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from my website (what gobigtime was referring to about WMV format and video)
19-Aug: Things that make you go hmmm
From a recent NY Times article:
"However, he said [Berman], anyone viewing stored streaming video or listening to
stored streaming audio on the Internet using the most common media players - those
produced by Apple Computer and RealNetworks, for example - are probably
violating his company's patents. "
Interesting that Berman did not mention Microsoft's Windows Media Player.
Part of what Acacia is claiming is using timecodes that match up the audio to video due to different compression methods use.
MP3 does not use timecodes, and being a digital format, should not be covered. If Virgin Radio uses shoutcast or other mp3 delivery systems (and most do), then they may not be infringing, but since they signed a license it doesn't matter anyways.
Quicktime (and Mpeg) uses timecodes, and my guess is that Real must do the same.
Could it be that Windows Media Player does things differently, such that use of Windows Media encoded files (ie. WMV) are not infringing the patent??
Why would Berman be specific enough to list Apple and Real, and leave out Microsoft?
Most of the current defendants use Microsoft Windows Media....so some investigation is definitely needed to understand why Microsoft was left out.
Would be rather ridiculous if Acacia realized now that they sued the wrong people.
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