Apple Sued Over Fundamental iTunes Model

tuxgeek writes "A suit was filed Wednesday against Apple over the possibility that the iTunes music store and iPod are 'illegally using a patented method for distributing digital media over the Internet.' ZapMedia Services filed the suit, accusing the well-known OS and computer manufacturer of violating patents obtained just recently. 'The patents in question cover a way of sending music and other digital content from servers to multiple media players, a broad description that could also apply to a wide swath of other companies selling digital media and the devices to play it. ZapMedia said it met with Apple to discuss licensing, but Apple rebuffed the offer.'"

One can only hope...

[Iphtashu Fitz]

... that there's a special place in hell for patent trolls.

Re:One can only hope...

[Broken scope]

its the same place reserved for child molesters and people who talk in theater.

Re:One can only hope...

[greebowarrior]

+1, Shepherd

Such an innovative invention

[Solandri]

Distributing media files over the Internet to devices in your home. Wow, I never would've thought of it!

Re:When will they learn

[TheLazySci-FiAuthor]

I wonder how many more ridiculous lawsuits like this need to be brought before the government finally wakes up and realizes software patents are a bad idea.

It will take exactly 27 more.

Re:You would have though they would notice sooner

[Anonymous Coward]

I forget, what's this "prior art" stuff I keep hearing about...?

As someone who has worked for the USPTO as a patent examiner and who has approved thousands of tech related patents over the last 12 years, I can tell you that I have no idea what the hell you are talking about.

Re:Don't be so quick to judge...

[TaoPhoenix]

With a license from Douglas Adams,
the ZapPod BeebleBox?

Re:One can only hope...

[Lord Apathy]

And people who talk on cell phones in the next stall while I'm trying to take a dump.

Re:One can only hope...

[uglydog]

how am i supposed to know it bothers u if u don't say anything?!

Re:There's a lot of leeway in federal cases

[zymurgyboy]

Yay America!

Perhaps so. Maybe they'll draw Samuel Kent and he can draft them an order like this one [nationalreview.com].

BTW, it's funny because it's real.

Re:One can only hope...

[carpe.cervisiam]

Just do what I do. "Oh GOD! My A**HOLE IS TEARING!!!(grunt loudly)...." You get the idea. I figure if they don't want the person they are talking to hear that kind of thing, then they shouldn't use their phone in the bathroom.

Oldest patent lawsuit filed

[edwardpickman]

Decendents of Uugg the caveman filed a lawsuit against anyone profiting from music. They say his patents on striking two rocks together and pounding on a hollow log form the basis of all music. Representatives for the music industry made an out of court offer of two goats and a stone ax to settle the matter but the offer was rejected.

Re:One can only hope...

[Lord Apathy]

Man you guys are seriously disturbed...

Re:One can only hope...

[The End Of Days]

I assume people here are so fearful of interpersonal communication that they really can't stand the idea of anybody actually enjoying it.

I've been busy developing tests to see if this hypothesis holds.

Re:One can only hope...

[gsn]

Ooh thats a bit too cruel even for them - I mean can you imagine sitting across from Darl McBride for all eternity.

Re:One can only hope...

[fireman sam]

All you have to do is yell out "The person you are talking to is sitting on a toilet." Hopefully they are talking to that really attractive person they were trying to get a date with at the time.

Re:One can only hope...

[Lord Apathy]

I don't know what you do in your bathroom, but mine is free of distractions and I'm usually pretty relaxed. I've gotten some of my best ideas in here. Thanks to wifi, I can work with others during this relaxed state.

I got a friend who makes these herbal brownies with some stuff he grows in pots on his back porch does the same thing to me. Only side effect is after you eat one you want another. After the first though I am so relaxed you can hit me with a bat I and I won't notice it or car.