Patent Office Finally Gets It Right
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All Access is reporting that the patents pertaining to Clear Channel and Live Nation's "Instant Live" technology have been revoked.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...

e-voting takes another hit:
Ciber Inc. loses certification.

In what I feel is the most important fallout from the HBO documentary "Hacking Democracy" to date, Ciber Inc. has been decertified from testing and approving electronic voting machines, due to lack of quality control and accountability.

This is a good step towards securing the e-voting procedures that our governments insist we use. By decertifing a lab who seemed to be nothing more than a "shill" for Diebold Election Systems, we can begin to genuinely test these systems and see whether they are as secure as Diebold claims (or as insecure as many people claim.)

But, I believe that we need to go a step further. As it has been proven (on film) that the Diebold machines can be compromised, and these machines were, in fact, certified by Ciber, I believe we need to examine any links which may exist between Ciber and Diebold, especially financial links. Does anyone within Diebold hold ownership in Cyber, or vice-versa? Have there been large payments of money between Diebold and Ciber? Have there been any signs at all of any improprieties between Diebold and Ciber?

I voted on a Diebold voting machine in the last general election, but I will not vote on the same machine during the next Presidential election. After recent revelations, I no longer trust Diebold Election Systems or Ciber Inc. And, while I may be only one voter, I can't be the only one. And, if enough voters voice their objections, we just may win this battle, after all.