WiFi

CSIRO WLAN team, Australia, patent 5,487,069 of 1996. The wireless LAN patent that earned a billion in settlements.

Overview

Australia's science agency CSIRO patented OFDM-based wireless LAN methods in 1996, solving indoor multipath echoes that defeated others. 802.11 standards adopted the techniques, and every laptop and router used them. CSIRO licensing campaigns recovered over one billion dollars from industry giants by 2012. The inventors, led by John O'Sullivan of radio-astronomy black-hole hunts, won the 2009 Prime Minister's Prize. Skippy-meme arguments aside, Australia can fairly claim your Wi-Fi bars.