Book Argues That Bell Stole Phone Idea

December 26, 2007 By BRIAN BERGSTEIN, AP Technology Writer

This is an undated file photograph of Alexander Graham Bell, inventor of the telephone. A new book claims to have definitive evidence of a long-suspected technological crime -- that Alexander Graham Bell stole ideas for the telephone from a rival, Elisha Gray. (AP File Photo)

(AP) -- A new book claims to have definitive evidence of a long-suspected technological crime - that Alexander Graham Bell stole ideas for the telephone from a rival, Elisha Gray.

---

Content from The Associated Press expires 15 days after original publication date. For more information about The Associated Press, please visit www.ap.org .

---

Similar stories from PHYSorg:

Reducing consumption key to a sustainable future

Nov 11, 2008 | 3.4 / 5 (14) | 7

Girls' violence on the rise

Sep 24, 2009 | 5 / 5 (2) | 1

UAB professor's book promises solution for teaching evolution without conflict

Sep 30, 2009 | 2.5 / 5 (2) | 2

NY official: Tagged site stole identities

Jul 09, 2009 | 5 / 5 (2) | 0

Lessons from Schon -- the worst physics fraudster?

May 05, 2009 | 3.8 / 5 (12) | 5

• earls - Dec 26, 2007
  • Rank: 5 / 5 (1)
  truth
  • report abuse
  • • Current rank
    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
    • 5
• NeilFarbstein - Dec 26, 2007
  • Rank: 5 / 5 (1)
  Alex's behavior sounded very bizarre.
  • report abuse
  • • Current rank
    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
    • 5
• earls - Dec 26, 2007
  • Rank: 5 / 5 (1)
  hurray for the patent system - genius; then, now and forever.
  • report abuse
  • • Current rank
    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
    • 5
• theonion - Dec 27, 2007
  • Rank: not rated yet
  I am confused. It would surprise me that any serious treatise on the subject could possibly be written without mention of Antonio Meucci, an italian immigrant to the US who developed a communication apparatus in 1857. He was finally recognized officially by the US House of Representatives in 2001 and in 2002 as the inventor of the telephone, thus undoing an injustice perpetrated by the same government over 100 years before.
  • report abuse
  • • Current rank
    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
    • 5
• ShadowRam - Dec 28, 2007
  • Rank: not rated yet
  They'll try anything to change the history books to make it look like an American invented the telephone.. how sad...
  • report abuse
  • • Current rank
    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
    • 5
• Ashibayai - Dec 31, 2007
  • Rank: not rated yet
  Although I rather enjoy hating on other nations without reason, I really think this is more a case of a man's desire for personal gain than an entire country conspiring to claim a single (however important) invention from over a century past.
  • report abuse
  • • Current rank
    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
    • 5
• COCO - Jan 02, 2008
  • Rank: not rated yet
  I think this may point to an alien factor - where technology was modified to suit this application. I can see no other explanation.
  • report abuse
  • • Current rank
    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
    • 5