Fight The Patent Foundation

[FightThisPatent]

Hello all,

All the work that I have been doing in the last 60 days to bring awareness and find prior art has come to this fine moment of presenting to the adult webmaster the community, the opportunity to form a unique organization, a non-profit (501c3) entity whose focus is to help defendants in patent abuse cases find prior art evidence and expert witnesses, as well as to help invalidate bad patents directly with the USPTO.

More info here: http://www.FightThePatent.com/go

[FightThisPatent]

For those who read my posts before alluding to some adult industry players having their own set of patents to possibly try the same Acacia-like tactics:

Did you know that there is a patent on exit console traffic?????

http://www.ideaflood.com/press.asp

Click on Current Patents (on their website) to read more...


Fight The Patent!

[Mr.Fiction]

Good luck. You're doing good work!

[LeeNoga]

Yes, he is doing good work out of the kindness of his heart.

I really hope the webmaster community donates to the cause he rallies behind.....

I believe he is open now for donations as a non profit organization.

Time will tell how much the webmasters appreciate all his hard work and efforts...

No way can he continue to devote 18 hours a day for free, he has given up day job options to commit to this project.

http://www.fightthispatent.com!


FIGHT THIS PATENT

DONATE PLEASE

[Hunter_ST]

So Acacia even wants money from people who just have mpeg's or avi's on their site?

I thought they just wanted it for "streaming" content.

Has Acacia gone after anyone who just has mpegs on their site, and not streaming stuff?

[FightThisPatent]

Originally posted by Hunter_ST
So Acacia even wants money from people who just have mpeg's or avi's on their site?

I thought they just wanted it for "streaming" content.

Has Acacia gone after anyone who just has mpegs on their site, and not streaming stuff?

Their patent claims cover both streaming and downloading of audio and video.

Their patents don't cover live streaming....

And yes, they have targeted websites that have mpg and avi files on their site.


Fight the Patent!

[swingerman]

Can someone with technical knowledge please enlighten me?
Is there a difference between downloading a mpeg file and let's say a zip file or ANYTHING else???

And as far as I know, it absolutely doesn't matter how a video/sound file is encoded/compressed, right?
So they have the patent for the digital transmission of ANY video/sound file from one location to another one, right?

I guess I've got to plug off my answering machine...

So what's the technical difference between downloading a movie file and downloading any other file?
What's their technology?

[swingerman]

oh,... and what about FLASH and animated gifs???

[FightThisPatent]

Originally posted by swingerman

Is there a difference between downloading a mpeg file and let's say a zip file or ANYTHING else???

And as far as I know, it absolutely doesn't matter how a video/sound file is encoded/compressed, right?
So they have the patent for the digital transmission of ANY video/sound file from one location to another one, right?

I guess I've got to plug off my answering machine...

So what's the technical difference between downloading a movie file and downloading any other file?
What's their technology?

All great questions since their patent claims are so broad.

Any downloading or streaming of a file is covered by their patent claims. They even claim if you zip up videos in a file, and a webmaster were to download that zip file, then you would still be infringing.

Doesn't matter what kind of encoding you use, or whether you used MS Media Server or Apache HTTP to deliver the digital file, they claim the whole process of downloading from one machine to another.... and so does SightSound and USA Video,..... a very interesting paradox..


There is no technical difference between downloading a .GIF file and a .AVI file, but for some reason, since the file is audio or video, Acacia seems to have the claims.

Read about the silliness of the wording used in their patent at http://www.FightThePatent.com/v2/Teleportation.html


Fight the Patent!

[FightThisPatent]

Originally posted by swingerman
oh,... and what about FLASH and animated gifs???

Video in flash is covered.....

GIF89 files could be great prior art!

It would have to be an animated GIF file that was available for download prior to 1990, and used digitized images looped together.

I know they are out there, but i haven't found one yet that was before 1990. GIF89 came out in 1989, so not sure how fast people jumped on the specification and used programs that could created the animated GIF files. Cartoon or animation GIF89 images won't help.


Fight the Patent!

[swingerman]

I did read their patents and also your site.
thanx! that's what I didn't know exactly: there is no difference...

well, this is really the most ridiculous patent I've ever seen in my entire life.

so what about software that contains video and audio?
e.g.: i download a demo of a game from a website and it contains compressed video and audio files. ACACIA's technology? after reading their patent: YES!


how the hell could they register such a trivial-patent?
incredible!

[FightThisPatent]

Originally posted by swingerman

thanx! that's what I didn't know exactly: there is no difference...

It may not appear to be any differences between IMPA and FTPF because right now, IMPA's focus has been on patents, afterall, that's what sparked the creation of the group. But, as you read their charter, they are looking to be an association that looks after all kinds of issues that pertain to adult webmasters like some componay copyrightting the term "virtual sex".

While both IMPA and FTPF are out looking for prior art and experts, the major difference is that IMPA has to go find the prior art and experts (which is what i was doing with FightThePatent.com). FTPF is looking to get experts to come to it to provide the prior art evidence and testimony due to the altruistic method that FTPF will use.

so what about software that contains video and audio?
e.g.: i download a demo of a game from a website and it contains compressed video and audio files.

i believe that games are excluded.




Fight the Patent!

[swingerman]

IF there is no technical difference between the digital transmission of a video/sound file and any other file, their patent is useless anyway and you don't need to find prior art.

Examples:
A CD player.
there's no technical difference between different CDs. you can play any music CD on it. NOBODY can come and say "but I have the patent on playing heavy metal mudic CDs".

physical transportation. (let's say with UPS)
there's no difference between transporting a DVD and a document. NOBODY can come and say "I have a patent on transporting DVDs from one place to another".
If you'd need a special tool or technology to transport a DVD, ok.
But that's not the case.

And as I already said: If there's no technical difference between the digital transmission of video/audio files and any other files, then their patent is invalid.

Where's the proof from ACACIA. What's their technology? That's what I'd like to know.

[swingerman]

Originally posted by FightThisPatent


It may not appear to be any differences between IMPA and FTPF because right now, IMPA's focus has been on patents, afterall, that's what sparked the creation of the group. But, as you read their charter, they are looking to be an association that looks after all kinds of issues that pertain to adult webmasters like some componay copyrightting the term "virtual sex".

While both IMPA and FTPF are out looking for prior art and experts, the major difference is that IMPA has to go find the prior art and experts (which is what i was doing with FightThePatent.com). FTPF is looking to get experts to come to it to provide the prior art evidence and testimony due to the altruistic method that FTPF will use.

"difference" in relation to the technology. that's what I wanted to say

[FightThisPatent]

Originally posted by swingerman
IF there is no technical difference between the digital transmission of a video/sound file and any other file, their patent is useless anyway and you don't need to find prior art.

the major problem with this patent, is it's not about technology or anything tangible of an invention, it's a process patent, that is based on the idea of digitizing, compressing, storing, transmitting, and viewing...

that's essentially what the patent says... a more technical summary is:

The process of storing compressed video in a libary for distribution over a distributed network (optionally at the request of the remote user)



I think that when the USPTO reviewed this patent, they granted it because the process involves a person taking content, digitizing it, then the rest...

But Acacia claims that even if you buy your content from somewhere else, you are still part of the 'process'.

Someone else started the process with the digitizing and compressing, and then when you got the file, you took care of the storing and transmitting...and the end user is involved in the playback.

Yes, it is quite absurd from a technology/computer literate point-of-view.. but Acacia is just one company to deal with.. SightSound's patent involves the paid downloading of an audio or video clip... ..and USA Video's claim is over downlaoding video faster than real time.. so a person on broadband, downloading a video from a server will cause the website to be infringing, but a dial-up person won't make the website infringe??

USA Video is suing Movielink.com over their patent claims.



Fight The Patent!

[FightThisPatent]

For every pledge that someone makes, I personally respond to give thanks...no automated scripts.

I also manually update the graphic image for the pledge drive...

so if you want to cause me alot of work in responding to everyone's pledge and having to continually update the pledge drive total and time stamp, then pledge!


Fight the Patent!

[swingerman]

Originally posted by FightThisPatent



the major problem with this patent, is it's not about technology or anything tangible of an invention, it's a process patent, that is based on the idea of digitizing, compressing, storing, transmitting, and viewing...

that's essentially what the patent says... a more technical summary is:

The process of storing compressed video in a libary for distribution over a distributed network (optionally at the request of the remote user)



I think that when the USPTO reviewed this patent, they granted it because the process involves a person taking content, digitizing it, then the rest...

But Acacia claims that even if you buy your content from somewhere else, you are still part of the 'process'.

Someone else started the process with the digitizing and compressing, and then when you got the file, you took care of the storing and transmitting...and the end user is involved in the playback.

Yes, it is quite absurd from a technology/computer literate point-of-view.. but Acacia is just one company to deal with.. SightSound's patent involves the paid downloading of an audio or video clip... ..and USA Video's claim is over downlaoding video faster than real time.. so a person on broadband, downloading a video from a server will cause the website to be infringing, but a dial-up person won't make the website infringe??

USA Video is suing Movielink.com over their patent claims.



Fight The Patent!

I have no words. This is ridiculous. This all sounds like quoted from a satire magazine... but it's the reality. Something is very, very wrong with the patent system

[FightThisPatent]

Originally posted by swingerman


I have no words. This is ridiculous. This all sounds like quoted from a satire magazine... but it's the reality. Something is very, very wrong with the patent system

if it were quoted from a magazine, then i must be plagerizing on the fly

more fun reading for you: http://www.ideaflood.com/current.asp

the patent for exit traffic...... truth is stranger than fiction


Fight The Patent!

[LeeNoga]

Exactly why we have to fight this!

Fighting costs money.

DONATE PLEASE

[Paul Markham]

If we do not fight this and win, could we face paying Acacia, SightSound and US Video for the rights to have video on our sites?

I am getting comuter science professors to look at this and report back. These guys would have been in college around 1988 to 1990 and would have the best knowledge of what was happening.

However our best defense is to stick together and let anyone who wants a piece of our industry know they are taking on a united group.

Now I have a working CC Processor I will be signing up for a monthly subscription th the cause. Plus might do some special offers for guys to buy content, get a good deal and contribute.


This patent is in my opinion too broad to win in court, should we get a fair hearing, but that is where it has to be taken. Because Acacia are betting we cannot afford and to show SightSound and US Video that is how far we will go.

[FightThisPatent]

Originally posted by charly
If we do not fight this and win, could we face paying Acacia, SightSound and US Video for the rights to have video on our sites?

Not only that, but what about paying other companies a percentage of your revenue for:

-shopping carts / e-commerce

-using frames on a webpage

-using pop up windows

-exit traffic

-breathing





Fight the Patent!

[Far-L]

IMPA does not feel any competition with FTP. We are happy to coexist and work together. Brandon has been a major help to us and I fully support his efforts at FTP.

He was very sensitive to the perception of being seen as a duplication of the IMPA and sought our opinion and blessing with honesty and integrity.

He correctly points out while there is some collaborative efforts toward similar agendas, the IMPA has a broader focus than FTP which is mainly focused on Prior Art investigation.

Thank you Brandon!

Good luck!

And I agree...

FIGHT THE PATENT! (not the legit ones, that is, just the overbroad, non-applicable, and falsely construed ones!)

[myneid]

you know i really wish taht in 1996 i had thought about patenting the digital transfer of nude images.

[FightThisPatent]

Originally posted by myneid
you know i really wish taht in 1996 i had thought about patenting the digital transfer of nude images.

Nah, I am sure you would have been beaten out on prior art by the first digital transmission between 2 remote computers...

while Alexander Graham Bell said "come here watson" as the first message, the first file transferred was most likely a nudie pic.




Fight the Patent!

[sexeducation]

Originally posted by myneid
you know i really wish taht in 1996 i had thought about patenting the digital transfer of nude images.

oh ...
we can do better then that.

let's just start guessing the next "logical" patents.

hmmmmm ....

I'm going to patent the process of using the query string portion of a referring URL to determine what website a visitor is brought to.

no no ...

I'm going to patent advertising banners which recognize voice patterns ..

no no ...
I'm going to patent the broad and sweeping concept of hypertext links which automatically perform searches when clicked on


WTF


no no ...
instead of "buy now" - I am going to patent the voice command process which validates a visa card.

[FightThisPatent]

Anyone remember seeing exit console traffic being used prior to October 30, 1997?

Meaning when someone closes their browser or changes to a new URL, that a new window is opened to another website?

The reason i ask is because this company: http://www.ideaflood.com/current.asp has the patent to exit traffic, and prior art would have to be 1 year before the filing date, so that puts things at October 30, 1997.

If during October 30, 1997 to October 30, 1998 you had exit traffic console stuff on your website, you are exempt from this patten, having PRIOR USE...so you can continue to use what this company has patented... but, if started to use exit traffic after October 30, 1998, then you have something to be concerned about, and probably should start thinking back to any websites that had exit traffic...

Use http://www.archive.org to put in a website and look under the 1997 column to check if your search website had it.

Otherwise, this could be an example of a good patent.. one that shows something novel and new, with no prior art


thoughts?

[Mr.Fiction]

Originally posted by FightThisPatent
Anyone remember seeing exit console traffic being used prior to October 30, 1997?

Meaning when someone closes their browser or changes to a new URL, that a new window is opened to another website?

The reason i ask is because this company: http://www.ideaflood.com/current.asp has the patent to exit traffic, and prior art would have to be 1 year before the filing date, so that puts things at October 30, 1997.

If during October 30, 1997 to October 30, 1998 you had exit traffic console stuff on your website, you are exempt from this patten, having PRIOR USE...so you can continue to use what this company has patented... but, if started to use exit traffic after October 30, 1998, then you have something to be concerned about, and probably should start thinking back to any websites that had exit traffic...

Use http://www.archive.org to put in a website and look under the 1997 column to check if your search website had it.

Otherwise, this could be an example of a good patent.. one that shows something novel and new, with no prior art


thoughts?

Someone here should know whether the adult industry was using consoles before that date.

When was it possible to start using them in browsers?

[FightThisPatent]

Originally posted by Mr.Fiction



When was it possible to start using them in browsers?

Earliest i have found is 1996 with java-script 1.0

the ability to do pop-up windows was done early one...but this patent takes the use of java-script and adds on the part about driving traffic to a different url, etc... which might not have been thought of....



Fight the Patent!

[Bladewire]

Originally posted by swingerman
IF there is no technical difference between the digital transmission of a video/sound file and any other file, their patent is useless anyway and you don't need to find prior art.

This problem is real Swingerman. Read the acacia patent by clicking on it's link on the fight the patent website.

I have read this thoroughly and there is a GREAT need to find prior art.

Denying there is a problem is not the way to deal with it.

[nige]

html error in this page, http://www.fightthepatent.com/v2/Fou...ebmasters.html
The link at the bottom of the page that should go to
www.FightThePatent.com

[FightThisPatent]

Originally posted by Squirtit


Denying there is a problem is not the way to deal with it.

hey, i know some ostriches that take offense to that!

[Bladewire]

Originally posted by Mr.Fiction


Someone here should know whether the adult industry was using consoles before that date.

When was it possible to start using them in browsers?

I agree! The thing that sucks here, as we all know, is that hard drives fail and old code gets deleted.. this is what these companies thrive upon.

The very technology that stores our inormation has a 5 year warranty. Hard drives are not expected to last more than 5 years.

This should be brought up in court. We are expected to produce prior art on storage technology that doesn't last more than 5 years and constantly fails.

Something to think about.

[Bladewire]

Originally posted by Far-L
IMPA does not feel any competition with FTP. We are happy to coexist and work together. Brandon has been a major help to us and I fully support his efforts at FTP.

He was very sensitive to the perception of being seen as a duplication of the IMPA and sought our opinion and blessing with honesty and integrity.

He correctly points out while there is some collaborative efforts toward similar agendas, the IMPA has a broader focus than FTP which is mainly focused on Prior Art investigation.

Thank you Brandon!

Good luck!

And I agree...

FIGHT THE PATENT! (not the legit ones, that is, just the overbroad, non-applicable, and falsely construed ones!)

Without your company doing the right thing and fighting the fight it would be nearly impossible for the rest of us to do what we're doing. You guys have my total support.. as well as FTP! You are the seeds of what the adult industry is evolving to.

Please stay strong and continue being the glue that holds us together.

[FightThisPatent]

Originally posted by nige
html error in this page, http://www.fightthepatent.com/v2/Fou...ebmasters.html
The link at the bottom of the page that should go to
www.FightThePatent.com

thanks for pointing it out, i fixed it by just deleting it.. now if only i could do the same to fix patent abuse cases...

Fight The Patent!

[FightThisPatent]

Well it's only been less than a day, and you can see the total pledged below at the bottom.

The goal is to get 2,500 webmasters pledging $100/each for a one-time donation to start the Fight The Patent Foundation.

More info on this pledge drive and the ideas behind FTPF at http://www.FightThePatent.com/go



Fight the Patent!

[FightThisPatent]

For those that have emailed me about what the difference is between IMPA's efforts and FTPF:



First of all, money donted to the IMPA does not go towards the defendants in paying their attorney bills... it goes to research for prior art and other association issues. If you want to help with the attorney bills, then your donation should be directed to Spike directly.

Since I am asking the adult industry as a group to support the rally to start FTPF, and the belief that there is a sense of community, that 20% of the gross from this pledge drive goes to adult organizations like ASACP and IMPA that are looking out for the industry as a whole.

I have spoken with Spike and Farrell several times about FTP and FTPF and there is a great synergy between the two entities.

Our organizations have different charters.. IMPA is an Association, that looks after all kinds of issues that concern webmasters in the adult industry.

FTPF will be a non-profit that is narrowly focused on patents, which is a subset of IMPA's charter. There is an overlap in a sense in what we do in the area of patents.

We both have the aims of being proactive in fighting against patent abuse cases and in finding prior art.

One of the main differences in the prior art seaches between the 2 groups is that i am expecting people to come forward to FTPF to provide prior art and expert testimony due to the way FTPF gives donations to their favorite charity in their name if they come forward to help (ie. Pay it Forward), as opposed to digging/researching to find people, and trying to convince them to help with prior art.

I have been doing this for over 60 days.. i have sent out a ton of emails and fax, and only a small percentage respond, and smaller percentage puts efforts to help in the search.

This is the reason why i believe defending patent infringement claims is hard, because if you don't have the good prior art, you will have trouble convincing the court to invalidate the claims.

A perfect example of this is eBay. Through my searches, i found some BBS prior art for auctions.. i contacted eBay, they were interested in the leads, but they had already lost their case, and the court awarded the plantiff $29M for patent infringements.

eBay is on appeal right now on the case, but they can't introduce new evidence... so i may have found the silver bullets for their case (and some experts that could testify), but because they didn't find it earlier, it won't help them.

eBay has other patent cases they are defending, so maybe this time, they'll look to organizations like FightThePatent.com and FTPF to help in the search. (Afterall, i do this for free).

Both organizations need your support..and as you see on my pledge form, i clearly and boldly state that 20% of the gross pledges from this drive will be allocated to ASACP and IMPA.

I am not collecting any money from any webmasters at this point. As you can see by the graphic below, the amount shown are pledges. ONLY when 250,000 is reached do the pledges become donations... if the pledge total falls short, no money is collected and FTPF will not happen.

At that point, i will scale back my advocacy efforts, still help in the search with assistance to IMPA, but focus my attention back on my ventures and making money with my time and talents.


Fight the Patent!

[FightThisPatent]

When you go to make a pledge, you will see that 20% of the gross from the pledge drive will be given to organizations like ASACP and IMPA that are looking out for the industry.

By supporting FTPF, you are banding together as competitors and peers to take a stand against patent abuse cases... from ones that affect businesses today, to ones that will come tomorrow.

Learn more about the novel approach to fighting patent abuse cases by FTPF at http://www.FightThePatent.com/go



Fight the Patent!

[BigFish]

What can YOU do that the IMPA cannot? IMPA have world class patent lawyers on their team, what do you have? Google research? It seems to me like you're just indirectly sucking potential donors away from IMPA towards your cause. We need people who have the ability to fight the patents in a court of law, not on message boards.

[FightThisPatent]

Originally posted by BigFish
What can YOU do that the IMPA cannot? IMPA have world class patent lawyers on their team, what do you have? Google research? It seems to me like you're just indirectly sucking potential donors away from IMPA towards your cause. We need people who have the ability to fight the patents in a court of law, not on message boards.

I hope that you realize that any money that is donated to IMPA does not go towards paying for world-class attorneys to defend the defendants in litigation.

The money to IMPA does go towards finding prior art and other IMPA issues that it wishes to address.

IMPA doesn't fight patents in a court of law and neither does FTPF, only the defendants can do that...

FTPF is modeled after the ACLU and EFF, where if a company is defending themselves against a patent infringement claim, then with the altruistic "pay it forward' concept, be able to proactively help the defense side.

As far as what i have done in the last 60 days, it has been more than just google searches.. it has been getting people informed about the issues, getting people to want to come forward and provde the prior art evidence that they have sitting on their shelves.

I understand that you are not aware of my efforts or what I have been doing, but i assure you that Spike and Far-L does.

I applaud your support for IMPA.. but i hope that you understand what your contribution is going towards.

There is an overlap between the two organizations charter in fighting against patents.. we both have that similarity, but how we do it and what else we do, are different.


In case you did take the time to read about FTPF, then i am sure you would have seen that i am also contributing a portion of the money raised (if the pledge goal is met) to IMPA (and ASACP).



Fight the Patent!

[JayJay]

I love this FightThisPatent guy If we all had even as half as much fighting passion and spirit as him no one could touch our business

[FightThisPatent]

Originally posted by JayJay
I love this FightThisPatent guy If we all had even as half as much fighting passion and spirit as him no one could touch our business

While i always have my sense of humor and wit about me, i still have the same pissed off feeling that i had when i first heard about Acacia and started up FightThePatent.com back on August 12th.

The more i research and learn about other patent abuse cases in addition to Acacia, the more it should make me cynical and want to just give up.

I have become an Activist, something that i never thought i would do. I enjoy my privacy and my life, and i have enough professional and personal interests already to keep me busy... but this seems to be my calling... i have been directed to do this work, to stick my neck out and fight against what i believe is wrong.

People who are activists fall into three categories in my observations:

They start out being Idealistic, that they can "change the world".

Then once they get into the movement, they become more Realistic as to how the world works, how people behave/react, etc.

Then after being in the trenches awhile, you become cynical for those that don't believe or support in what you are doing, despite your best attempts at fighting for them.

I am a realist, i am a business man, but I hope that my sense of humor and my good conscious will always keep me in the Idealistic category as an Activist.

A movement is more about just one person, it's about a group of people who have shared common believes, shared drive, and the shared sense of values at what they are pissed off about.

If you are frustrated at all of these current and future patent issues, channel that energy to support FTPF..... by forming FTPF, i am saying that I am dedicating a good portion of my life and time to fighting for issues that affect so many.. .otherwise, i could be just like everyone else, and focus on my own professional and personal activities.

Fight the Patent!

[Veterans Day]

Originally posted by JayJay
I love this FightThisPatent guy If we all had even as half as much fighting passion and spirit as him no one could touch our business

what he said Im pullin out some cash for donation right now brb...

[FightThisPatent]

Originally posted by Veterans Day

what he said Im pullin out some cash for donation right now brb...

And when you make that pledge, i'll update the counter with the new number

I ask on the pledge form if you want your name/company name to be made public on an endorsement page, with the default setting to NO.

Many have pledged their support and have put the YES.. i haven't made a page for it yet, but I will in the future. I respect people's privacy and their wishes to contribute without being made public.


I am also not accepting any money at this time, only the pledges.

I learned from my own dot-bomb that i founded and floundered about not taking money in from investors piece by piece.

This time around, i would rather have a minimum goal to be reached, that is sufficient to handle a budget of expenses and execution of the plan, along with a great mandate from a large group of people to go forward and execute on the vision.

In addition to the the money raised from this Pledge Drive (assuming the goal is met), part of the execution of the plan will be to go to mainstream and solicit for donations from the big players to get alot more money to go into FTPF's warchest.

By already having money in the warchest and forming a 501c3 organization, i can attract highly respected and visible names from top tech/internet companies to be on the Board of Directors, and to be able to accept donations from large companies who may not be named in any Acacia lawsuit, but might find this as a way that they could be involved in the fight.

Acacia is just one visible target, there are so many, even in the audio/video space.. so FTPF is not fighting Acacia, it's about all patent abuse cases that directly affect webmasters ability to run their business and innovators like me, that are affected by broad patent infringement claims.

Fight the Patent!

[FightThisPatent]

Let me throw out some food for thought:

In this article: http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,4149,1310572,00.asp

Microsoft is changing IE to not use embeded plugins like Flash, etc due to Eolas Patent.

With a $531M judgement, you would think they would just buy the patent out and move on...

But what if, they remove the plugin ability to comply with the court judgement, then bought the patent, and then CHARGED all plugin makers a license to work within IE.

Think about it conspiracy heads, IE has market dominance as the #1 browser being used (stats to my website show like 97% use IE).

Netscape is out of the picture, Opera is a novelty, and unix and Mac users just don't have the numbers....

So M$ can now make money off of a free product by charging the plugin makers...rather than charging the consumers like Netscape tried to do.

I am sure the DOJ would have a field day with this one, if this conspiracy true proved to be true...

Other than that, the Eolas patent issue on plugins in a browser is very damaging to the web.. if M$ is just going to remove that function, then the web has taken a step backwards.

External programs can still be triggered (ie. media player, etc).. but i believe there is a patent out there for the triggering of an external program from another program........ UGGGGGGG.....


Fight the Patent!

[FightThisPatent]

For tech heads, M$ has posted info on working around the patent issue:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/ieupdate/activexchanges.asp





Fight the Patent!

[FightThisPatent]

just posted, AVN article on Fight The Patent Foundation:

http://www.avnonline.com/issues/2003...101003_8.shtml




Fight the Patent!

[FightThisPatent]

.

[Mr.Fiction]

With the press you are going to get, you should register fightthepatents.com too.

[FightThisPatent]

Originally posted by Mr.Fiction
With the press you are going to get, you should register fightthepatents.com too.

I was originally going for FightThis.com would have been funny, but it was taken....

And like your post, the suggestion could have been to register FightThese.com





Fight the Patent!

[Paul Markham]

Thanks Brad

I think what a lot of do not realize is the financial benefits to the companies paying the license and them with the patents to reduce this market down to 100 players.

The first thing to disappear will be the affiliates, why pay out 33% of your membership revenue to people if there are only 100 players with videos? Search engines will work fine.

Then there is very little competition instead of sharing members with 2,000 sites you will be sharing with 100 sites. This will make it worthwhile for those with the licenses to make sure the patent holders enforce it. URL registration, hosting, CC processing and then upservers. Making sure you cannot operate or do business in any country where they can enforce the patent.

Then the 100 companies left will be fighting amongst themselves to reduce the number of license holders. So every year they can bid for the license, they can pledge to pay what ever they think it is worth to be in the Adult Internet Video market, the patent holders could decide the want 80 license holders paying a higher percentage than the 100.

Remember we have not lost a single surfer. These companies are going to be huge they will be back in the days of the beginning, except now there will be 100 times the surfers.

Sounds like the sky is falling in doesn't it? Well this is worse case scenario and just my opinion. How can you ensure your companies survival?

Well you can sign up for the license, but if the patent is invalidated be sure that those who held out will never let anyone forget it and in a business where trust is a lot this will be a big hammer to beat you with.

Or you can join the fight and support, with a donation, those who have taken the gamble, gone out on a limb and are fighting these patents.

Or you can sit back and let others do you fighting and hope not a lot of other people do the same as you do.

Or you can give $35 a month and blow Acacia out of the water and teach the next to companies with similar patents that we are not to be messed with. Bringing this industry together as one fighting force.