FTP / Brandon... about WMV
 

Just saw what you posted on the ACTG forums regarding WMV....

Now wouldn't that be interesting if the world was forced to re-encode everything in WMV? :)

I think a lot of people are actually using WMV as it stands, but it would be a pretty nice score for Bill Gates if the adult entertainment industry (and the rest of the world?) started using WMV exclusively to avoid infringing certain patents.

Either Gates is really lucky, or ahead of us all strategically by leaps and bounds.

Anyway... If that method of encoding were the way to avoid it, I'm sure some free/GPL alternative that uses the same technology would rise up pretty quickly.


Good eye catching that omission though
:thumbsup

Not sure if WMV format infringes or not, but i am looking to find out why berman left it out!!


As Tucker says, Microsoft will rule the world, it's easier if we just submit and use their products.. everything will work together.

:)

-brandon

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.