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Companies Claim iTMS, iPod Patent Infringement
ryan_fung writes "A Hong Kong based company, Pat-rights, is claiming that Apple's iTunes Music Store is infringing their patent on 'Internet User Identity Verification' and is demanding Apple pay 'a reasonable license fee, 12% of gross sales of iTunes music tracks and iPods.'" (They also claim infringement by eBay, porn sites, and others.) Reader bblazer links to a Register article which mentions both the Pat-Rights claim and another suit entirely. From the article: "Apple has found itself facing a pair of intellectual property challenges that separately claim its FairPlay DRM system and its iPod music player contain technologies to which the Mac maker does not have a right. First up, Lake Forest, Illinois-based Advanced Audio Devices (AAD) alleges its patent, number 6,587,403, for a 'music jukebox,' filed in August 2000 but granted in July 2003, covers the kind of thing Apple has brought to market as the iPod."
Time for Apple's Ninja Attack Lawyers to do something productive! They've been kinda bored and . . . . suey lately. Now they'll be distracted kicking an ass that deserves it for awhile.
Only in a Slashdot fantasy can a Slackware install turn into several hours of sex . . . . .
1. Take out patent on "FUD".
2. Take out patent on "Prior art".
3. Profit!
I think the point of the patent is that you have to give a credit card number which is verified along with your registration data to confirm you are who you say you are. Also for the pr0n, having a credit card is supposed to demonstrate you are an adult.
I'll agree with you though, that some things are just so obvious that it defies belief the PO would grant a patent. And a music jukebox? Come on, every seen Happy Days?
BTW, I patent "God".
When will a company have the balls to respond to such a patent claim by FedExing a piece of paper containing two words: "Fuck off"?
It's about time someone did something like that in response to this sort of BS.
With spending like this, exactly what are "conservatives" conserving?
problem solved :)
if it were only *that* simple...
I'm going to patent subtraction and then sue my bank.
Is it possible for those who are sick of this shit to bow out, Thanks we're not playing any more, take our toys and live in a more sensible and friendly reality?
BTW - I'm putting a patent on the alphabet - and I want $.01 for every letter you guys type - or just send me $5 via pay pal and we are good ;)
Please be advised that Martin Heidegger appears to own a world-wide patent on the use of hyphens to form larger word-entities.
Should you lay claim to this piece of IP, prior-art in the form of Heidegger's book Being and Time (Sein und Zeit) has a great deal of prior-art.
I wasn't copying their copyrighted music your honour, I was only receiving "digital data".
Reminds me of that movie Mars Attacks (1996) Just after the aliens destroy congress, the President says
"I want the people to know that they still have 2 out of 3 branches of the government working for them, and that ain't bad."
-William
God is everything science has yet to explain.
Darl, is that you?
I'm sorry, but Darl(tm) is a registered trademark of SCO. In addition, the phrase "is that you" is under copyright. If you wish, you may license it for $699 per instance.
Finally, we are seeking a patent on "A symbolic method of indicating a desire for more information," so you should also refrain from using the question mark on the at of the sentence. Without such protection, our ability to innovate will be seriously compromised.
They say they are entitled to trebledamages. Next thing they'll be asking for bass damages.
nail #500.
It is both interesting and unnerving that they speak better legalese than English.
"[T]he single essential element on which all discoveries will be dependent is human freedom." -- Barry Goldwater