Comments on: VoloMedia Podcast Patent… Remember When?

By: Tim Street

Tim Street — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 16:55:14 +0000

I’m not 100% sure because I’m not a patent attorney nor do I play one on TV but it looks like their patent applies to a user interface for downloading episodic media.

So this does not apply to any individual content producer, but the people
who provide podcatchers (iTunes, Zune, etc).

There are some prior uses to this type of technology that predate their patent. I’m not positive but this could be one: http://www.freepatentsonline.com/6246672.html

I do think Volo has worked hard to make a business out of podcasting and they have a business obligation to seek patents on their technology.

It will be interesting to se if they have the legal grounds and the financial capital to defend their patents.

I wish them no ill will but hope that they can accomplish something that will help all podcasters monetize their content.

By: Rob Blatt

Rob Blatt — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 12:28:16 +0000

The one thing VoloMedia was able to do is u ify the podcasting community. That seems to be the only thing that will legitamately come out of this.

By: Clinton

Clinton — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 12:17:34 +0000

Hmmm. Perhaps WE invented VoloMedia during one of the Expo parties in Ontario, California? Anyone remember?

By: Michael Dell

Michael Dell — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 10:29:09 +0000

My question is how can something that started in 2001 be patented now by some company that didn’t exist when it was invented?

Oh yeah, I guess it’s like when Al Gore invented the internet in the late 80′s / early 90′s when it started in the 60′s.. I get it

I’m not sure what to think about ADM.

-Mike

By: Todd Cochrane

Todd Cochrane — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 09:21:05 +0000

Hmmm Looking back at my book on Podcasting, I am trying to find the reference to VoloMedia. Hmmm that’s strange they are not even mentioned.

So far as the ADM website goes, only someone with a ego as big as the Grand Canyon would have had the B@(($ to post that post on that website.

It reeks of desperation and at the same time an attitude of your better listen to me or I am going to cram my IP down your throat.

Lessons on how to win friends and influence people are in order here. Nothing like turning the entire podcasting community against you in a single post.

By: Karin Hoegh

Karin Hoegh — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 08:59:55 +0000

I did the first ever thesis at a university about podcasting in 2005 – and funny enough I completely forgot to mention Volomedia at my exam in spring 2006. Bummer! Fail!

By: Steve Holden

Steve Holden — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 02:52:02 +0000

Excellent post! VoloMedia must have been there also in January 2004 when I did a demo at COMDEX party hosted by Computer Reseller News (CRN) showing how you could use Microsoft Outlook and Greg Reinacker’s Newsgator RSS Reader to sync Mr. Winer and Mr. Lydon’s MP3 audio files to a HP Windows CE handheld and listen to the files while mobile.

By: drew

drew — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 18:08:09 +0000

ha, great post michael.
loved those VoloMedia guys back in the day!

By: Chris MacDonald

Chris MacDonald — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 17:22:44 +0000

Hi Michael

ADM provides active and un-gated accounts to members who have expressed interest in offering up news, commentary and insight regarding episodic, podcasting and related issues. Generally this works out great as many professionals involved with ADM can and should be trusted with contributing to this shared resource.

Volomedia’s post includes editorial commentary and a position that is uniquely Volomedia’s. This on it’s face is not an issue, as we have many ADM members that share their unique positions with the public through the blog.

However the post currently fails to provide a base level of context as to the potential impact of its members and the community at large.

In light of this, we considered several options, one of which was to pull the post. But in the online world it is practically impossible and often far worse to censor published content. Instead we contacted Volomedia and requested that they contextualize the post, and offer up more on the matter to the community. We look forward to the response.

Should ADM muzzle potentially provocative speech on the blog? Alternatively the option we choose is to remind our membership of the policy that each member is obligated to balance individual member news with a discussion of how the news might impact our community.

Stay tuned for more substantive discussion on the news of Volomedia’s patent award announcement.

Chris MacDonald
Chairman, ADM

By: Rob Safuto

Rob Safuto — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 13:09:12 +0000

These developments reflect poorly on the ADM. Instead of analyzing the issue and seeking comment from their members they just posted Volo’s spin on the ADM blog. What’s the purpose of an association if they don’t represent all of their members? ADM provides zero value for new media producers. In fact, the biggest players in the space like Leo Laporte, Blip.tv and others passed on the opportunity to join ADM. So what real value, besides the privilege of membership, does the ADM offer new media producers?