To all webcam companies, are you going to be affected by this?

[cthulhu_waves]

There is a legal battle happening right now that has to do with the owners of the patent for webcam technology and the blue chip companies who have started using the technology as their own.

The courts have responded by revising the patent meant to pacify both parties. This might be a long and dragged in case that can affect the burgeoning webcam industry.

What is your take on this and should adult webcam companies be concerned about this case?

MARSHALL, Texas — The holding company that is suing 12 adult live-cam operators over the alleged use of its patent amended and narrowed its complaint on Tuesday.

Joao Control and Monitoring Systems claims the companies are allegedly infringing on U.S. Patent No. 7,277,010 by making, using or selling video monitoring and communications apparatus that authorizes surfers to view live streaming video using usernames and passwords.

According to the amended complaint, Joao's patent relates to (1) receiving video information with a processing device, (2) receiving a signal from a communication device with the processing device, (3) processing the received signal, (4) determining whether transmission of the video information to the communication device is authorized, and (5) transmitting the video information to the communication device over the Internet if it is determined that the communication device is authorized.

The infringement suit, filed in November, targets such blue-chip brands as Playboy Enterprises, Penthouse Media Group, LFP Internet Group, FriendFinder’s Steamray Inc., Vivid Entertainment, Playboy's ClubJenna unit, Anabolic Video Productions, Evil Angel Productions, New Destiny Internet Group, Shane Enterprises and Private Media Group’s GameLink.

You can read the entire Rhett Pardon report on the matter here.

[tickler]

A lawyer gets into this case about halfway through the article.

Another Patent Troll Attacks Industry
Joao, like Acacia, has targeted the adult industry. Joao has even sued many of the same adult companies sued by Acacia.

Interestingly, however, unlike the Acacia lawsuit, VS Media, one of the principal champions for the industry in the Acacia case, has not been named as a defendant as of the time of this writing nearly two months after the action was filed by Joao.

Fortunately, for some of the defendants, however, the burden of payment of huge attorney's fees to defend themselves will not be necessary thanks to a generous offer by VS Media to pay for the defense of its clients who were named defendants in the original complaint.
http://www.xbiz.com/articles/legal/117217

Tip of the hat to VS Media for being so stand up for the industry.

[LeRoy]

That wont affect us at all

[davion]

Yeah. I have seen plenty still doing their stuffs.

[InfoGuy]

Originally Posted by tickler

Tip of the hat to VS Media for being so stand up for the industry.

I second that. Kudos to Video Secrets for standing out above the crowd.

[tickler]

Some news on the case

Adult Live-cam Operators Beat Patent Claims
The patent suit involving a dozen adult live-cam operators appears to have come apart.
On Wednesday, the patent holder that is suing the adult companies filed motions to dismiss claims against eight of the companies, with each of the parties bearing their own attorneys fees. A judge has yet to sign off on the dismissals.
http://www.xbiz.com/news/119816

[MediaGuy]

Nah, the patents are too vague and the "concept" too generalized and pervasive to not collapse under the weight of a legal challenge...

[Cyber]

The era of patent/trademark lawsuits.... starving beasts search for easy money.

[spazlabz]

No it won't effect us at all