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.

[ECG]

He must have smelled money.. Pretty late though..

[SZNY]

Good one, let's say the owner of the patent will win then it will be only valid for the US because this can never adapted worldwide.

Don't know that much about US patent law and how its used.

Personally I think this patent of web cam technology can be widely interpreted.

(5) transmitting the video information to the communication device over the Internet if it is determined that the communication device is authorized.

What is the definition of a "communication device", a webcam, a computer or a combination of both? Also a webcam is not a processing device it's a device with a chipset to encode a video signal.

All "live cam" sites are not real-time live, there is always a delay of a few seconds compared with video surveillance/monitoring systems what really need to be real-time and live.

What about instant messengers using video, is basically the same thing, you need to have a username / passwd to login and video communication will start after authorization.

Very curious how this will end up

[ottopottomouse]

I was under the impression that you couldn't patent something unless it's a new idea. Webcams in 2007 wasn't exactly new and unheard of.

Most of the patent seems to be about an anti car theft idea.

[BestXXXPorn]

5:1 says I know this patent troll... It's always in Texas... I hate this shit!

It's complete BS, I'm sure someone out there has prior art but it takes so much cash to defend yourself many companies just end up paying...

I don't believe in most software patents. They're all based off of very similar principals and just applied in different ways. There's nothing to patent. Not to mention the patent office must have fucking idiots approving these things.

Singlesnet got hit by one of these a couple years back and the patent was so generic. It was like... showing different information to a user who is not logged in than IS logged in. WTF IS THAT?!