Adam Carolla Joins Fight Against Podcast Patent Troll

First time accepted submitter tor528 (896250) writes "Patent troll Personal Audio has sued top podcasters including Adam Carolla and HowStuffWorks, claiming that they own the patent for delivery of episodic content over the Internet. Adam Carolla is fighting back and has started a Fund Anything campaign to cover legal fees. From the Fund Anything campaign page: 'If Adam Carolla loses this battle, then every other Podcast will be quickly shut down. Why? Because Patent Trolls like Personal Audio would use a victory over Carolla as leverage to extort money from every other Podcast.. As you probably know, Podcasts are inherently small, owner-operated businesses that do not have the financial resources to fight off this type of an assault. Therefore, Podcasts as we know them today would cease to exist.' James Logan of Personal Audio answered Slashdotters' questions in June 2013. Links to the patent in question can be found on Personal Audio's website. The EFF filed a challenge against Personal Audio's podcasting patent in October 2013."

And he's bringing Steve-O with him!

[NotDrWho]

Watch out patent trolls, your tables WILL be smashed!!

Whas 1000 patent lawyers at the bottom of the sea?

[rmdingler]

I remember a quaint world where the lowest of the bottom-feeders were merely chasing ambulances.

Smart arse

[Bill Agner]

Give me a break, this guy is nothing more than a clown, who kissed the Blarney Stone one too many times. Personally, I hope this guy becomes another footnote in the small history of jerks on the radio.

Re:Whas 1000 patent lawyers at the bottom of the s

[MrLizard]

Patent: A methodology for increasing revenue for attorneys via rapid foot-based pursuit of emergency medical vehicles.

Re:slight exaggeration

[MrLizard]

So-called "protection rackets" are not generally interested in shutting down business (unless they interfere with businesses owned by friends of the Godfather). They want "clients" to stay in business so that they can get paid protection money. Since they want to maximize their revenue, they don't even want to kill the shopkeepers if they don't pay up, just break some bones and maybe smash a few windows. What's more, the normal standard for failing to pay protection is a reasonable "both kneecaps for a first offense", so in most cases the protectors can't inflict enough damages to shut down the deadbeat's life functions.