2015年7月8日 星期三

情色業者遇到的專利侵權問題 - JOAO Control & Monitoring v. Playboy & Penthouse

你會從「車輛」內傳遞影音資料到特定「網頁」嗎?這是甚麼情況?

先看看這個系爭專利US7,277,010的技術,涉及一種「監視系統與方法」,從被告的屬性就知道,這個類似NPE提出的專利訴訟具有針對性,是一種「車內」錄影/錄音設備,透過網路傳送到遠端系統,這與許多情色網頁中有偷拍影片來源的方式有關?(我猜的)另一可能被告應該是具有遠端監控功能的「車內記錄器」,是一種行車記錄器的衍生功能。

JOAO Control & Monitoring v. Playboy ; Penthouse

案件資訊:
案件編號:6:2009-cv-00499
申請日:Nov 5, 2009
受理法院:Court Texas Eastern District Court
系爭專利:US7,277,010
原告:JOAO Control & Monitoring Systems of Texas, LLC
被告:PLAYBOY ENTERPRISES INC., PENTHOUSE MEDIA GROUP, INC., LFP INTERNET GROUP, LLC, STREAMRAY INC., TRUEBEGINNINGS, LLC D/B/A TRUE.COM, WOO MEDIA, INC., VIVID ENTERTAINMENT, LLC, CLUB JENNA, INC., ANABOLIC VIDEO PRODUCTIONS, INC., GAME LINK, LLC, EVIL ANGEL PRODUCTIONS, INC., NEW DESTINY INTERNET GROUP, LLC, AND SHANE ENTERPRISES, LLC

系爭專利US7,277,010主要請求項都是界定一個監視裝置,其中包括設於遠端的處理裝置,連結網頁;另有設於車內的錄音或影音器材...,最後將聲音或影像傳送到某網頁上,這到底在做甚麼?
1. A monitoring apparatus, comprising:
a processing device, wherein the processing device is associated with a web site, and further wherein the processing device is capable of providing audio information and video information, wherein the processing device receives audio information recorded by at least one of an audio recording device, a microphone, and a tape recorder, wherein the at least one of an audio recording device, a microphone, and a tape recorder, is located at a vehicle, and wherein the processing device is located at a location remote from the vehicle,
wherein the processing device receives a signal transmitted from a communication device, wherein the communication device is located at a location remote from the processing device and remote from the vehicle, wherein the audio information is transmitted from the processing device to the communication device in response to the signal, and further wherein the audio information is transmitted to the communication device on or over at least one of the Internet and the World Wide Web.
61. A monitoring apparatus, comprising:
a processing device or server computer, wherein the processing device or server computer receives video information recorded by at least one of a video recording device and a camera, wherein the at least one of a video recording device and a camera is located at a vehicle, and wherein the processing device or server computer is located at a location remote from the vehicle,
wherein the processing device or server computer receives a signal transmitted from a communication device, wherein the communication device is located at a location remote from the processing device or server computer and remote from the vehicle, wherein the video information is transmitted from the processing device or server computer to the communication device in response to the signal, and further wherein the video information is transmitted to the communication device on or over at least one of the Internet and the World Wide Web.
根據原告訴狀(2009年)可知,被告多為情色影音業者,特別是透過網頁(如www.playboylive.com、www.penthouse.com)進行影像監控的裝置與服務,分別進行誘使侵權或共同/輔助侵權(inducement and contributory infringement)。

系爭專利權人針對眾多情色業者提出專利侵權告訴,這類業者某種程度來說比較不會浮上台面去爭辯,反而成待宰羔羊,加上因為專利權人並非生產任何與此系爭專利有關的產品,也算是一個Troll的作法,也被RPX列為patent troll(就目前時點,正在進行的有12件專利訴訟),不容易對付。

根據RPX(參考資料:http://enpan.blogspot.tw/2009/01/non-practicing-entities-npe.html)網頁資料,JOAO Control & Monitoring目前正在進行的有7件專利,其中就有本次系爭專利101案,此案目前為主已經關聯有19件訴訟案,共有39個被告,624件被告侵權物。

根據某網站內容,有個VS Media出面協助這些業者抵禦Troll的專利訴訟,VS Media也是提供類似影音服務的業者。

繼續追蹤本案消息,發現已經有部分被告採取和解的措施:
http://www.law360.com/articles/163703/vivid-other-porn-cos-settle-video-streaming-ip-suit

原告訴狀備份:https://app.box.com/s/5m65yq5z2ez59qzpzsapivtlu075hcub

參考資料:http://www.gregpiccionelli.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=174:another-patent-troll-attacks-the-business-and-it-s-vs-media-to-the-rescue-again&catid=87:published&Itemid=1258

Ron

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