Every webmaster for himself, FU community
 

This is exactly what the big players and those that have signed with Acacia are saying to the rest of the adult industry. They did have a choice, they could have joined the Defense Fund, a group of defendants who have pooled their money together.

They are saying everyone is just competitors, and there is no community other than people posting random bits on message boards.

I remember back to 1999 - 2000, before the dot-bomb where I was meeting with some of the top players, and they were saying that they shared traffic with their competitors, signed up for each other's affiliate program, stood up for one another, partied with each other, it was like family.

People remember the industry fighting 1st amendment rights issues, in having someone come forward to defend everyone's right to do business.

But this is 2003, the top players are not taking a stand to defend the industry. Those that were fighting for 1st amendment rights in the past, have settled as well... does this mean that companies were looking out for their own business all this time? That people misinterpreted their actions to think they were protecting the industry, but really protecting individual interests?

If you purchased content content from zmaster.com from 1998 to 2001, then you have seen my work.

If you visited OnTheRopes.com from 1999 - 2001, you have seen my work.

If you have submitted a CP lead to asacp.org in the last 3 months, you have seen my work.

If you have read my website and my postings, you will have seen how dedicated I am to fighting for your rights to do business.

Even though part of the licensing settlement supposedly states that they can't be involved in any Acacia issues, my response is this: Fight The Patent Foundation will be involved in all kinds of patent abuse cases... so an "anonymous", private, or personal pledge/donation to FTPF doesn't mean it will go against Acacia, but for the next round of patent abuse cases...and they will come.. especially if Acacia can show to patent holders that this is a viable business model.

Acacia is like the Alamo of fights. Don't let the industry be beseiged by large number of attackers....unite and defend your rights to do business. If you don't, then just read history, it has a habit of repeating itself.

Learn more about Fight the Patent Foundation and how to make a pledge.


Fight the Patent!

:eek7

unfortunately true words

I probably should have ended my post with a question to invite discussion.

So, what do you think?



Fight the Patent!

I try not to think, its too much trouble.

your right. I think this biz is in alot worse shape than ever. It has become a target for regulation because of unwilling to police itself, and now a target for every sheister with a flimsy patent hoping to make a buck off an un-unified industry.

All those big companies that signed should have joined the fight.

I can respect the decision to sign. Take a sweetheart deal and make it go away and save thousands of dollars.

It just pisses me off when they sign and act like they are doing other people a favor and lie about supporting the defense financially.

It's probably a good idea.. wouldn't want to have to pay-up on the patent for thinking...i think that was covered in a GFY thread.

Ooops..did i just infringe??

:Graucho


Fight the Patent!

Can you give us a court date or next court set deadline for talks or something so that this community knows the progress of the fight?

All you Far-L, inquiring minds want to know...



Fight the Patent!

Business is business, people run people out of business all the time.

I was reading something yesterday on how the grocery stores are scared here in Southern California (grocery worker strike as well, been weeks now since ive been able to grocery shop properly) because the SuperWalmart grocery stores are coming here. The article said Walmart is responsible for pushing 16 national grocery chains into bankruptcy.

I guess the day Walmart cares about its competiition is the sday porn webmasters will.

Meanwhile unwed moms are out on the sidewalks holding signs for benefits because walmart is so big they underpay their workers and offer no union work etc.

Such is life, such is hell.

We all just play the cards.

But those who have businesses based in technology are facing issues that normal businesses don't face as often..

The amount of technology-based patents has exponentially climbed in the last 3 years.

Brick-and-morter have their share of patent infringement cases, but not to the scale as you are seeing with companies claiming broad patent claims that affect such a huge amount of the industry.

This is not business as usual.... it's a new cancer for technology businessees to fight against.

Fight the Patent!

Yeah, it's a problem but when big companies like Hustler are buying up Southern California porn companies how do you expect them to fight the patent?

They are buying out the competition.

They are the Walmarts of porn man.

The big guys never give a fuck about the little guys, that was the basis of it.

PS: Ive worked in the FILM side of this business since 98. Ive seen more throats get cut in this industry than any other.

From the mafia fucks who try and control talent to the directors or videographers telling girls if they dont suck them off they wont be used in the next flick.

Ive seen it all, and I put nothing past the FILTH that try and pretend to be clean.

Including MAJOR So Cal Porn companies.

I wish some of the big players would have the balls to address some issues in this thread!

Come on big boys, what are your views?

No specific calendar set yet for court proceedings... date to figure it out keeps getting moved out farther and farther...

date to figure what out?
and who keeps moving it farther and farther.

Don't wanna jump the gun because I don't have the answer, but it would seem to be in the best interest of ACACIA to stall.

The longer they keep this thing out of the courts, the more they can pressure us on the hard sell to take the soft offer.

I'm not looking for guesses:)
I'm just asking questions that would help people understand the value of this fight.

:BangBang:

You may never hear anyone post, other than a PR statement like Ken released for Hustler/Vivid, but not the viewpoint that I think you wanted to see.

Too much liability for them.. so I am sure they are reading and analyzing, and trying to figure stuff out.

They can always reach me to have a private discussion to get my viewpoints and insights.. and I don't even have a 900 number!


Fight the Patent!

why should any big player address the issues in thread after thread when we can't even get an update on whats going on about "FightThePatent"




"yes, we're holed up in our bunker twittling our thumbs waiting for more donations. over and out"

You didn't ask me for an update....

Are you STILL confused to think that I am an attorney or that I am defending myself against Acacia?

I didn't answer your question about the status of the court date, because it seemed more appropriate that an actual defendant answer it.

You stated a question, something you are known for doing, and you wanted a factual answer, not people's opinion..so I stayed out of answering it.

Since you didn't ask, the status of Fight The Patent Foundation is that close to $32K has been pledged so far. I have been posting alot of Oprano with some great responses over there.

Lots of people asking me questions and being very skeptical about what I am proposing to do and my motives, and I answered them all, with some of them ending up pledging.



Fight the Patent!

i think everyone needs to unite to fight this little company off beacuse by them doing this, there are other people out there with this sort of patent and they will start jumping on the bandwagon. if you stop these people at their roots it will make others think if they even stand a chance.

well, since far-l couldn't answer but you wanted to continue the thread by slamming your betters. why don't you explain what you've done so far?

For those that have been observing the pledge counter, it has come along way since launching the pledge drive 3 weeks ago.

A pledge to support Fight The Patent Foundation helps to execute in the following ways (the following were questions asked of me and my answers):



Who are you responsible too?

Right now, only to myself... with Fight the Patent Foundation, it would be a 501c3 non-profit organization with charters and bylaws, etc.

A Board of Directors will be built up to include highly visible tech/internet leaders. An advisory board will be judging which kinds of cases to take on, actions, etc.

At that point, I am responsible to the Board of Directors.


How do we know the money is being used for what you say it is?


Sounds like a credibility issue question. If $250K is pledged and I start asking for that money to be converted to donations, yes, it is a possibility I could just run away with the money. Having formed a corporation and such still doesn't give an credibility, since it is easy to setup a bogus or shell of a corporation.

But the real possibility, is that people who do know me, will be the ones that do the vouching..already have some listed on my Endorsements page, but when it comes to actually writing the check or paying by credit card, I will first be able to show the charter, the bylaws, the incorporation papers and the people who would vouch for my integrity.

Right now, a pledge does not count as money, so yes, it's easy to give a pledge, but when the time comes to collect, I am sure the questions of credibility will be asked..and i am prepared to present that now, as well as later.



What is the money being spent on?

RIght now, I am not collecting any money, spending my own money (and losing income by not doing my consulting work) by doing this effort of advocacy.

WHEN the goal is reached, and the money is collected, the money gets spent this way:

-Very modest salary for me to do this full time (3k/month)
-Pay for Director's insurance and attract Board of Directors
-Hire some patent attorney to get involved
-Contract with a developer to build out the Prior Art search system where people can contribute leads and earn points for prizes
-Solicit mainstream companies for additional donations
-Attract Media attention
-Help any webmaster who gets served with a lawsuit in providing defense attorneys, prior art searches and expert witnesses through the 'pay it forward' concept.
-insert more stuff here.



In addition to answering a multitude of webmasters emails to me, and hours of phone calls for those wondering what they should do since receiving their 2nd or 3rd letter, I have also continued to search for more prior art.. afterall, Acacia is just one case to deal with, there are many more.

I also spend alot of time on various boards to help answer questions and concerns in relation to the Acacia issue, as well as drumming up support for Fight the Patent Foundation.

To learn more about FTPF, visit http://www.FightThePatent.com/go



Fight the Patent!

Great point... while shutting down Acacia would send a great message to patent holders, it might not deter them to still seek out licenses for their patents.

Acacia is just the current "Attacker". Just in this space of audio/video patents, you have companies like SightSound (suing CDNOW/BMG), USA Video (suing MovieLink.com), Burst.com (suing Microsoft), and E-Data (suing a bunch of european companies).

Then there are other patents in areas like e-commerce (PanIP, DET), use of frames for navigation in a web page (SBC), and Exit Consoles (www.ideaflood.com).

Patents are good when they are specific and don't have any prior art, or any previous use of the idea before the patent was granted.

Bad patents are ones where the idea or invention was being used by people and then someone came along and patented the idea. The US Patent Office is not perfect, and they miss finding prior art..... there have been many patents found to be invalidated well after the patent office approved them, so having a patent does not necessarily mean you have an airtight claim to the invention.

Acacia's patent has lots of holes that can be filled in with prior art.

In case you have not visited my website, go to http://www.FightThePatent.com to read about the issues.

Also feel free to read more about Fight The Patent Foundation at http://www.FightThePatent.com/go


Fight the Patent!

No, I asked you what you've done to fight acacia, not what you'vbe done to collect money.

correction...it's collect pledges, not money.


Since Fight the Patent Foundation is but an abstract of an idea, my direct efforts to fight against acacia's patent claims involves contacting individuals via email and phone that could be expert witnesses, as well as further researching and searching the many leads that people send me.

I package up the finds and submit them to the defense attorneys for their review.

While not considered an action to "fighting acacia", I have been speaking with many webmasters on the phone, who are concerned about what they should do in light of receiving Acacia's recent letter.

While on my search for prior art, I found Jimmy Hoffa's body, but since it wouldn't be relevant prior art for this Acacia case, I put it back.


Fight the Patent!

who has received your packages so far?

Defense attorneys


Fight the Patent!

for who?

For defendants, defending themselves against Acacia's lawsuits.


Fight the Patent!

Generally, when legit people are pressed to explain their legitimacy, they're more forth coming with info.
I find your lack of info interesting.

I think you really do care about this Acacia issue and how the patent license hurts businesses.


Fight the Patent!

I do. And I'd hate to see money sent to someone only pretending to do something.
Please show me that you're not pretending. It would kill me if you were.

No one is sending me money.

My actions convey all my intentions.

Other people's words show the gratification of my actions.


Fight the Patent!

I see smoke, if you've got a mirror in the other hand, I'll be very sad.

If you see smoke, then there must be fire. Maybe you should extinguish it. Maybe you think I am the fire?

Then why am I on fire? Is it because I am doing the right thing that makes my actions so hot?

Mirrors are better suited for hanging on walls, than in ones hand...They are also used by magicians for parlaying tricks.

I am not a magician, not even an amatuer one, nor am I vain to want to look at myself in the mirror.


Fight the Patent!

and yet you wonder why you get no support from big players. you can't even answer the small questions.

I have answered all of your questions.

You haven't asked anything lately, including this post...


Fight the Patent!

what have you done to fight the patent besides trying to collect money?
if you care to answer this question, provide evidence.

Oh jeez.. this is getting worse and worse....

12Clicks you have more then 6000 posts to GFY. Are you seriously telling me that you don't know what FTP has done for the fight against Acacia? I think you are just trying to waste everyone's time here. Simply do a search under Fight the patent with the GFY search function and read the HUNDREDS of posts regarding this issue he has contributed.

In those posts is the history of this issue, current status, updates with related info and other companies similar to Acacia, advice to webmasters, support for search of prior art, search for prior art, fightthepatent.com website detailing the status of the search for prior art and all information on Acacia. The list goes on. Stop wasting the time of those making a difference. If you're to lazy to support the fight, in any way, then don't participate. Simple as that. I know that it's easier to criticize then to take action, or just watch things happen, but that approach is not going to make things better. It's going to waste the time of those fighting to bring awareness and make things better, and produce a positive outcome with the court cases at hand.

That question was already answered, and also summarized at http://www.FightThePatent.com/v2/Squirt.html which details some examples of potential prior art that I and the many volunteers who have taken time out of their own lives to question the validity of Acacia's patents by searching/finding prior art.

The reason I say potential is because they have not been presented before a court to be used as evidence. The page was created to show examples of what files that were found that duplicate what Acacia has claimed, but by looking at the date stamp, the items found existed prior to the patent.

Since you have wasted a question by repeating yourself, I'll offer a better one.


Why do you think you are qualified to accept people's pledges, that might eventually turn into donations, to run an organization that seeks to fight against patent abuse?



Fight the Patent!

You are just silly.

I could put the same page up for free. why are you collecting money?

when is your court date to present this evidence?
if you choose not to answer that question, then just tell us the last time you were in court over this.


do you know how many pages are created every day without rthe need of pledges and contributions?


No, by asking the question, we've discovered just how little you've done.

I'm not qualified.
and so far, you have not provided any qualifications either.

Brandon,

Do us all a favor and ignore 12Clicks.

He is simply a colossal waste of time.

I love it when people come here and think they win the argument with a trite answer.
They believe everyone is as dumb as their employees.:1orglaugh

Translation:
here's a guy you can't fool. stop before the whole house of cards collapses.

Brandon, you and the home grown homo might as well stop posting here.
You've posted in over 100 threads without being challenged for facts because people HOPED you were doing the right thing.
That is now over. Don't bother posting here until you answer my questions in this thread.
I've got all day every day to expose people who are out to take advantage of webmasters.
You're my new toy.
see you in the morning.