[dimitar]

DC power distribution.

In the beginning DC dominated because of technical reasons. Efficient AC motors and generators were just getting invented eand transformers weren't that good.

And for various reasons some applications still use DC motors - for example only in robotics, servomotors; but consider that in the last 20 years do things like air-conditioners and elevators start to use AC motors (because of the efficiency made possible with solid-state inverters).

[jules]

Interesting tidbit: Modern long distance underseas power transmission is DC again (because it's more efficient, among other reasons).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-voltage_direct_current

[nextparadigms]

It sounds like AC disrupted the DC market. Sounds perfectly reasonable to me that Edison didn't want to be disrupted and took legal action, not unlike how it happens today in many industries.

[luriel]

Another example of how patents actually hinder and harm innovation. Which is not surprising when you start to think of them as government granted monopolies.