how did the public react to their inventions?
They were generally regarded as heroes, but the lawsuits damaged their public image to some extent.
Wright brothers
The lawsuits damaged the public image of the Wright brothers, who were generally regarded before this as heroes. Critics said the brothers were greedy and unfair and compared their actions unfavorably to European inventors, who worked more openly. 
who is credited with performing the first heavier-than-air flight The Wright brothers—Orville  and Wilbur Wright where did they spend their childhood? They lived in twelve places before finally settling down in Dayton. when did they make their first aircraft? The brothers flew the glider in the early autumn of 1900. which country do they belong to? The United States of America did anyone file a lawsuit against them? No. The brothers had filed a lawsuit against Glenn Curtiss and Louis Paulhan.
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Wright brothers [SEP] Public reactions
The lawsuits damaged the public image of the Wright brothers, who were generally regarded before this as heroes. Critics said the brothers were greedy and unfair and compared their actions unfavorably to European inventors, who worked more openly. Supporters said the brothers were protecting their interests and were justified in expecting fair compensation for the years of work leading to their successful invention. Their 10-year friendship with Octave Chanute, already strained by tension over how much credit, if any, he might deserve for their success, collapsed after he publicly criticized their actions.