Old 28th July 2003, 23:55   #1
GFED
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 8
Protect your streaming media rights!

http://forums.winamp.com/showthread....hreadid=143943


sorry for the crosspost
GFED is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29th July 2003, 07:33   #2
GFED
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 8
Does anyone see the importance of this?
GFED is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29th July 2003, 08:09   #3
Mr_007
Banned
 
Mr_007's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,838
I like this news!
Mr_007 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29th July 2003, 08:56   #4
GFED
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 8
You like it? Do you understand what they are trying to do?
GFED is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29th July 2003, 10:37   #5
GFED
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 8
Here are some more links and quotes... I am trying to get this information to the public. I've asked some peers to help, but I guess they are scared of being sued. Acacia has already filed for conspiracy charges. They are attacking adult webmasters first because most people hate us. But if they win against us, there will be no end to who they can go after next.

http://www.afrochicks.com/info/acacia/index.shtml

Quote:
First of all thoughts about the above thread. I haven't received a packet so I haven't had a chance to go over anything that some of you are looking at. However I wanted to throw this comment out there for further discussion and maybe somebody that has a packet can clear this up.

The other thread basically says that Acacia does have a patent related to streaming video but that patent is for 1 particular type. Other theories have been that Acacia is just bullying people into signing hoping they won't decide to fight. Also, others have stated that once you sign the contract they send you it is binding regardless of what happens with the patent suit that is pending between Acacia and IMPA.

If this is true wouldn't the people that already signed a contract stating they are going to be paying Acacia a percentage of their earnings have to continue to do so even if Acacia loses and the patent is overturned? If this is a posibility Acacia may just be using a scare tactic to get as many companies as possible to enter into an agreement with them. Then if their patent is overturned they tell the companies that signed that they must continue to pay because they have entered into a binding contract? Acacia may have known all along that they don't have a chance of keeping the patent and are just trying to get as many people to sign a contract with them as they can before it's overturned in court.

Maybe someone here has a copy of the contract that could clarify this? However, I imagine the contract states that you can't share the information with anyone else.


Another thing that strikes me funny is that Acacia wants a percentage of your gross income regardless of what percentage of your business uses the software/idea in question. For arguements sake lets say Acacia has a valid patent and every right to request money from people streaming video. What if I have a site that is 98% text and pictures and 2% video? Acacia is entitled to 2% of my entire operation? I only make approximately 2% of my income from video so I would be in essence paying 100% of the gross from video? Even with a valid patent I doubt this would be legal.

To me this sounds too much like a gym membership. Once you sign you are royally fucked no matter what the outcome with lawsuit to overturn the patent because you entered into a binding contract. The fact that Acacia's swag is getting more threatening looks like an indicator they are trying to scare as many people into signing as they can before the inevitable happens. If they get a couple million a year in contracts signed and then the patent is overturned this could be what they planned all along.

Like I said, I haven't had contact with them so I could be way off base here. Does anybody that has received the material and/or a contract want to tell me if I'm going in the wrong direction with this?

Hell I could send every webmaster on here a letter demanding payment for using a text link and threaten to sue if they don't pay me. Anybody can sue for any reason, that doesn't mean I would win. However, if you signed a contract with me ahead of time giving me the right to a percentage of your business income you would be held liable in court.
more topics at our main discussion board.
http://gofuckyourself.com/search.php...der=descending

moderators please forgive me for the links to other forum/adult site but this problem is very important not only for us adult webmasters I hope you realize.
GFED is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29th July 2003, 12:13   #6
GFED
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 8
http://gofuckyourself.com/showthread...hreadid=158109
GFED is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29th July 2003, 12:58   #7
Bilbo Baggins
Wind Chime of the Apocalypse
 
Bilbo Baggins's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2000
Location: The Forest
Posts: 17,228
The "Edit" button is there for YOUR use.
Bilbo Baggins is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29th July 2003, 15:44   #8
mark
Forum King
 
mark's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Norn Ir'nd, leek...
Posts: 6,287
007 funny
he my freind now.
mark is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 30th July 2003, 06:16   #9
GFED
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 8
Thanks.
GFED is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22nd November 2004, 16:37   #10
djdragons5
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Emporia KS
Posts: 107
Send a message via ICQ to djdragons5
Patent has not been approved, yet. If you got to www.uspto.gov and search under patents > filled applications you will see numerous applications filled out on the behalf of Acacia Media Technologies Inc starting on April 30th 2003 to June 30th 2003. However I sincerely doubt the credibility of this claim since sites such as Shoutcast and other have been around for years longer. If someone from AOL-Nullsoft could just find the origional writings before Shoutcast came out and send it to the USPTO then this frivious patent will be declined and killed.
djdragons5 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply
Go Back   Winamp & Shoutcast Forums > Community Center > General Discussions

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump