Quote:
Originally posted by Paul Markham@Oct 29 2003, 04:21 AM
They are simply trying to frighten as many people as possible in the hope of picking up some money. If the patent was worth a damn they would be pushing to get it into court.
They will extort as much non returnable license fees as they can, drag it out for as long as possible, then when the courts throw it out they will be $25,000,000 richer. Sound crazy? Wel that was what happened with V-Chip.
If more people asked Berman for Spike phone number he might get the message. YOU PICKED ON THE WRONG BUSINESS ARSEHOLE.
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Doesn't sound crazy at all, Paul. Sounds like their strategy to a "T".
Notice, if a court suit overturns things with the sponsors and the video streaming folks, they do not get their money back.
Notice in Berman's article, he says webmasters will not be liable if they sign and then the sponsor they use sign. You don't see him say he'll then give webmasters back the money. He won't. They won't. They have zero intention of giving anything back no matter what way things come out. They are going to do exactly what you said, make as much as they can get and when they lose and out, they're ahead. of the game.
The three big companies who settled on the V-Chip and then it was overturned feel stupid as shit now and their money is gone and in Acacia's pocket and being used to fuel their intimidation fire.
One thing I disagree on, Paul. No one should phone them. That's tantamount to answering a spam email or opting out of spam only to get more of it. You're only admitting you got the letter, that they got it correct and (depending on where they got the info from to mail you) if they didn't have your phone number before, you've just given it to them (or, again, confirmed it for them.)