Voldemort Patents Podcasting

[Iason Ouabache]

http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2009/11/eff-tackles-bogus-podcasting-patent-and-we-need-yo

Patenting podcasting? You've got to be kidding. Yet a company called Volomedia just got the Patent Office to grant them such exclusive rights.

EFF and the law firm of Howrey, LLP aren't willing to just sit by and watch. This patent could threaten the vibrant community of podcasters and millions of podcast listeners. We want to put a stop to it, but we need your help.

The Volomedia patent covers "a method for providing episodic media." It's a ridiculously broad patent, covering something that many folks have been doing for many years. Worse, it could create a whole new layer of ongoing costs for podcasters and their listeners. Right now, just about anyone can create their own on-demand talk radio program, earning an audience on the strength of their ideas. But more costs and hassle means that podcasting could go the way of mainstream radio -- with only the big guys able to afford an audience. And we'd have a bogus patent to blame.

[Jasper]

Good luck controlling "a method" for providing "episodic media".

I'm getting the urge to patent "a method" for "defrauding the patent office".

[Cain]

I am patenting vlogging.

ALL YOUR VIDEO ARE BELONG TO ME.

[Iason Ouabache]

Good luck controlling "a method" for providing "episodic media".

I'm getting the urge to patent "a method" for "defrauding the patent office".

There's no way that this is enforceable and EFF is already looking for "prior art" so that they can get this thing busted. It was a jackass move by the company and the patent board shouldn't have approved it in the first place.

[Jasper]

I have difficulty imagining a group of reasonably sane people got together to make a decision and came to that conclusion.

So I think it was a matter of bribery.

Makes sense.  A bribery is just an investment of a sort, and it stood to pay off pretty well.

[Triple Zero]

I have difficulty imagining a group of reasonably sane people

I feel ya, man.

[Jasper]

I have difficulty imagining a group of reasonably sane people

I feel ya, man.

Heh.  When I say "reasonably sane", of course I mean "garden variety fucked inna head".

[Requia ☣]

Good luck controlling "a method" for providing "episodic media".

I'm getting the urge to patent "a method" for "defrauding the patent office".

There's no way that this is enforceable and EFF is already looking for "prior art" so that they can get this thing busted. It was a jackass move by the company and the patent board shouldn't have approved it in the first place.

It doesn't need to be enforceable,  a patent suit costs an average of 5 million, they'll sue and offer a smaller settlement a few hundred thousand to a million.

Also, east Texas judges would *totally* uphold that patent.