6 chapters across the catalog
Adam Curry provides a detailed analysis of the Personal Audio podcasting patent lawsuit. He critiques Adam Carolla for raising money for a "fight that doesn't exist" after the suit was dropped and urges him to give the funds to the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF). Curry argues the patent review process is the only way to actually invalidate the 504 patent.
Adam Curry criticizes Adam Carolla for his "Fund Anything" campaign to fight a patent troll. Carolla claims that if his network loses the lawsuit, all of podcasting will be destroyed. Curry disputes this narrative, calling it a lie and noting that he and Dave Winer have a more significant claim to the medium's origins than Carolla.
Personal Audio 506 Patent and Apple's Settlement
The hosts examine the technical specifics of Personal Audio's "506" podcasting patent. Adam Curry reveals that Apple already paid an $8 million settlement to Personal Audio for a playlist patent, which reportedly covers future iterations including the podcasting technology. This suggests that podcasts distributed via iTunes may already be legally protected, contradicting Carolla's fundraising claims.
A brief discussion touches on the "podcast patent" troll (Personal Audio) and why Leo Laporte has stopped talking about it on his shows. Adam Curry reveals that Laporte was likely advised by lawyers to remain silent during legal proceedings. Curry defends Laporte's decision to "shut up," noting that he acted as a "company man" during his own recent appearance on Laporte's network.
Adam Carolla's "Fund Anything" campaign to fight a "patent troll" lawsuit is criticized. The hosts argue that the company involved, Personal Audio, is not a troll but a patent holder protecting a specific episodic content process. They claim Carolla and Dr. Drew are using "scare tactics" and misinformation to raise a million dollars for legal fees.
Personal Audio Patent, Adam Carolla and Patent Trolls
A company called Personal Audio has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Adam Carolla's Ace Broadcasting and HowStuffWorks.com. The patent, which dates back to 1996, involves the distribution of episodic content and playlists. While many label the company a "patent troll," the hosts note that the inventor, Jim Logan, has a legitimate background in touchscreen technology and has licensed patents to major corporations like Apple.
