The 986 Patent

Patent 986 is the story of one of the biggest patent disputes in history. This documentary describes "patent 4,303,986 Data processing system and apparatus for color graphics display", and the consequences of the invention for its inventor, the Swedish prodigal Håkan Lans.

Lans was already from youth a strong brains for invention. What began as a dream of adding color to the everyday world of computing soon turned into a nightmare for the inventor, involving high-powered lawyers, FBI agents and multinational corporations. All of them wanting to get at that magic number, 4,303,986. Patent 986 is about the ruthless game and the people behind the patent disputes. Håkan Lans was too early. The Company Digital said no to the invention of moving color graphics on computers, when they was offered the patent for $ 600.000. Lans thought he was safe he had his patent, he thought... A bit after he discovers that Hitachi is using his invention. The fight is an uneven match. It's David's battle against Goliath.

The film is educative and exciting. A tragic story, but important. Not a film for those who believes in fairness. A good documentary.