#134 Edwin Land Polaroid vs Kodak

Edwin Land, the visionary founder of Polaroid and inventor with 535 patents, remains an unsung hero of American innovation despite his profound contributions to technology, photography, and national defense. Land's relentless pursuit of scientific exploration and his "can-do" attitude led to the iconic Polaroid camera and pivotal advancements in polarizing filters used in countless everyday applications. His secretive yet significant work in defense and intelligence showcased his dedication to America's scientific elite. Despite his immense success, Land's reclusive nature and focus on his work often overshadowed his public recognition. His influence on Steve Jobs, who admired Land's fusion of art, science, and business, is notable, with Jobs emulating Land's philosophies in building Apple. Land's legal battle against Kodak, which infringed on Polaroid's patents, resulted in a historic victory, affirming the importance of protecting intellectual property and honoring the lifetime achievements of a true genius. The story of Land's triumph, as detailed in Robert K. Fierstein's "A Triumph of Genius: Edwin Land, Polaroid, and the Kodak Patent War," serves as a testament to the power of intellectual curiosity and the spirit of innovation.

• Edwin Land's achievements are often overlooked despite his significant contributions to technology and culture.
• He held 535 patents, ranking third in U.S. history, and received numerous honorary doctorates from prestigious institutions.
• Land was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the National Medal of Science, and was inducted into various halls of fame.
• His inventions, such as the plastic sheet polarizer, are used daily in various applications.
• Land's work in defense and intelligence was highly regarded by the scientific community.
• His approach to business and innovation was to encourage instinctive pursuit of dreams without excessive planning.
• Steve Jobs was greatly influenced by Land, considering him a national treasure and a model for entrepreneurship.

"Pick problems that are important and nearly impossible to solve. Pick problems that are the result of sensing deep and possibly unarticulated human needs. Pick problems that will draw on the diversity of human knowledge for their solution and where that knowledge is inadequate, fill the gaps with basic scientific exploration. Involve all the members of the organization in the sense of adventure and accomplishment, so that a large part of life's rewards would come from this involvement."

This quote encapsulates Land's philosophy on innovation and problem-solving, emphasizing the importance of tackling significant challenges and involving the whole team in the process.

• Steve Jobs admired Land's integration of art, science, and business.
• Jobs aimed to emulate Land's vision in building Apple.
• Both Land and Jobs were college dropouts who became influential through their determination and creativity.
• Jobs's approach to product development and corporate culture at Apple was reminiscent of Land's methods at Polaroid.
• Land's belief that consumers don't know what they want until they see it was echoed by Jobs in his product development philosophy.

"None. It isn't the consumer's job to know what they want."

Jobs's response on market research mirrors Land's belief that innovation involves creating products that consumers cannot yet imagine.

• Land's intense focus and dedication to his work were central to his success.
• He was a masterful communicator who could articulate complex ideas in an accessible way.
• Land's ability to convey the essence of his work played a crucial role in Polaroid's patent trial victory against Kodak.
• Despite his reclusive nature, Land's communication skills were instrumental in educating others about his inventions and ideas.

"Suddenly a separateness that comes during the preoccupation with a particular scientific task. There is a need, a transient need, a violent need for being just yourself, restating, recreating, talking in your own terms, about what you have learned from all the cultures, scientific and non scientific, before you and around you."

Land describes the deep immersion required for scientific discovery and the subsequent return to society for renewal and connection.

• Land valued curiosity, willingness to work hard, and the ability to engage in stimulating conversation over formal knowledge.
• He preferred to hire scientists who could anticipate and contribute to discussions in meaningful ways.
• Land's management style involved providing resources and freedom for researchers to explore without immediate pressure for results.
• This approach fostered a creative environment that was a competitive advantage for Polaroid.

"I don't care what the people know if they're willing to work hard and they consider it a pleasure to come here and work."

Land's hiring criteria focused on the candidate's work ethic and enjoyment of the work rather than their existing knowledge base.

• Land reflected on the paradox of research, where solutions seem obvious after they are found, despite potentially taking years to discover.
• He advocated for total engrossment in work as a means to unlock hidden resources within individuals.
• Land's insights on scientific investigation resonate with the broader process of learning and civilization.

"Why does it take so long to learn so little?"

Land muses on the nature of research and the disproportionate time it often takes to achieve seemingly simple insights.

• The book details Land's early life, his discovery of the textbook "Physical Optics" by Robert Wood, and the profound influence it had on him.
• Land's total immersion in his interests and the impact of concentrated focus are highlighted as key factors in his success.
• The book describes Land as a unique individual who never had an ordinary reaction to anything.

"My whole life has been spent trying to teach people that intense concentration for hour after hour can bring about in people resources they didn't know they had."

Land's belief in the power of intense concentration is presented as a central theme in his life and work.

• At 30 years old, Land was recognized alongside other pioneers such as Wilbur Wright and Henry Ford.
• His attributes of curiosity, idealism, and ability to translate ideas into achievements were celebrated.
• Land's early recognition set the stage for his future contributions to technology and industry.

"A state of mind that includes curiosity, an idealism which is dissatisfied with the restrictions and imperfections of the present."

This description of the pioneers' attributes perfectly aligns with Land's own mindset and approach to innovation.

• Land anticipated U.S. involvement in WWII and shifted Polaroid's focus to support the war effort.
• He was motivated by a sense of duty to combat Nazism rather than profit from the war.
• Land's ability to communicate the gravity of the situation and inspire his employees was a testament to his leadership.

"This disease that is spreading over the world, one that goes on for generations and does not stop when the war stops."

Land's description of Nazism underscores his understanding of the long-term implications of the ideology and the need for a committed response.

• Edwin Land believed in direct customer engagement, avoiding intermediaries.
• He advocated for a reverse engineering approach to innovation.
• Land emphasized the importance of businesses operating like experiments, embracing trial and error.
• He valued the role of failure in the creative process, seeing it as necessary for success.

"I knew then I would never go into a commercial field that put a barrier between us and the customer."

This quote underlines Land's realization that intermediaries between his company and the customer were detrimental to business, leading to his direct-to-consumer approach.

"You always start with a fantasy. Part of the fantasy technique is to visualize something as perfect. Then with the experiments, you work back from that fantasy to reality, hacking away at the components."

Land's reverse engineering philosophy is encapsulated here, suggesting that starting with a perfect vision and working backward is a successful strategy for innovation.

"But many people don't like the error part, as if you could separate the trial from the error, you just can't do it."

Land acknowledges that people are averse to failure, but he stresses that error is an inseparable and crucial part of the trial and error process.

• Hiring critics and consultants can significantly improve product quality.
• Land hired Ansel Adams as a consultant, emphasizing the importance of expert feedback.
• The engagement of critics and consultants demands a high standard and ensures continuous improvement.

"Land engaged Adams as a consultant to Polaroid. Land's aim was to produce the most perfect picture making process."

This quote shows that Land valued expert feedback, in this case from Ansel Adams, to achieve the highest quality in Polaroid's picture-making process.

• Land's involvement in the U-2 spy plane project had significant global implications.
• He directly influenced the development of reconnaissance technology during peacetime.
• Land's communication skills were instrumental in convincing government officials and shaping U.S. intelligence capabilities.

"A single mission in clear weather can photograph in revealing detail a strip of Russia 200 miles wide and 2500 miles long and produce 4000 sharp pictures."

Land's description of the U-2's capabilities highlights the strategic advantage provided by the technology he helped develop.

• Land believed that if a problem could be articulated, it could be solved.
• He understood the importance of protecting new ideas from premature criticism.
• Land's focus and persistence were key to his success in innovation.

"If you can state a problem, then you can solve it. From then on, it's just hard work."

Land's confidence in problem-solving is evident in this quote, showing his belief that clear problem definition is the first step toward finding a solution.

• Kodak and Polaroid's relationship evolved from collaboration to direct competition.
• Kodak's perception of Polaroid changed as the latter's success grew.
• The conflict centered around Polaroid's instant photography patents and Kodak's desire to enter the market.

"The attitude of Kodak was no longer that of the paternalistic mentor, anxious to help ambitious little Polaroid with his curiosity of a photographic system."

This quote reflects the shift in Kodak's attitude towards Polaroid, from a supportive partner to a competitive threat.

"You can compete in the instant photography market, but you got to make your own invention. I'm not going to license you mine."

Land's response to Kodak shows his firm stance on protecting his company's innovations and patents, unwilling to license them to a competitor.

• Edwin Land expressed respect for Kodak and its founder, George Eastman.
• He acknowledged Kodak's well-run operations and financial success.
• Land positioned himself as highly knowledgeable about Kodak's capabilities.

"I am the last person in the world to undersell or underestimate Kodak."

This quote reflects Land's awareness of Kodak's strengths and his strategic positioning in acknowledging them. It shows respect and understanding of the competition.

• Land believed Polaroid was ahead in conceptualization, insight, understanding, and patents in instant photography.
• The SX-70 camera was a significant innovation that Kodak struggled to compete with.
• Kodak engineers recognized the superiority of Polaroid's system.

"But we are so far out ahead in conceptualization and insight and understanding and in patents that we can not only hold the lead, but move out well ahead of everyone else in the domain of instant photography."

Land's quote emphasizes Polaroid's leading position in instant photography and their strategic advantage in terms of patents and innovation.

• Kodak engineers were impressed and disturbed by Polaroid's SX-70 camera.
• Kodak scrapped their competing product and acknowledged their inferiority to Polaroid.
• Kodak's internal report admitted the lack of unique consumer benefits in their program.
• Kodak began violating patents during their development efforts.

"We see no unique consumer benefit in the proposed Kodak program at this time."

The quote from Kodak's internal report candidly admits their failure to match Polaroid's product, highlighting a strategic misstep in their development process.

• Land's personal motto was to do what no one else can do.
• Kodak's approach was opposite to Land's philosophy, attempting to imitate Polaroid.
• Land's participation in the legal battle against Kodak was uncertain initially.
• Land's dedication to protecting Polaroid's patents was deeply personal, not just business.

"Our manifest duty to our shareholders is vigorously to assert our patents."

Land's quote underlines the obligation to protect the company's intellectual property, indicating the seriousness with which he approached the legal battle.

• Land prepared for the lawsuit in secret, surprising even his own attorneys.
• His dedication to the trial was akin to a personal vendetta.
• Land's focus on the trial was reflective of his immersive approach to science and invention.

"Lan lived in his own world, one in which science demanded total immersion and obliviousness to everything else going on outside his laboratory."

This quote describes Land's intense focus and dedication, which he applied to the trial preparation, underscoring his commitment to defending Polaroid's patents.

• Land was a formidable witness, well-prepared and knowledgeable.
• Kodak's underestimation of Land's expertise and resolve became apparent during the trial.
• The trial was a personal battle for Land, with his life's work and reputation at stake.

"Ultimately, this was a personal battle for him on a visceral level."

The quote indicates the depth of Land's emotional investment in the trial, demonstrating how the defense of Polaroid's patents was not just a legal matter but a personal one.

• Land was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame during his lifetime.
• He emphasized the adventurous spirit of American inventors and the unexpected insights gained through scientific exploration.
• Land's philosophy on invention was deeply rooted in American cultural values.

"We are becoming a country of scientists, but however much we become a country of scientists, we will always remain, first of all, that same group of adventurous transcontinental explorers pushing our way from wherever it is comfortable into some more inviting, unknown, and dangerous region."

Land's quote captures the essence of the American pioneering spirit and its application to the realm of scientific discovery and invention.

• Bill McCoon, as Polaroid's chief executive, restructured top management.
• Appointed four senior vice presidents to diversify Polaroid's activities beyond instant photography.
• Edwin Land believed this strategy was a mistake and was opposed to diversification.
• Land repeatedly informed shareholders that diversifying was not in the company's best interest, especially when Polaroid was leading in its field.
• Land's frustration led him to invite a journalist for interviews to express his commitment to instant photography as Polaroid's primary mission.

"It would be madness, he said, now that we are in the 90 yard line with the other guy 30 yards behind, to run around nothing, meaning to take our focus on where it needs to be."

This quote underscores Land's belief that Polaroid should focus on its core strength in instant photography rather than diversify, especially when it was so close to achieving its goals.

• Land's approach to technology company management emphasized a single individual's vision supported by a team.
• The singular leader ensures that individual efforts are cohesive and support an integrated system.
• Land used this philosophy to build an integrated camera system and believed it could be applied broadly in technology.

"Creation of a new technology, such as one step photography, requires that a single individual have in mind the objective to be reached."

The quote encapsulates Land's belief that clear direction from a single visionary leader is crucial for technological innovation.

• Land's innovative reputation was at stake in the lawsuit with Kodak.
• At 72 years old, Land was determined to defend his life's work and the survival of Polaroid.
• The lawsuit was a personal battle for Land, not just a legal one.
• Land's teaching approach in the courtroom was advantageous, allowing him to explain complex ideas clearly.

"Lan's reputation as one of the most innovative figures in technology was also on the line."

This quote highlights the personal stakes for Land in the lawsuit, with his reputation for innovation being challenged.

• Land compared running Polaroid to being a physics professor, using his knowledge as a teaching tool.
• His ability to communicate complex ideas simply gave him an advantage in court.
• Land's courtroom demeanor evolved from witness to the judge's personal tutor on instant photography.
• Land's objections to Kodak's exhibits and explanations demonstrated his deep understanding of the subject.

"I don't even know if it's my place to object... but I object to being such a witness."

Land's interjection shows his confidence and control in the courtroom, objecting to inaccuracies and taking charge of his narrative.

• Land was critical of Kodak's use of outside expert witnesses with no experience in instant photography.
• He found Kodak's understanding of the subject lacking and used his expertise to counter their arguments.
• Land's personal investment in the technology led to a passionate and convincing defense in court.

"Considering his lack of experience, the air of confidence with which a had offered his baseless opinion offended Land's scientific sensibilities profoundly."

Land's frustration with the opposing experts' lack of experience and unwarranted confidence reflects his deep personal and professional commitment to his field.

• Judge Zobel ruled in favor of Polaroid, upholding the validity of most patents and finding Kodak had infringed them.
• Kodak faced significant financial consequences, including removing products from the market and settling customer lawsuits.
• The final settlement between Polaroid and Kodak was historic, with Polaroid receiving a substantial financial award.

"Judge Zobel upheld the validity of eight of the ten Polaroid patents involved, ruling that seven had been infringed by Eastman Kodak."

The quote summarizes the legal victory for Polaroid, confirming the infringement of patents by Kodak and validating Land's contributions.

• The trial was a testament to Land's genius and his ability to articulate and defend his work.
• Land's passion for his field and ability to educate others played a crucial role in the trial's outcome.
• Polaroid's victory was not only a legal triumph but also a validation of Land's innovative spirit and dedication.

"Polaroid's victory was stunning and total in this regard. Polaroid's victory over Kodak was clearly for Dr. Land and generations of other innovators to follow. A triumph of genius."

This final statement encapsulates the significance of the trial's outcome, celebrating Land's achievements and his lasting impact on future innovators.