Altnet Sues Record Industry Over File Hash Patents

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Altnet Sues Record Industry Over File Hash Patents

Posted by michael on Thursday September 9, 2004 @03:42AM from the patent-nonsense dept.

robochan writes "In a charming twist of fate, CNET is reporting that Altnet, a company that sells music and other digital goods through file-swapping services, is suing the RIAA for alleged patent infringement. Altnet CEO Kevin Bermeister stated, 'We cannot stand by and allow them to erode our business opportunity by the wholesale infringement of our rights.' Goodness, that sounds all too familiar..."

22 of 283 comments (clear)

Revenge by HackHackBoom · 2004-09-09 03:44 · Score: 5, Funny

Is a dish best served cold..

What goes around, comes around..

Oh to hell with this, Lets just get out some pitch forks and torches!

--

"It's not stealing if you don't get caught!"
1. Re:Revenge by Kierthos · 2004-09-09 04:02 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Yes we can. We're hypocrites.
  
  Kierthos
  
  --
  Mr. Hu is not a ninja.
2. Re:Revenge by csteinle · 2004-09-09 04:03 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  So patents are great when they're used against organizations you don't like, but they're evil when they're used to squash innovation? You can't have it both ways.
  
  True. But you can enjoy the delicious irony.
3. Re:Revenge by dheltzel · 2004-09-09 05:50 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  You can't have it both ways.
  Oh, but you can!
  This is America, and we're right in the middle of an epic political/media battle over the elections. How can you say someone can't have it both ways. That's exactly what the US political/legal system is all about.
  Haven't you heard of these 2 rules of business:
  The Golden Rule - He who has the gold, makes the rules.
  Prof. B's Theorum - All we really want out of life is an unfair advantage.
  Together, these rules explain pretty much all behavior, both individual and corporations.
  Yes, I'm cynical -- but I'm also right!
4. Re:Revenge by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-09 08:29 · Score: 1, Funny
  
  So patents are great when they're used against organizations you don't like, but they're evil when they're used to squash innovation? You can't have it both ways.
  No, silly you. That's not the thing: da thing is that (a) patents are Evil, but (b) two Evils make Good (Evil thing used against Evil entities).
  No one has to like bombs, and yet it's great to see the Bad Guys getting blown up. Similarly, patents are Satan's latest toy; yet it's still delightful to see other bad guys caught up in the patent web.
  Or has someone around here praised how good patents are? I ain't seen anyone, have you?
so i suppose by Triumph+The+Insult+C · 2004-09-09 03:44 · Score: 5, Funny

that patents are good now? today is thursday, so i'm not sure which way i'm supposed to go on that ...

--
vodka, straight up, thank you!
1. Re:so i suppose by drinkypoo · 2004-09-09 03:50 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Just because patents are bad doesn't mean we can't cackle with glee. It's always fun to watch bad things happen to bad people. We get so few opportunities to witness karma at work...
  
  --
  "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
2. Re:so i suppose by MuMart · 2004-09-09 03:58 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  MATHEMATICIANS
  Converge FASTER with Altnet(tm) NEWTON'S-METHOD EXTREEEME (tm)
  Do not perform illegal mathematics. Contact Altnet for pricing information. Student rates available.
Who to support? by Frankie70 · 2004-09-09 03:45 · Score: 4, Funny

Patents - Bad.
But the recording industry also Bad.

Who do we support in this discussion?
1. Re:Who to support? by IWannaBeAnAC · 2004-09-09 03:47 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  Neither. We just stand on the sidelines and laugh.
2. Re:Who to support? by Shadow+Wrought · 2004-09-09 04:07 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  Who do we support in this discussion?
  I liken it to watching the Yankees play the Red Sox. Who do you root for? Personally, I go with the meteorite;-) So far though, no such luck.
  
  --
  If brevity is the soul of wit, then how does one explain Twitter?
If only... by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-09 03:45 · Score: 5, Funny

both of them could lose...
Good.. by artlu · 2004-09-09 03:46 · Score: 4, Funny

At least someone is trying to make the RIAA feel the same way that a 14 year old kid does when he/she gets served with a subpoena.

gShares.net

--
-------
artlu.net
1. Re:Good.. by mr_z_beeblebrox · 2004-09-09 04:38 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  At least someone is trying to make the RIAA feel the same way that a 14 year old kid does when he/she gets served with a subpoena.
  
  You honestly believe....that the RIAAs first thought was "Oh cool, I'll be on the news!"
Disgusting abuse of patent law by mindaktiviti · 2004-09-09 03:47 · Score: 5, Funny

This is an outrage! The RIAA is a great group of do-gooders and this company decides to sue them for patent infringement!? This patent system is getting out of ha...oh wait.
Turnabout is fair play by raider_red · 2004-09-09 03:50 · Score: 1, Funny

And sometimes, it's just damn fun.

--
It's good to use your head, but not as a battering ram.
Re:What is the patent? by DrWho520 · 2004-09-09 04:02 · Score: 2, Funny

Yes, but has anyone expressed the patent specifically for the environment of P2P networks? I, personally, plan on patenting the wheel specifically for the SUV rear passenger side. By the time they get me on prior art, I will have enough licenses to retire.

--
The cancel button is your friend. Do not hesitate to use it.
Re:How ironic by ricotest · 2004-09-09 04:11 · Score: 3, Funny

You have a god point
FYI, God Points (TM) can be redeemed at your local church for smitings, stonings (5 GP), lightning strikes (10 GP), plagues of locusts (20 GP) or eternal damnation (50 GP). Our current special is the 40 Day Flood for just 200 God Points! Pool some together with your friends and save up to destroy that office or school you hate attending in a torrent of liquid vengeance!
Oh its all so confusing! by popo · 2004-09-09 04:17 · Score: 4, Funny

Patents are really screwing up the world.

But wait... the music industry is a big overgrown evil empire.

Who's side should I be on... let's see... "the enemy of my enemy..." ... no that doesn't help...

Wait... I know:

I blame Microsoft!

--
------ The best brain training is now totally free : )
Re:Actually, this is an old business model. by ratamacue · 2004-09-09 04:19 · Score: 4, Funny

Until we up the pay in the patent office and address the real problems these will continue
That's classic. When government fails, reward them with more revenue. You'd make a great politician.
Signs You're About to Receive an RIAA Subpoena.... by pentium69 · 2004-09-09 04:38 · Score: 5, Funny

You wake up to find a bloodied hard drive under the covers.

You seem to be getting a lot of traffic from fbi_d00d.

That ain't the Publisher's Clearinghouse van in front of your house.

Lately the only music files you can find have names like You'reNextGeekBoy.mp3.

You try to download Send Lawyers, Guns and Money but all you get is I Fought the Law and the Law Won.

Amazon.com recommends you purchase an attorney to go along with the 100 GB hard drive you just ordered.

Maybe mp3.riaa.com wasn't really an anonymous server after all?

Metallica and Court TV are both camped out in your driveway.

--
Mystika
Re:New business model, buy patents and sue. by Mordaximus · 2004-09-09 04:43 · Score: 4, Funny

They essentially patented using hashes for file identification.
Silly buggers. They would have made alot more money patenting filenames for file identification!