downloading data is patented! ?

[kronas]

The E-Data intellectual property in question, U.S. patent No. 4,528,643, is known as "the Freeny patent." Although the patent was awarded before the rise of personal computers, CDs and MP3 players, Port Washington, N.Y.-based E-Data claims the Freeny patent covers the process of downloading media from a computer to such devices, as well as in-store kiosks.

The Freeny patent expired in the U.S. in 2003, but still has almost a year before it expires in Europe. The company focused on licensing the patent abroad, and now has turned its attention back to the domestic scene. While it can no longer demand license fees, it can ask for money for prior use of the technology. It also can sue for damages caused by infringement in the last six years.

source: internetnews

http://www.internetnews.com/ec-news/article.php/3390851

This is sadly an all-too-common practice these days - they call it 'exploiting intellectual assets'. A company running out of new ideas tries to claim that something everybody is doing today was actually its own invention, and hadn't you all better pay up quick. BT tried it on a year or so back, trying to claim it invented whole chunks of the internet, and failed. And at the moment, someone is trying to claim they own great chunks of the code that makes up Linux and is sending round bullying letters to large corporate users of it, demanding a licence fee.

I doubt they will get anywhere. See it in the context of a country which has one lawyer for every 340 people - they have to earn a living somehow, and there clearly aren't enough criminals to go round!

[Gareth]

Didn't BT also claim they 'invented' hyperlinks, and tried resurrecting an old patent that meant that all corporations using any hyperlink on their website (duh!) owed them some compensation. Cheeky little beggars!

[Mr_love_monkey]

Originally Posted by Chris T

BT tried it on a year or so back, trying to claim it invented whole chunks of the internet, and failed.

That's just silly, BT didn't 'invent' the internet - I did, now everyone send me a tenner for using it, and count yourselfs lucky for getting off so lightly.

Originally Posted by GDW1975

Didn't BT also claim they 'invented' hyperlinks, and tried resurrecting an old patent that meant that all corporations using any hyperlink on their website (duh!) owed them some compensation. Cheeky little beggars!

Yup, that's what I was trying to refer to - couldn't remember the details.

[Gareth]

Originally Posted by Mr_love_monkey

That's just silly, BT didn't 'invent' the internet - I did, now everyone send me a tenner for using it, and count yourselfs lucky for getting off so lightly.

No, that was Al Gore (although in all seriousness, he was influential in the development of Arpanet)

[Feenix]

talking of patents - micro$oft has patented the double-click! linky to US patent office