Andreas+Pavel

   

Andreas Pavel

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Andreas Pavel is a Brazilian inventor who invented the stereo belt, also known as the walkman. Pavel is also known as the “father of the portable cassette player.” He was born in Aachen, Germany in 1945. When he was six years old he had to move to Sao Paulo, Brazil because of his father’s new job at Matarazzo industries. This was where his life as an inventor began. ======

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The stereo belt, or walkman, was the first portable personal cassette. It was originally used just for audio cassette, but has evolved into a portable audio and video player. This device introduced and entirely new way to listen to music. The stereo belt allowed users to play high-fidelity music through light weight headphones while participating in daily activities. It was invented to “add a soundtrack to real life.” ======

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Andreas Pavel invented the stereo belt in 1972. During this time he lived in a modern house in Morumbi. Pavel was acquainted with the famous journalist, Valdamir Herzog, and poet, Augusto de Compos. He moved to Milan when he was 30 years old. ======

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After inventing the stereo belt, Pavel spent the next few years trying to intrest companies such as Grundig, Phillips, and Yamaha into manufacturing it. In 1977, he filed patents on it in Italy. Later, he also filed patents for it in the United States, Germany, England, and Japan, as well. ======

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In 1979, Sony began to sell the device. Shortly after, in 1980, Sony started legal talks with Pavel regarding a royalty fee on the stereo belt. In 1986, Sony agreed to pay royalties, but only for sales in Germany. Also, the royalty fees were only on a few models. Sony refused to acknowledge Pavel as the inventor, as well. ======

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In 1989, Pavel began new proceedings, this time through law courts in the United Kingdom. Seven years later, the case was dismissed and Pavel was left with 3.6 million dollars of debt for his court cost. ======

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In 2001, Pavel threatened Sony with legal suits that he had patented the stereo belt in. The corporation then agreed to resume talks with him. A settlement was finally reached in 2003. The exact settlement fee is a closely guarded secret, but European press accounts said that Pavel received a cash settlement for damages, in excess of 10 million dollars. The settlement also prevents Pavel from bringing on any future law suits to Sony. ======

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Andreas Pavel now receives royalties on some of the walkman sales. Also, the settlement grants Pavel recognition from Sony that he was the original inventor of the stereo belt, or walkman. This was only achieved after Akio Morita, the founder of Sony and previously recognized creator of the personal stereo, had died. ======

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Pavel considered asking manufacturers of MP3 music players for royalties such as Apple, for their well-known iPod. In 2005 he decided against it because he did not wish to fight any more lawsuits. Now Pavel is developing a “dreamkit.” This is a handheld multimedia device. ======