Main Content
Blog Post  | 
What Is Disruptive Innovation?

Photo of old fashioned cameras

George Eastman had a problem. He wanted to take pictures during his planned trip to Santo Domingo.

It was 1877 and cameras were as big as luggage. They required large tripods, chemically treated "wet" plates, and chemicals to develop the pictures. The equipment and chemicals weighed over 50 pounds. George thought there had to be a better way.

In 1879, he developed "dry" photographic plates, which obsoleted the need to "wet" the plates to make them light sensitive for taking pictures. And, in 1883, his newly formed company Kodak obsoleted the need for any plates by inventing photographic films. Kodak's photographic films were disruptive.

They quickly obsoleted the way photographs were taken and cameras were made. For the next 115 years, Kodak rose to dominate the consumer photography market with their film-based cameras and technology.

Disruptive innovation starts with a problem. However, the solution is the key. It must obsolete the current way of doing things. In the case of Kodak, photographic film obsoleted the need for photographic plates. And then, to the eventual detriment of Kodak, digital photography obsoleted the need for films.

With each disruptive innovation, there is no turning back to the way things were done.

Have additional questions about innovation? Contact the author, Ned Pejic, at npejic@calfee.com or 216.622.8835.

Share:
LinkedIn Facebook Twitter/X
Related Topics: Intellectual Property

Calfee Connections blogs, vlogs, and other educational content are intended to inform and educate readers about legal developments and are not intended as legal advice for any specific individual or specific situation. Please consult with your attorney regarding any legal questions you may have. With regard to all content including case studies or descriptions, past outcomes do not predict future results. The opinions expressed may not necessarily reflect the viewpoints of all attorneys and professionals of Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP or its subsidiary, Calfee Strategic Solutions, LLC.

Non-legal business services are provided by Calfee Strategic Solutions, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Calfee, Halter & Griswold. Calfee Strategic Solutions is not a law firm and does not provide legal services to clients. Although many of the professionals in Calfee’s Government Relations and Legislation group and Investment Management group are attorneys, the non-licensed professionals in this group are not authorized to engage in the practice of law. Accordingly, our non-licensed professionals’ advice should not be regarded as legal advice, and their services should not be considered the practice of law.

Updates related to all government assistance/incentive programs are provided with the most current information made available to Calfee at the time of publication. Clarifications and further guidance may be disseminated by government authorities on an ongoing basis. All information should be reaffirmed prior to the submission of any application and/or program participation.

Subscribe

Recent Posts

Archives

Jump to Page