May 11th, 2007
A meritless lawsuit that's not worth the ink (real or electronic) used to report it
One of the great things about America is that you can sue anyone for anything. What? You don't like the fact that I have furry eyebrows? You can sue me for it. Whether you'd win that lawsuit or not (if it doesn't get thrown out) is a different story. But the fact remains, you can sue me because of my eyebrows. You can sue anyone for anything. The legal team at Media Rights Technologies has apparently taken this American liberty to heart by putting Apple, Microsoft, RealNetworks, and Adobe on notice. For what? For not licensing its technology.
One thing that the company is claiming is true. The various audio/video solutions from Apple, Microsoft, RealNetworks, and Adobe do not plug the so-called analog hole. This is where digital content — even copy-protected digital content — is easily copied by simply picking up the analog signal from something like a computer or iPod's headphone jack. The quality may not be as good as the the original recording, but even so, it's an oft-used means of circumventing the copy protection that companies like Apple and Microsoft apply to digital content.
So, why is Media Rights Technologies readying a lawsuit against the four tech titans? Circumvention of copy protection technologies is considered illegal by the Digital Millienium CopyRight Act. Media Rights Technologies is saying that by not licensing its analog-hole closing technology, that Apple, Microsoft, Real, and Adobe are essentially allowing circumvention to happen with their technologies and are therefore co-complicitors in any circumvention taking place. No. It's not April Fools. I'm not making this idiocy up. Said the company's CEO Hank Risan:
We've given these four companies 10 days to talk to us and work out a solution, or we will go into federal court and file action and seek an injunction to remove the infringing products from the marketplace.
Said Real's Matt Graves.
That's a rather novel approach to business development.
That's the funniest line I've heard all week and a great way to end this Friday. Know of any laughable lawsuits? Let me know using the comments below.
