Will Google Face Patent Battle Over YouTube's New Ad Format?
from the pssst,-Google,-buy-us...-sincerely,-VideoEgg dept
Google and YouTube got a ton of press coverage for releasing their new video ad overlay program on Tuesday evening. However, despite some amount of fawning from some tech publications, many people noted that the ads were remarkably similar to the format the startup VideoEgg launched nearly a year ago. The folks over at VideoEgg are trying to figure out what to do in response -- which apparently includes potentially filing a patent lawsuit against Google. VideoEgg has apparently applied for patents on just such an advertising system -- though the patents haven't been granted yet, so there's not much VideoEgg can do on that front for the time being. Of course, you could argue that what they're doing isn't all that different than ads that have been on TV for years... but we'll let the patent office sort that out. So far, however, VideoEgg seems to have figured out the best strategy: using this to get much more attention for itself. It's been making sure that people know it had the idea first, and (as of right now) changed its website to say in HUGE letters "Welcome, YouTube. Seriously." Then it notes that it's nice to see the rest of the market catch up. Hopefully this won't descend into a patent battle -- as VideoEgg is right. It is nice to see the rest of the market catch up, and hopefully this will drive many of the players in the market (including VideoEgg) to improve upon the offering even further. That's what competition is all about. Update: In the meantime, it looks like plenty of others are out there claiming that they came up with the idea first, once again showing how many different "inventions" are really just the next obvious step, as so many different parties come up with the same thing at once. Hopefully, that's evidence enough to deny a patent.Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
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Filed Under: advertising, online video
Companies: google, videoegg, youtube
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I dunno
I don't think ideas should be patentable. The source code, sure (but other companies could come up with their own source code which wouldn't infringe); and an actual product, of course; it seems silly though that I could go down to the patent office and say "Beaming commercials directly into somebody's head using advance radio technology" might be patentable. Assuming, of course, it isn't patented already.
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Re: I dunno
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VideoEgg will be out of business
1. there is no patent yet
2. the patent would be ridiculous and wont be patented anyway
google will run the same kind of add (not like it took a genius to figure out that add style anyway) VideoEgg will try and sue but since they don't have a patent they will loose. If it even makes it that far. I am sure they don't have the kind of $$ to fight Google in court.
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Re: VideoEgg will be out of business
2)Their CMO has made it clear that they have no intent to sue over this.
3)By simply placing a satirical ad on their homepage they have garnered a mention in every story on this topic and it cost them next to nothing...
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re:TheDock22
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Re: re:TheDock22
Ah good, then patents shouldn't be given for software. I think you should be able to protect your code one way or the other, but definitely not twice. It's like the people who try and get story lines patented. That's why they get a copyright for their novel.
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Prior Art
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Youtube's adoption of the format creates a standar
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