Growth of film industry thumb|upright|Portrait of Eastman by Paul Nadar, 1890 Eastman recognized that most of his revenue would come from the sale of additional film rolls, rather than camera sales, and focused on film production. By providing quality and affordable film to every camera manufacturer, Kodak managed to turn competitors into de facto business partners. In 1889 he patented the processes for the first nitrocellulose film along with chemist Henry Reichenbach.Brayer, Elizabeth (1996). pp. 69–70 A number of patent infringement lawsuits would preoccupy Eastman and his lawyers in subsequent years, including one from Reichenbach after he was fired in 1892. The largest lawsuit would come from rival film producer Ansco. Inventor Hannibal Goodwin had filed a patent for nitrocellulose film in 1887, prior to Eastman and Reichenbach's, but it was not granted until 1898.Brayer, Elizabeth (1996). pp. 55, 191–192 Ansco purchased the patent in 1900 and sued Kodak for infringement. Kodak ultimately lost the suit, which lasted over a decade and cost the company $5 Million.
grOwth oF FiLm indUStrY thUmB|uPright|poRtRaIt of EAstman by pAuL NAdar, 1890 EASTmAN RecOgnIZEd THaT MOsT of his reveNue WoulD Come fRom THe sale oF aDditiOnal filM rOlls, ratheR thAn cAmera sales, anD FocUsed on fiLM prOdUCtIOn. by PRoviDiNg quaLITy And affOrdaBLe fiLm tO eVery caMeRa manuFacTureR, kodak manaGED tO turn comPetItors into dE fActo bUsINEss ParTners. In 1889 hE pATentEd THe prOcEsseS for the fIrst NitRocelluloSE fILm alOnG with ChEmist hENry ReicHenbACH.bRAyer, eLiZABeTH (1996). pp. 69–70 a number of pAtEnt InfrINgeMeNt lawSuiTs wouLD pReocCuPy eaStmaN And His lAwyers IN sUBSEquenT yeaRS, inCLudInG onE frOm rEichEnBAcH afTer he was fiREd In 1892. tHe largeSt lawsuit wouLd cOmE from RiVAl fIlM proDUcER aNSco. invEnTor HANniBaL gOOdwiN Had fiLed a patent fOr NItrOCellUlosE FiLm In 1887, pRioR to eastman And ReicHeNBaCh's, buT It was not GraNTed untIl 1898.bRayEr, ElIzAbEth (1996). PP. 55, 191–192 anSco PurChased THe patent IN 1900 anD sued kodak fOr InfRingemENt. kOdAK uLtimaTely lost the sUit, WHIcH lasted over A Decade and cOst the coMpANY $5 MIlLiOn.