The patent specifications of photographic and cinematographic devices from 1897 onwards form an important pool for the research on film technology: domestic and international inventions in this field had to be registered at the German Patent Office in case they were supposed to be used in Germany. This part of the collection encompasses 176 folders with patents and utility models from the time between 1897 and 1968 that belonged to the category 57a and were valid in Germany, the GDR or the FRG:
- "cameras including accessories, lens caps, devices for living photographs (cinematographic devices), machines" (patent classification, processed by the Patent Office of the German Reich, 4th edition, Berlin 1926)
- "photographic cameras including accessories, lens caps, cinematographic devices, photographic machines, sound film devices" (patent classification, 7th edition, as of: 1 April 1969 / patent classification, processed by the GDR Office for Inventions and Patents, 1st edition, Berlin 1953).

Since 1980, the duration of a patent has been 20 years. Before 1980, it was 18 and 15 years respectively. The classifications are valid for utility models as well, however, the durations of validity are significantly lower: Currently, the legal protection of a utility model ends after 10 years. In the past, it ended after 8 and 6 years respectively.
Generally, patent indices are and have always been structured ascending chronologically by the German Patent Office. Besides, indices by name exist. However, the patents belonging to the category 57a that are stored at Filmmuseum Potsdam are not structured according to the principles of the Patent Office. In order to facilitate research on firms, persons and inventions, the stock has been structured in a database.