Today, 117 years ago, on February 11, 1908 (Calendar, January 10, 1908), Edison obtained the patent for the invention of the film projector. Edison invented the Activity Film Camera On February 11, 1908, Edison obtained the patent for the invention of the film projector. Under the leadership of Thomas Edison, a major U.S. film producer entered into a patent agreement that would end the competition forever. This agreement ended a long-standing series of lawsuits and counter-claims filed by Edison over other companies violating the patent rights to the animated film he acquired in 1891.