Buzz Out Loud 1183: War and peace on the Internet (podcast)

Patent wars reignite, the Internet is nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize, and multitasking may be coming to the iPhone. It's an epic sort of show today. Also, PS3 gets in the game with a motion-controller, and employees like us knowingly violate IT policies like crazy people.

Watch this: Ep. 1183: War and peace on the Internet

41:09

Podcast

Apple’s iPhone 4.0 software to deliver multitasking support
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/10/03/11/apples_iphone_4_0_software_to_deliver_multitasking_support.html

Verizon to have 4G phone by mid-2011
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703791704575114130970301388.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Amazon’s 1-click patent confirmed after re-evaluation
http://www.techflash.com/seattle/2010/03/amazons_1-click_patent_confirmed_following_re-exam.html

Sony unveils its PS3 motion controller, Move
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13772_3-10467340-52.html

Dell, with help from Amazon and Google, taking on iTunes and iPad
http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2010/03/apple-beware-dell-with-a-little-help-from-amazon-and-google-is-taking-on-itunes/

Pink Floyd win EMI court ruling over online sales
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8561963.stm

LifeLock fined $12 million over lack of life-locking ability
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2010/03/lifelock-cant-guarantee-id-theft-prevention-after-all-settles-with-ftc.ars

Bad employee! 12% knowingly violate company IT policies
http://arstechnica.com/business/news/2010/03/bad-employee-12-knowingly-violate-company-it-policies.ars

Console killer’ OnLive to launch in June
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8556874.stm

Internet ‘in running’ for Nobel Peace Prize
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8560469.stm

There are a number of ways to come see us at SXSW in Austin, TX!
http://www.cnet.com/8301-19709_1-20000250-10.html

VOICE MAIL
Erik – South by Southwest!

Email
I suspect you’ve already seen this, but in reference to yesterday’s Buzz topic about Google Bike Directions, it looks like they’re not all they’re cracked up to be.

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/google_gives_city_bikers_bum_steer_ll9XRaiMZUfVMPkc7b3oaJ

Love the show.

Dan
Dublin, OH

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Patent law does have it’s place in society, and we do need it to protect, not only the big company but the small company. While there may be problems with the system, change to the system must be gradual and measured. Wholesale removal of the system re: software patents would result in a host of unintended consequences as well as the removal of billions, if not trillions, of capital assets.

Yes, big companies use their patent stick to beat off little companies. But what mechanism would you propose be used by a big company to prevent a little company from stealing something and implementing it quickly and confusing the marketplace. If there was a device that looked like an iPhone and kind worked like one, but which Apple couldn’t remove from the marketplace, the harm to Apple’s reputation would be immeasurable. Both in marketshare and in reputation. Patents are one method that they use to protect themselves. And patents at the corporate level are negotiating tools, nothing more. If Apple is suing HTC, one of the end results may be a revenue stream to Apple. Look at QualComm. They don’t manufacture handsets anymore but they are still making money.

Perhaps, the duration of patents with respect to software is too long. And yes, the courts don’t understand this newfangled Internet tubes we use. Congress doesn’t either, to be honest.

The debate on the show, which is a little bit one-sided has been going on for a long time and will be going on for a long while. It’s just the nature of the beast. Shakespeare said that the first step in overthrowing the government was to kill all the lawyers. We are here to protect people and society. Some of us may abuse that privilege but most of us are good stewards of it.

Cheers,
Bob
The Patent Lawyer

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Hey Buzz Crew,

On Episode 1182, you talked about a new way for your boss to track what
you’re doing. Well, I already figured out a “hack” to make sure your boss
doesn’t know what you’re doing! What’s required? A Roomba and something to
hold your phone down. All you do is tie your phone to the Roomba, and
whenever you want to go out somewhere, turn the Roomba on (with the phone
attached of course). That way you will be moving around, and your boss
won’t think you’re dead! Make sure you find a Roomba or some robot that
can also go up and down the stairs so your boss doesn’t think you’re
pacing back and forth all the time.

Love.The.Show

Carl from BC, Canada