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SightSound Patent Case to Move Forward

Posted by timothy on from the patent-absurdia dept.

Masem writes: "CNet reports that a preliminary hearing has allowed the case that SightSound Technologies brought against CDNow over patent infringements to proceed forward, indicating that the judge believes that SightSound has a chance of defending it's case. Sightsound claims that patents it filed in the late 80s covering the "electronic sale" of music and video over a "telecommunications line" cover most of the methods used today on the Internet to peddle music or vidoes, whether by CD/DVD or by MP3/mpeg tracks. Not mentioned in the article, but there are notable parallels between this and BT's patent claim on hyperlinks, in that both patents have an overly broad language, and were filed before the Internet became what it is today, and in both cases the defendants are arguing that the non-specificness of the patents to the Internet make them unapplicable to the specific case."

3 of 100 comments (clear)

  1. 82-year-old programmers out there for this one? by Scooby+Snacks · · Score: 2, Funny
    We just need to talk to the first guy who played a cassette, 8-track, or vinyl album over the telephone to get this all straightened out.

    ;-)

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    Runnin' around, robbin' banks all whacked on the Scooby Snacks...
  2. The Litigants by IgD · · Score: 2, Funny

    Kudos to Slashdot. I love this Patents topic!

    I'm an avid Star Trek fan and I'd like to propose a new Trek Race: The Litigants. Picture this non-violent species with me. They are a sort of compromise in between the Pherengi and the Borg. The whole society is based around the courtroom. They fly around the Galaxy and use the legal systems of other races to assimilate intellectual property. They wear powdered wigs and carry quill pens. Every form of communication is a legal negotiation. Their cultural rituals like marriage are all a series of legal wranglings between man and woman. This race never attacks races through weapons. They attack only through legal manuevering sort of like the ACLU.

    Oh, this is patented IP too:)

  3. Nightmare on straight street... by marko123 · · Score: 2, Funny

    If the law was simplified, thousands of shady people in busy jobs would be on the streets. It wouldn't be pretty. Keep them legal :)

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    http://pcblues.com - Digits and Wood