Patent Office Finally Gets It Right
Clear Channel's "Instant Live" Patents Revoked
Clear Channel's "Instant Live" Patents Revoked
All Access is reporting that the patents pertaining to Clear Channel and Live Nation's "Instant Live" technology have been revoked. According to All Access, the "U.S. Patent and Trademark Office will revoke a patent on live concert recording technology owned by CLEAR CHANNEL COMMUNICATIONS, following a successful challenge launched last year by the ELECTRONIC FRONTIER FOUNDATION."
This is a win for both competing companies, who were prevented from carrying on business in many areas, and tape-traders AND taper-friendly bands. Clear Channel had been rather pushy with the patents, claiming "exclusive" rights to record shows and sell copies immediately after the show. All Access continues, stating "NEW YORK-based DISC LIVE by early 2003 had already recorded acts and sold instant CDs at shows featuring the ALLMAN BROTHERS and BILLY IDOL, but encountered obstacles in 2004 when CLEAR CHANNEL prevented the company from recording shows and selling CDs at CLEAR CHANNEL venues on the PIXIES' reunion tour."
With the revocation of these patents, the industry will continue to see growth and competition in regards to the instant sale of live material. This can only be a good thing for bands, who will not be locked into one company's pricing scheme, and for consumers, who will not be forced to subsidize high costs associated with monopolization.
One only hopes that the USPTO continues to examine patents and revoke ones which inhibit proper competition. I can think of a few "software patents" i'd like to see examined...
This is a win for both competing companies, who were prevented from carrying on business in many areas, and tape-traders AND taper-friendly bands. Clear Channel had been rather pushy with the patents, claiming "exclusive" rights to record shows and sell copies immediately after the show. All Access continues, stating "NEW YORK-based DISC LIVE by early 2003 had already recorded acts and sold instant CDs at shows featuring the ALLMAN BROTHERS and BILLY IDOL, but encountered obstacles in 2004 when CLEAR CHANNEL prevented the company from recording shows and selling CDs at CLEAR CHANNEL venues on the PIXIES' reunion tour."
With the revocation of these patents, the industry will continue to see growth and competition in regards to the instant sale of live material. This can only be a good thing for bands, who will not be locked into one company's pricing scheme, and for consumers, who will not be forced to subsidize high costs associated with monopolization.
One only hopes that the USPTO continues to examine patents and revoke ones which inhibit proper competition. I can think of a few "software patents" i'd like to see examined...
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