BMG settles with SightSound (acacia related)

FightThePatent · 02-24-2004

read here: http://www.fightthepatent.com/v2/Highlander.html

post here.

Fight the Paradox!

FightThePatent · 02-24-2004

for those link challenged, here is one notable point of the article:

Porn websites that are member based (ie. monthly membership fee) could technically fall within this patent [SightSound]. Video-on-Demand sites that offer pay-per-minute or video downloads (ie. CinemaNow.com, MovieLink.com, etc) could find themselves faced with paying licenses to two or more patent holders.

Fight the Excerpts!

Mike AI · 02-24-2004

Patents are going to be the biggest issue on the net now. I hope Judges don't let these companies stiffle the web.

FightThePatent · 02-25-2004

Hoovers article:
http://www.hoovers.com/free/news/detail.xh...2b20007d2dc663a

"SightSound prexy and co-founder Scott Sander said Monday that the company has already been approached by several parties interested in acquiring the patent portfolio.

"We realize that someone bigger than us might have to have these patents for the industry to really move ahead," Sander said. "We hope that with our success today the industry has entered a new era of respect for intellectual property, both copyrights and patent rights."

Fight the Portfolio!

FightThePatent · 02-25-2004

"We realize that someone bigger than us might have to have these patents for the industry to really move ahead," Sander said.

"industry to really move ahead" ... huh? what industry?

Maybe he meant the industry of licensing patents and suing people for infringements. (if only that joke were funny)

I touched upon this subject in my article: Mo Patents, Mo Money: Making money by licensing patents at http://www.fightthepatent.com/v2/MakingMoney.html

Fight the Digging up of old Articles!

chodadog · 02-25-2004

So, it's entirely possible that site owners could be paying up to 3 companies for licenses to use one technology? That sickens me.

FightThePatent · 02-25-2004

Quote:

Originally posted by chodadog@Feb 25 2004, 08:02 AM
So, it's entirely possible that site owners could be paying up to 3 companies for licenses to use one technology? That sickens me.

Yes. If a company has digitized video on their website, and has either members or pay-per-view model, then Acacia, SightSound, and USA Video could have licensing claims.

It is quite absurd that a business would have to pay licenses to more than 1 patent for the same thing (assuming patent validity).

The only way to get out of this situation is either to wait for the patentees to fight amongst themselves, so that only 1 is still standing, and then everyone has to pay that one or the alternative, to invalidate the patents directly with the USPTO.

It's cheaper than fighting in court.. but it still costs money.... but no one is in the position to do that... it would take some kind of organization or foundation to do that.

Fight the Apathy!

SykkBoy · 02-25-2004

the legal layman in me still doesn't understand why they don't go after the companies creating the SOFTWARE that enables us to stream video...

of course that would mean higher licensing fees from the software makers, so we'd end up paying eventually anyways...

I just hope that those who settled with ACACIA keep getting more hands thrust into their pockets...

FightThePatent · 02-25-2004

Quote:

Originally posted by SykkBoy@Feb 25 2004, 11:56 AM
the legal layman in me still doesn't understand why they don't go after the companies creating the SOFTWARE that enables us to stream video...

People like M$, Real, and Apple make software... the software does not infringe on the patent.

The infringing is done with content + software is combined along with an end user to view/listen... this completes the process that the DMT patent claims.

An Apache HTTP server can be used to deliver an AVI. So the combination of an AVI + Apache server + end user, still completes the process.

The patent relies on third party parts to make the thing go..

The patent is the equivalent to the process of making a peanut butter sandwich. Jiffy peanut butter would not be infringing, but the mom that made a sandwich that combined all the elements would.

this is why the patent is so absurd.

Fight the Absurd!

Dravyk · 02-26-2004

This is tantamount to three seperate companies all saying they own the same turnpike. And I doubt anytime soon any of them will be fighting it out. That would make too much sense from our perspective. What's more likely and in each of their interest is -- proposterous as this sounds were this in the tangible world -- each company will build their own tollgates along the same stretch of road and have all the cars pay three times as much.

... Unless Congress (hah!) does something or the Courts (in 2005 or 2008) decide things. Of course it might be an empty highway by then, but hey, as long as they have all gotten their cut and enjoying their mai-tais in Bali.

02-24-2004	#1
FightThePatent Members Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 303	read here: http://www.fightthepatent.com/v2/Highlander.html post here. Fight the Paradox! __________________ Learn more about Acacia and other patent abuse cases at: http://www.FightThePatent.com \| find the goldmines of traffic

02-24-2004	#2
FightThePatent Members Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 303	for those link challenged, here is one notable point of the article: Porn websites that are member based (ie. monthly membership fee) could technically fall within this patent [SightSound]. Video-on-Demand sites that offer pay-per-minute or video downloads (ie. CinemaNow.com, MovieLink.com, etc) could find themselves faced with paying licenses to two or more patent holders. Fight the Excerpts! __________________ Learn more about Acacia and other patent abuse cases at: http://www.FightThePatent.com \| find the goldmines of traffic

02-24-2004	#3
Mike AI Administrator Want to see your own Advertising Here! Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 11,618	Patents are going to be the biggest issue on the net now. I hope Judges don't let these companies stiffle the web. __________________ Make big money on your Domains! Why wait 40 days to get paid with the other guys? Parked.com pays the most for your traffic, and cuts checks twice a month!

02-25-2004	#4
FightThePatent Members Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 303	Hoovers article: http://www.hoovers.com/free/news/detail.xh...2b20007d2dc663a "SightSound prexy and co-founder Scott Sander said Monday that the company has already been approached by several parties interested in acquiring the patent portfolio. "We realize that someone bigger than us might have to have these patents for the industry to really move ahead," Sander said. "We hope that with our success today the industry has entered a new era of respect for intellectual property, both copyrights and patent rights." Fight the Portfolio! __________________ Learn more about Acacia and other patent abuse cases at: http://www.FightThePatent.com \| find the goldmines of traffic

02-25-2004	#5
FightThePatent Members Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 303	"We realize that someone bigger than us might have to have these patents for the industry to really move ahead," Sander said. "industry to really move ahead" ... huh? what industry? Maybe he meant the industry of licensing patents and suing people for infringements. (if only that joke were funny) I touched upon this subject in my article: Mo Patents, Mo Money: Making money by licensing patents at http://www.fightthepatent.com/v2/MakingMoney.html Fight the Digging up of old Articles! __________________ Learn more about Acacia and other patent abuse cases at: http://www.FightThePatent.com \| find the goldmines of traffic

02-25-2004	#6
chodadog Members Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 372	So, it's entirely possible that site owners could be paying up to 3 companies for licenses to use one technology? That sickens me.

02-25-2004	#8
SykkBoy Polishing the Chrome on Bishops Motorcycle $100 for every ImLive sign-up Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Hell: Bowels : Level 9 Posts: 4,153	the legal layman in me still doesn't understand why they don't go after the companies creating the SOFTWARE that enables us to stream video... of course that would mean higher licensing fees from the software makers, so we'd end up paying eventually anyways... I just hope that those who settled with ACACIA keep getting more hands thrust into their pockets... __________________ ADULT PAYMASTER - All Site Access - Paying $70 October 5th! "Love your enemies...just in case your friends turn out to be bastards." - unknown

02-26-2004	#10
Dravyk Easy Like Sunday Morning Want to see your own Advertising Here! Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Behind a couch, somewhere in Philly Posts: 7,628	This is tantamount to three seperate companies all saying they own the same turnpike. And I doubt anytime soon any of them will be fighting it out. That would make too much sense from our perspective. What's more likely and in each of their interest is -- proposterous as this sounds were this in the tangible world -- each company will build their own tollgates along the same stretch of road and have all the cars pay three times as much. ... Unless Congress (hah!) does something or the Courts (in 2005 or 2008) decide things. Of course it might be an empty highway by then, but hey, as long as they have all gotten their cut and enjoying their mai-tais in Bali. __________________ All Of 'Em Mainstream Webmasters New: WebmasterConventions.com