[Acacia] About EFF-ing Time!
 

EFF, finally, stepping to deal with patent abuse according to the today's PR:

http://www.eff.org/Patent/20040419_eff_pr_patent.php


"Patents traditionally only targeted large commercial companies," said EFF Staff Attorney Jason Schultz. "Now bad patents are threatening non-profits, small businesses, and even individuals who use software and Internet technology." These threats target non-commercial personal use, such as building a hobbyist website or streaming a wedding video to your friends.


".....streaming a wedding video to your friends" that would be the DMT patent they are referring to.....


Acacia DMT patent already on their target list:
http://www.eff.org/Patent/



Fight the About Time!

One step in the right direction

can you make this more simple for some webmasters - are they able to buy feeds now??

There are some out there who dont want to get live feeds simply because they dont wnat to get hit on by acacia

I kinda like the sound of their 'slogan'

"EFF is a nonprofit group of passionate people ? lawyers, volunteers, and visionaries ? working to protect your digital rights."
:)

about time is right. :thumbsup

I wish them much luck! :thumbsup

Live video streams are not covered by Acacia or USA Video....

If there is archived video (which there usually is with live streams), then that's the area where Acacia thinks they have a patent claim.

Having EFF.org target Acacia is a VERY good sign.. it means they see the absurdity as well and will be looking to help invalidate the patent.

I am in contact with EFF about this....


Fight the Patent Absurdity!

Cautiously optimistic:thumbsup and to the guys who carry on fighting :thumbsup :thumbsup

A big THANK YOU to Brandon for helping and looking out for all of our interests! :GFYBand

so WTF is with webmasters who dont want to buy live feeds on their site for fear of getting a letter from acacia??

they should be more afraid of movies??

ditto. the guy's a champ.

About time! EFF is a great cause.
WG

It's about time...I'm sure the patents they've listed are only the tip of the iceberg.

:thumbsup

It is a very difficult and confusing issue that a webmaster faces in thinking of putting any kind of digital audio or video on their website.

While USA Video and SightSound are contenders, they haven't poked their head into the adult biz, so we can put them aside for a bit.

Acacia has definitely shown their hand in trying to target the Adult Industry.

Most people have gone on with biz like business as usual... the defendants against Acacia are still offering video downloads. I have not heard of any new adult-biz websites being targeted for licensing.

Acacia may have their hands full with the current defendants, and also starting to see that the defendants will crush their definitions in the Markman Hearing, so Acacia is focusing more on cable sector.

Does this mean that webmasters should feel relieved and rollout their video offerings? I can't answer that.. there is definitely a risk of them finding more targets.

If you have already been sent a "licensing notice" before, then they have put you on notice in a way. It's questionable whether they can target you for "willfull infringement", but I am sure they would try to intimidate a webmaster with that line of thinking.



Fight the no definitive answers!

EFF is one organization I have supported with my own money for quite some time (1992 onwards). They fight for the things that will eventually shape how the internet evolves.

For those that were wondering when the mainstream corporations were going to step in... this is their 'help by proxy'. The EFF is funded and run by some of the best in the internet world.

-dd

hes a standup guy and cant wait to use the stuff hes working on now!

I exchanged many emails to Brad Templeton (chairman of EFF) in trying to make the case that EFF should step in. Fighting for digital rights is such a broad charter, that they were not ready to take on patents.

This news today is incredible news....EFF is so mainstream with the companies that fund and support it (and individuals like DD).

One of their attorneys wrote to me today, that Acacia is definitely on their list.

Lots of things buzzing..i'll be updating with news as soon as I get it.



Fight the Patent Fly Swatter!

great news

Thanks.. but the people on the front line are people like Spike and all the defendants who are putting their money and their companies on the line to fight what is so blatantly wrong.

As you have read, many large and small companies have made it their business decision to license the patent.

The 11+ defendants are making it their business decision to fight. Supporting their programs and services is one way that you can help in the fight.

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For those companies that did settle, realize that not one of them enjoys paying Acacia (will maybe 1 or 2 might) and wish to see Acacia get knocked down (as a few have expressed to me privately).


Fight the Tree Huggers!

EFF is supported by many of the people who helped create the Internet as it exists today. If anyone can prove these patents are bullshit, EFF is that group. They have lawyers, staff, and supporters who know web technology like almost no other group.

If you aren't a member, please consider joining and donating to the EFF today. They fight for free speech online.

Great to hear they are helping :thumbsup

:thumbsup

with EFF behind the fight for bad patents. this is really gonna help BUT it still will take a long time to resolve the issues and the people fighting the patent will still have to spent alot but lets hope with the help of EFF things might move a bit faster..

but i wouldnt expect any judgment on invalidating the patent within the next year+

.. way to go EFF. I have always supported them ..