Read here for my last article on FightThePatent.com and why I am ending my efforts.

http://www.fightthepatent.com/v2/AcaciaSaga.html


Fight the End!

So you are quitting because no one called to give you info on what happened in court? Maybe their attoneys said to keep it quiet, maybe they were busy.

You have done a good job, you need to relax and see how it plays out. You know going in you had a tough job, and uphill battle that would not be rewarded well.

Suck it up and keep going!! No one likes quiters.... they are almost as bad as those who settle! <_<

Maybe you didn't read the AVN and xbiz articles that posted on Friday where spike gave interviews...

links to both articles were just added to my article.

I am sorry that you have missed the point...... My efforts were to support the defendants... i consider it to be a huge public slap in the face to be the last one to know what happened in the court room and having to read about it on other publications.


-brandon

xx



Last edited by Colin at Feb 7 2004, 12:07 PM

Well that does suck. But there could be a reason for it - you should call up your contacts and ask. Even if they tell you to fuck off, you should continue what you were doing.

I know I for one appreciate the information, you did a good job keeping people informed. It has been an uphill battle, and you have not gotten the appreciation your deserve but most people who do things like you do not get credit/attention. Surely you knew this going in. People like you stay motivated by the cause.

I hope you stay active on the boards and keeping everyone filled in.

Just my opinion.

It was just not right that Spike put him off, maybe when he reads this he will realise he's lost a valuable tool in the fight.

Thanks Mike, I do know you are one of many people who did believe in my efforts.


There is a new battle to fight.. a nasty one involving copyright infringement that will be the new issue to deal with in 2004.

I will be doing my postings about this new problem later.

As far as news goes, NPR and InternetNews.com covered the story. The Chronicle of Higher Learning did a major article previously and will be doing a follow up. StreamingMedia.com is now presenting news about Acacia. Other mainstream media outlets will be picking up this story as well.

Acacia has finally gotten mainstream's attention, and I hope that more techie folks like me that are in each one of these mainstream companies wake up and get pissed off enough to inform their CEO about this issue.



-brandon

Brandon... I don't get it. I just read your article. You feel that you have been slighted so your calling it quits?

The combined information that you have been providing has been appreciated by many webmasters. Your site was a solid reference for all things related to Acacia and its claims. I for one could care less where people get their news from or who reports it first as long as people are made aware. I personally think you should leave the site open as a one-stop-shop for Acacia news. You don't have to be the first to report the news. Keep in mind that your ONE person you should not be reporting, your better off being a resource. AVN and Xbiz have a staff of people to track sources down. You can't possibly expect to scoop them by yourself. While Spike said he would call you I'm sure he has been very busy. The companies involved in the case are more concerned about the case than they are about answering other peoples questions about the case.

I hope you change your mind.

thats a pretty whiney article... almost sounds like you were doing this not becuase you believed in it, but because you wanted people to like you.

quitter.

am i the only one thinking of Ross Perot?

Brandon,

Its a shame you are giving it up..

I thought of you more as an independent source rather than Spike's mouthpiece..

I would reconsider and just keep posting the news about it..even linking to the articles its a valuable piece of information..

but maybe you were looking for more glory!

Fight the Greedy!

It's actually more of a series of disappointments rather than trivializing it as i just didn't get a phone call.

I haven't given up on the fight.. just focusing my time on my own priorities. You do not understand the amount of time and effort that I have put in..time that displaced billable consulting hours...

I never took a cent from anyone, and I did this for my own sense of fighting against what is wrong. I don't regret my choices.

I have rang the bells, and to that end, I have accomplished what I could do.

i can't fight against Acacia in court, i can't invalidate their patent claims. The information that i provided helped to get people to be aware.. but part of the failure includes people not joining in the fight and supporting the defendants.

If something major happens, then i will certainly post to keep everyone aware.. i have a vested interest in seeing this absurd patent get knocked down..


-brandon

certainly... mainstream is now writing articles and putting the spotlight on this issue...


to think i was in this for some greed means you certainly don't know me, and have paid little attention to my words and actions.


-brandon

Brandon - it is a shame that you were slighted with the reporting of the news. I know that you think it looks as a bad reflection on you, when you promised to report the news and then got no reports. Here was the first place that I looked to see what had happened.

Well, this is the Adult Industry...... get over it! Don't ever expect your efforts to be particularily rewarded. You do things because 'that is what you want to do - and if no one pays attention - so be it :-) Be careful about making promises that you can't deliver on, by yourself.... you can't always count on other people. You were not local to the area - and those who were - got the interviews.

Don't sweat it. You are trying too hard! Chill out..... Put your livelihood ahead of these personal passions.

certainly... mainstream is now writing articles and putting the spotlight on this issue...


to think i was in this for some greed means you certainly don't know me, and have paid little attention to my words and actions.


-brandon[/b][/quote]
what he means by greed is probably that if it was selfless, you would not be in it for the recognition or attention and would not be dissapointed that you were not called.

if you truly believed in what you are doing and truly believed what you are doing mattered, then it would not matter what anyone else thinks. you would just be doing it because you believe its the right thing to do. the right thing to do is usually the hardest. doing it is often thankless. you will often be missunderstood.... but you must believe in yourself because at the end of the day, thats the opinion that matters more than anything.

you are doing a thankless job but it has not gone unnoticed and i don't think that anyone would dare suggest it is not appreciated. its a shame that you decided not to continue. Dont blame others for thier lack of support. People will follow a good leader. People always follow good leaders. It's the nature of people. Sharpen your skills, persevere and keep pushing forward. Lenin never gave up and as a result, he eventually earned the chance to destroy the lives of hundreds of millions of people.

never give up!

Fight the Quitters!

Brandon,

I know you've put an unbelievable amount of energy into making people aware of the issues and getting people involved. I think you have made a difference.

I agree with Hooper that the article was whiney. You spent $300 of your own money? Did you think phone calls were free? Want me to pay for your phone calls? If you're upset about the $300 you spent on long distance calls, how much do you value your time?

You're calling it quits because Spike didn't have enough time to give you a call? I'm sure he's been busy preparing for court and stressing out about it. After a long day in court, I'm sure giving interviews is the last thing he wanted to do.

Journalists aren't entitled to interviews. The Journalist that's in the right place at the right time and persistant enough gets the interview. For you to whine about not getting time from Spike causes me to lose the respect I had for you.

If you want to move on, move on... But don't cry about $300 and Spike not calling you back it makes you look like a baby.

Brandon I think the consensus is you need to be an ubaised reporter, supporting US, the webmasters not invovled in the suit, but who have not settled.

This is an important issue - be an unbiased voice to keep us informed.

I will chip in with KC to cover phone bills an such. Hell we can make you a roving reporter for Oprano!

No one asked me to be in the fight and I have never wanted to be the target for ignorant criticisms (from multiple boards) and attacks that I have endured through the 7 months.

I got pissed off enough about the issue one day to do something about it.... to not just sit there and read about it, but to do something about it.

I stopped my consulting (which is how i generate income) and devoted full time effort the first 5 months to fighting patent abuse issues like Acacia.

Along the way, i did not accept any money from anyone.. I did this out of my conviction to bring attention to the issue so that many othes will join in the fight. I did try to bring a proposal where i could formalize my efforts to create Fight the Patent FOundation, and yes that does mean i would get paid from that, but for some reason, people think they activism should be free and i was heavily criticized for it.

This isn't about not getting a phone call (which Spike did call me this morning)... this is about the realization that I can't go on without providing an income for my family. My active involvement is more than posting on boards.. if that were the case, i can understand some of the ribbing.. since so many webmasters spend their time posting all day on this board.

Actively chasing down companies and individuals on the phone, email, and fax is very time consuming and so is trying to get them motivated to help (in hindsight, i should have gotten unlimited long distance plan)

This problem could last a long time.. but the prior art is there, the counter claims are there.. the game is in play.

My hope is that the next time some company thinks they can just roll in and throw a patent license around, that webmasters will take a stronger stance.

I will be there ringing the bells..... next time, I will be better capitalized to really make a difference.... so I am continuing my activism in the fight against copyright infringement and some nasty issues that will hit this industry...

I strongly support the IMPA and the defendants and they will prevail.

If you think this is about $300 in phone bills and spike not calling me, then you have missed the story. Anyone who expresses frustration and disappointment will always sound "whiney". The same people who bash me when i was fighting the fight, are the same ones bashing me on my decision to focus on my own priorities.. yes, i know, you can't please everyone.




-brandon

thanks for that line.. it made me laff.

-brandon

and you join the 99% of webmasters who we'll never hear from again.

fact is most people to stick around in this biz.

best of luck.

If that's the case, then those two items should have been left out of that article.

Everyone here understands the need to make money and provide for their families. It's not fair to Spike to claim that he was the "straw that broke the camel's back."

Good luck with whatever you choose to persue.

-KC

Damn man that sucks I enjoyed reading about what was going on with the Fight the Patent website and acacia.. expecially considering I run a shitload of sites that utilize video on them. :(

Brandon,
Thanks for all your efforts and time. You have many people's gratitude for your stand, postings, work, courage and convictions.
It saddens me that you're no longer going to continue to be in the front line of the action against Acacia, but we all must tend our own gardens.
Best wishes on your continuing and new works.

Vick

I have been reading on various message boards the suggestion that I was bought out by Acacia, working for them, or got some kind of C&D notice from them.

The easiest answer is "Lies, Lies, and more Lies".

Activism requires time. Time is purchased with money. If a cause does not have money, they run out of time.

My active efforts were self-funded. I didn't ask money from people and I didn't take any when it was offered (and it was). After pushing hard for 5 months in a full time intensive effort then sliding back the last 2 months, it was time for me to change my priorities.

I initiated a proposal that if 1,000 - 2,000 webmasters would contribute $100 each as a one-time donation, that Fight the Patent Foundation could be formed as a non-profit organization that could work on fighting patent abuse with a grassroots approach.

Prior art and expert witness testimony are key factors in defending against a patent infringement case. Similar to BountyQuest.com (now defunct), prizes would be awarded to those that contributed prior art. The concept of "Pay it Forward" would motivate people to come forward to give expert testimony in exchange for Fight the Patent Foundation making a charitable contribution to a charity of their choice.

Activists go through three stages in my observations, starting at being Optimstic that they can change the world, to Realistic, that change comes slowly, to Jaded that people don't care about the cause because of inactions.

Sad to admit, but I have gone through the steps to the end as I have found that everyone is concerned about patent abuse, but so few will do anything about it.

I started the pledge drive for Fight the Patent Foundation back in September, and at that time it would have been a reactive response to patent abuse cases like Acacia.

Now that the prior art has been found and the court case has started, it would be a proactive measure to start FTPF. But in my jaded experience, people aren't very good about being proactive.

When the next patent abuse issue comes around, you'll be sure to hear me ringing the bells. I hope that at that time, companies will have seen the lesson of Acacia, that you have to be reactive and proactive with information, research, and unity.

-brandon

An excellent point that i came to as well yesterday and had edited the article to make it less "whiney" as well as the followup to the article that i had just posted.



-brandon

always doing a great service for the industry. :okthumb: :salute: :salute: :okthumb:

Brandon,

good luck :salute:

Brandon, your work is very much appreciated. I understand how difficult activism is (my dad was a vietnam vet turned war protestor). It's a thankless and tiresome job.

Face it, most of the people in this industry don't give a shit about anything or anyone until it's on their own doorstep. This is not an industry of leaders. It does have a few great ones, but 90% are just sheep who follow. Go with the flow, follow the trend. It's evident day in and day out. The minute someone tries to bring in a new innovation it's met with flames and pissing (until that person makes it a success, then everyone is falling all ovetr themselves to duplicate what they were once shitting on).

Whatever you end up deciding to do, I wish you the best of luck and sincerly thank you for your efforts.

true.... i feel for you about your dad's efforts in dealing with the Vietnam war... my dad was in the air force and wasn't called into 'Nam, but he saw how the soldiers were treated at the end.. he could not bare to watch Born on the 4th of July because of his feelings about the subject.

I haven't thrown away my guns on patent abuse issues, i just ran out of bullets.

I am hoping with my new venture that I will be able to buy my own bullets next time, nice silver ones, and come back shooting.

Also, given more time and attention to cases like Acacia, and if any other patent licensing foe should come second, maybe webmasters will realize that the knocking sound isn't their neighbors getting their freak on, it's the money-grabbing-patent-wielding-trick-o-treater knocking on your door looking to take money from you.

It does take money to fight.. and i have been very reluctant to state that so blatantly, but it is the sad fact. I believe a grassroots approach is needed to unearth the prior art and get people involved.

The time will come, i was just too early.. and like all pioneers heading west into new territories, you get the arrows shot at you first.

FightThePatent.com will still be up.. i will still be tracking the news.. i just can't devote the daily hours that I put in to get people aware and motivated to fight anymore... need to regroup, get some cash flow going, and then I'll fund the fight myself... and hopefully be joined by more people next time around.

Opranonauts have been one of the strongest supporters of my efforts (minus one or two).

:rokk:


-brandon

I was one of the ones who opposed you asking webmasters for money; I thought that money would be much better spent given directly to IMPA or the defendants themselves. Some webmasters can afford to give money to both, but honestly most can't.

As soon as you dropped that call for money, I was behind you all the way.

The instant that Xbiz email hits my inbox I delete it. Same for the AVN email. I didn't ask for them, so to me they're spam. It has nothing to do with who works where (I consider Stephen Y. to be a close friend) or anything like that, it's just advertising spam to me. I'd do the same if Oprano started sending out "newsletters" I didn't ask for.

So without going and actively visiting Xbiz or AVN, I wouldn't know about those interviews they did. But I knew that the one spot to find out the current info on Friday was to visit YOUR website.
It doesn't matter to me if you're doing the interview yourself or if you're just posting links to other articles... to me, your site was THE central hub of info regarding the fight against Acacia.
So I hope you keep that up.

I never understood why you cut off all of your income-generating activities to do this... it's not a full-time job to update a website with some notes and links and go post on a a few boards. That should take half an hour a day maximum, except for days like Friday when something major is going on. Most days there isn't even anything to report, so nothing would need to be done.

Definitely get back into your business and put food on the table for your family - that will ALWAYS be the most important thing no matter what anyone says.
But I do hope you keep up the FTP site as that acacia news hub. If you need help putting a blog script up there to make it easier and quicker for you to do updates, I'd be happy to help you install one (Tom over at Tom's Newbie Booster has put out a very simple PHP blogging script that isn't bloated with unneeded features and is perfect for this - and free!).

me be unbiased??? yeah right.. this patent is so bogusly wrong!

While fighting against patent abuse has been put on the shelf for now, satirizing Acacia's efforts is still my hobby.

I am tracking all the latest news on the front page with my own brand of commentary wherever I can take the shot.

http://www.FightThePatent.com

I haven't abandoned you guys... read up on the news...always being tracked and available 24/7

-brandon

www.kinda-fight-the-patent.com
www.sort-of-fight-the-patent.com
http://www.only-if-spike-calls-will-...the-patent.com


are all still available.

Carrie,

My efforts were more than just posting on boards and writing articles...

I literally spent hours (4-5) a day on the phone tracking down prior art leads, talking to webmasters. Email correspondance, FAX, and email message campaigns.

Trying to convince people in high places to get involved. Trying to convince people who had prior art to come forward to help.

It was truly a full time effort with posting on boards and updating my website with articles taking up the least amount of my time.

If you have ever done an active campaign, whether it be for a cause, political, activism, etc.. you will know that it can consume your time.

So what the 'quits' is about, is that intensive effort. The money part that you didn't like about Fight the Patent Foundation wasn't meant to pay me to make posts and write funny articles, it goes towards proactively dealing with patent abuse cases, starting up grassroots search for prior art, hiring patent attorneys to help make sense of everything, etc... all of this takes money.

I have taken alot of criticism about how FTPF would take money away from IMPA or defendants... and the truth of the matter is, the support for IMPA and the defendants has been so little compared to the size of the webmaster community.

I know that people like you were strong supporters of IMPA and actually did something about it, but you and the others are honestly, rare (and wonderful).

So i will continue to track this absurd patent story and offer my commentary to help make sense (or to offer laughter) of the news and of the absurdity.

-brandon

I'm very proud of my dad. He stood up for something he believed in even though he was viciously attacked with verbal abuse (even from his own borthers) from all sides. He didn't do it to be popular or get elected to office. He did it because the soldier in him told him to fight for what he believed in.

I pledged to Brandon. I have visited his website a number of times and learned something new each time. I looked forward to his posts on this board to help keep me informed of what was happening with the entire Patent Abuse issue, and I will miss his contribution in that regard.
I do not think he is a quitter or a whiner or anything like that. If he wants public recognition for his efforts, or to be kept in the loop about unfolding events I don't see how this would be such a chore for those who would need to make that call.
Brandon your right. If these events has taken your heart out of the FTPF then you should stop. your contribution to the entire issue has, I am sure, been great, and greatly underappreciated.
Good luck in your future endeavors and the best of luck returning to a 'normal life'

spaz

Very well said - and unfortunately very true. :okthumb:

spaz,

I count you as being one of many in a more inner circle of "friends" concerning my efforts with Fight the Patent Foundation idea... originally you were opposed to it. .and then not only did you believe in the idea, you made a pledge.....

My activism against patent abuse has not gone away.. only the hours spent doing the behind the scenes efforts that are not reflected in my board posts and messages.

As far as going back to "normal life", I am jumping right into the next hot topic of copyright infringement. This time, I am making a business venture out of my efforts, but it will be on the "right side of the fence" when it comes to some nasty copyright infringement issues coming next.

I'll be writing more about that part soon.



-brandon

I'm not dead yet!

I will be posting the news and still writing my satirical articles.. let no webmaster be left behind.... in not knowing about these patent abuse issues!


-brandon

I have made 2 updates to my article at:
http://www.fightthepatent.com/v2/AcaciaSaga.html about my quittin.

here's the last entry:

Article update 9-Feb | 9:18am

I haven't thrown away my guns on patent abuse issues, i just ran out of bullets.

I am hoping with my new venture that I will be able to buy my own bullets next time, nice silver ones, and come back shooting.

Also, given more time and attention to cases like Acacia, and if any other patent licensing foe should come second, maybe webmasters will realize that the knocking sound isn't their neighbors getting their freak on, it's the money-grabbing-patent-wielding-trick-o-treater knocking on your door looking to take money from you.

It does take money to fight.. and i have been very reluctant to state that so blatantly, but it is the sad fact. I believe a grassroots approach is needed to unearth the prior art and get people involved.

The time will come, i was just too early.. and like all pioneers heading west into new territories, you get the arrows shot at you first.

FightThePatent.com will still be up.. i will still be tracking the news.. i just can't devote the daily hours that I put in to get people aware and motivated to fight anymore... need to regroup, get some cash flow going, and then I'll fund the fight myself... and hopefully be joined by more people next time around.


(i will continue to write articles and most messages to alert people of news events).

http://biz.yahoo.com/rb/040212/tech_rambus...s_patent_1.html

Just substitute the name and you too can predict the future...

the stock tanked....today

Link

disclaimer....yes, i own some
:angry:

"I got the news today
that you refused to play
Cause you never made number one

But it's not just the words
but the deeds that are heard
When all is said and done

Kings take their crowns
They melt them all down
Trying to get the gold out

You went to hell and
even when you weren't selling
You never ever sold out

You weren't no leader
you were more like a bleeder
Who was trying to cry for us all

You weren't no sage
But your sense of outrage
sounded like a trumpet call

Fifteen years ago
in the old folky show
you were just one voice in the crowd

But now with so few singing
your voice would have benn ringing
out 'bout twice as loud

There but for fortune
say a small circle of friends

Some may see the changes
so few see the end

The pleasures of the harbor
have come to you at last

You may not be marching anymore
But the parades still rolling past

I'm not taking the blame
that we killed you
you know you did that to yourself

But its kind of a shame
That you played that game
Cause you were better than anyone else

One shot of your bottle
Got you full throttle
It was the friend that was always there

But your greatest gift
and the curse you lived with
was that you could always care

There but for fortune
say a small circle of friends

Some may see the changes
so few see the end

The pleasures of the harbor
have come to you at last

You may not be marching anymore
But the parades still rolling past"

(hc cica '76)