Multiple Discovery

Multiple discovery occurs when people independently reach the same idea or invention around the same time. Bell and Elisha Gray filed telephone-related patent applications on the same day, with Bell receiving historical credit after his was processed first. Faster scientific communication has shortened the window for duplicate independent discoveries. Once an idea is communicated, it preempts further independent invention of the same idea. Multiple discovery can result from many people sharing similar training, concepts, and expertise in the same domain.