http://www.informationweek.com/story/IWK20021212S0010
Patenting The Process Dec. 16, 2002 Who owns the methods of E-commerce? Many companies say they do and that they have the patents to prove it. By John Soat "Obviously, if all video on the Web infringes on their patent, you'd think they'd go after the big guys, but they seem to be going after little content providers who can't afford to fight them in court. I can't help but feel like I'm being shaken down by the hi-tech version of Tony Soprano. ..." Strong words, even for a message board on the Internet. Mitigated, perhaps, by the poster's nom de Web: Spooky Suicide. And when you find out Mr. Suicide operates a (self-described) "slightly naughty" Web site known as "Suicide Girls," you may begin to suspect there's more than a little pot-versus-kettle syndrome at work here. But this post is only one of many that have popped up over the last several weeks, mostly in chat rooms and on message boards frequented by operators of adult Web sites, in reaction to a company called Acacia Media Technologies. Acacia has contacted the companies to advise them that they're violating Acacia's patents for accessing or downloading digital video and/or audio over the Internet, and they must license the technology. Included in the communications are explanations of the patents and a royalty schedule for payments. Acacia has filed lawsuits alleging patent infringement against 27 adult-entertainment companies, though none of the suits has yet been served. ... snip
