EFF Tells Clear Channel To Record This Patent

from the about-time dept

Two years ago, radio giant Clear Channel bought a patent describing a method for making instant recordings of live concerts for sale. Clear Channel quickly began bullying any bands that offered post-concert sales of recordings into using its technology (and paying for the privilege, of course). Soon afterwards, the EFF put together a list of patents that needed to be busted, with second place going to this Clear Channel patent. Apparently, it takes a bit of time to go from saying a patent should be shot to actually lining up and firing, because it took until this week to finally ask the patent office to re-examine the Clear Channel patent. The EFF submitted some prior art, showing similar technology in place a year prior to the patent filing. Of course, you could also make the case that the basic concept of recording a concert and then offering it for sale really shouldn't be patentable at all -- but the patent office doesn't seem to care about things like that.
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  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 15 Feb 2006 @ 12:44am

    No Subject Given

    I remember when I thought of patents as being used for actual inventions i.e. physical objects that did something.

    Now we're patenting methods, ideas, software and all kinds of worthless crap...

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      craig, 15 Feb 2006 @ 12:48am

      Re: No Subject Given

      There's a reason all of this IP stuff has gotten out of control...

      Nobody has patented lobbying.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 15 Feb 2006 @ 4:42am

    My patent on dumping.

    This is my public announcement that I'm patenting my method for taking a dump.

    It involves lostening one's outergarmets, pulling down undergarmets, lining up one's feet in a parallel direction with the intended target - usually a toilet, assuming either a squatting or sitting position, and ... you know the rest.

    Soon, I will be very, very, rich - as I sue everyone on the planet who uses my patent without a license ...

    Who hah hah ha (evil laugh and wringing of hands)

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Denny, 15 Feb 2006 @ 8:24am

      Re: My patent on dumping.

      :sigh: A few minutes ago I infringed on your patent... very very badly too.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Austin, 15 Feb 2006 @ 8:28am

      Re: My patent on dumping.

      I think I will patent life.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Marvin, 15 Feb 2006 @ 8:53am

        My patent on unattributed quotes

        I think I will patent life.

        Life. Don't talk to me about Life.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      ConceptJunkie (profile), 15 Feb 2006 @ 9:42am

      Re: My patent on dumping.

      This is my public announcement that I'm patenting my method for taking a dump.

      Sorry, I've got prior art on that. How old are you?

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 15 Feb 2006 @ 10:00am

        No Subject Given

        i always wonder how they can patent human genes. i mean they didnt invent them, they just discovered them. and there have been what..? 200billion cases of prior art?

        can they sue you for using human genes?

        link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      None Really, 15 Feb 2006 @ 2:20pm

      Re: My patent on dumping.

      I figure a patent on the transference of Oxygen to Carbon Dioxide using the mechanism of osmosis through a blood vessel's membrane wall will do. All you atheletes out there!!! Quick breathing so hard, in fact, start holding your breath. You owe me some money!

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Wolfger, 15 Feb 2006 @ 4:43am

    Patent patenting...

    Somebody needs to get a patent on a method of applying for a patent. Then we can stop this nonsense.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Elzeard, 15 Feb 2006 @ 6:22am

    That was MY idea

    I'm sure I thought of it first, because it was way before Kindergarten.
    Here is my methodology:
    A) Look around at what other people are doing.
    B) Select someone doing something interesting, preferrably one who is getting attention (social currency).
    C) Run over and yell. "Hey! That was MY idea!"
    D) Take something from the "offender".
    but I have to admit, "patented poop" beats this post by a mile.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Quaker in a Basement, 15 Feb 2006 @ 8:32am

    Sign me up.

    How do I get a patent on my special method for challenging patents? The EFF is encroaching on my intellectual property.

    Haw.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 5 Jun 2006 @ 11:33pm

    Hurry up and settle the poop patent dispute... I need to know who to pay for a plopping license - FAST.

    Can you add a vapor removal system for my girlfriend? Smells like roses my ass.

    link to this | view in chronology ]


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