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Patent 986 is the story of one of the biggest patent disputes in European history. The documentary describes "patent 4,303,986 Data processing system and apparatus for color graphics display", and the consequences of the invention for its inventor, Håkan Lans. What began as a dream of adding color to the everyday world of computing soon turned into a nightmare for the inventor, involving high-powered lawyers, FBI agents and multinational corporations. All of them wanting to get at that magic number, 4,303,986. What are the consequences of these patent battles for the future of innovation? How does it affect competition on the global market when European inventors have difficulties obtaining patents in the United States? Who benefits from the investments and the job opportunities? What are the alternatives? Patent 986 is about the ruthless game and the people behind the patent disputes.