mussing led to basement invention, a Windshield Wiper that automatically blinks on and off in light rain.

This invention at first, he installed in Ford Galaxie, but Ford installed it under its own patent for such a system. Then the infringement of the Robert invention, continually do by Major U.S car, and Japanese Automakers. He received no money for the use of these system. Kearns filed suit against Ford, General Motors, Chrysler, Toyota, and many else automakers. He had planned to open his own firm to supply the intermittent Windshield Wiper system to all automakers but was unable to do so after the companies manufactured the system in-house.

Dr. Kearns represented himself in the cases that ran trough 1995 until final resolution or settlement. He bring this cases to the federal courthouse. He is non-stopped to fight its right to get justice. He was represented by four law firms during the course of all the litigation, and spend much money for this. Finally Kearns settled his case with Ford motor for $10,2 million and the amount Kearns received from Chrysler, $18,7 million, was far less than he had requested as damages.

The infringement of a patent was do by car companies, it is clear unethical. This is against the law. We know a patent is create to keep its inventor from all plagiarist. The new thing (invention) it is not easy to create. It is need process, much of time, even cost. plagiarizing will only harm all inventor. But we have to know, the term of a patent is limited in order the innovation create by continuing. Else important we have to know, we must to fight for our right, and justice, don’t fear with the party that has a large status.