The Impact of the US Marconi Company's Legal Action Against German Radio on Wireless Communication

In 1917, the United States officially entered World War I against Germany, a pivotal moment that shifted the dynamics of the conflict. Prior to this, the British government took significant measures to control the flow of information between the US and Germany. One of their strategies involved severing the transatlantic telegraph cable, effectively isolating Germany from American communications. Additionally, the British sought to disrupt German wireless communication by instigating a lawsuit against the German radio company Telefunken through the US Marconi Company, claiming patent infringement. This legal battle saw the involvement of prominent physicists, including Jonathan Zenneck and Karl Ferdinand Braun, who defended Telefunken. Notably, Nikola Tesla was hired as a witness for the defense, receiving a substantial fee of $1,000 per month for his expertise over a two-year period. However, the case ultimately stalled and became moot with the US's entry into the war, highlighting the intersection of technology, law, and international relations during this tumultuous period. #mooflife #mof #MomentOfLife #WorldWarI #UsEntryIntoWar #TelecommunicationsHistory #PatentInfringement #NikolaTesla